Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 10.03.14

South Park The Stick of TruthThe truth this week is the top spot has been stolen from Thief by South Park: Stick of truth. The rest of the charts stay very quiet with Forza Motorsport 5 making a return in to the top twenty at number sixteen.

All formats

Week ending 8 March 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 SOUTH PARK: THE STICK OF TRUTH UBISOFT
2 THIEF SQUARE ENIX 1
3 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 4
4 THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 2
5 FIFA 14 EA SPORTS 3
6 CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 5
7 MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 8
8 BATTLEFIELD 4 EA GAMES 6
9 LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 7
10 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 9
11 RAYMAN LEGENDS UBISOFT 12
12 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 11
13 NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS EA GAMES 14
14 ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES SEGA 17
15 WWE 2K14 2K SPORTS 19
16 FORZA MOTORSPORT 5 MICROSOFT
17 BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 18
18 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 18
19 TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION SQUARE ENIX 15
20 GRAN TURISMO 6 SONY COMPUTER ENT. 15
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Watch Dogs release date announced

Watch DogsToday, Ubisoft revealed that its highly anticipated open world action-adventure game, Watch Dogs, will be released worldwide on May 27, 2014.

In Watch Dogs, players assume the role of Aiden Pearce, a new type of vigilante hero who, with the help of his smartphone, will use his ability to hack into Chicago’s central operating system (ctOS) to control almost every element of the city.

“We are pleased to be able to reveal to gamers all over the world the new release date for Watch Dogs,” said Geoffroy Sardin, EMEA Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Ubisoft. “We are extremely confident that the additional time we afforded the dev team to refine and polish the game will be more than worth the wait.”

Players who purchase Watch Dogs on either PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 will have exclusive access to 60 minutes of additional gameplay via the PlayStation Network.

“We’re really excited for the launch of Watch Dogs on both PS3 and PS4 and are confident that it will prove to be one of the standout games of 2014,” said Michael Pattison, Vice President, Third Party Relations, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “It’s a unique and visionary game and we believe that the exclusive content available via PSN will not only excite gamers, but showcase how PlayStation is a preferred destination for Watch Dogs.”

Watch Dogs will be available on Sony PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Microsoft Xbox One the all-in-one games and entertainment system, Microsoft Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and Windows PC. The Wii U version will release at a later date.

You can enjoy a brand new trailer for the game below

Train2Game News Gabe Newell on Source Engine 2

Valve's Gabe NewellGabe Newell has commented on the progress of Source Engine 2 during a recent Reddit AMA, saying the company is building the tools with user-generated content in mind.

Newell fielded questions from the general public today regarding the future of Valve, his favourite games and what the company has in store for Source Engine 2.

Answering to the latter, Newell said the industry’s move towards user-generated content has influenced the development process.

“The biggest improvements will be in increasing productivity of content creation,” he wrote.

“That focus is driven by the importance we see UGC having going forward. A professional developer at Valve will put up with a lot of pain that won’t work if users themselves have to create content.”

While Newell didn’t comment on Half-Life 3, he did address Valve’s attitude towards developing new IP, indicating that core game systems take precedence over everything.

“An IP is really a tool for a development team more than anything else,” he said. “The key is to have clarity around what is uniquely of value in what you are trying to do and not waste your effort on things that don’t directly contribute to that.”

On the topic of e-sports, their popularity on PC and micro-transaction funding models, Newell said he wants to facillitate an easier connection between consumers and content creators.

“We still think we have a long way to go to get to the point where all of the different people that are contributing value to competitive play get everything out of it that they should,” he wrote. “[It] feels like we are making pretty good progress though.

“Giving the consumers of content a direct relationship with the creators of content is something we think about a lot. That is what drove our thinking about how the community could be more involved in the tournaments that mattered to them.”

Steam, the PC platform Valve founded and operate, has over 65 million users, the company announced earlier this year.

A line of thirteen different Steam Machines, all boasting different hardware specs, was unveiled at CES 2014.

Newell also revealed during the AMA that his most played game is DOTA 2, while his favourite non-Valve game of all time is Mario 64.

Source: CVG

Train2Game News Dream Harvest Games Artist Position

2537336243-Dreamworks logo finalDream Harvest Games, a friend of Train2Game, are looking to recruit an artist from the pool of Train2Game students.

Dream Harvest is just coming to the end of the prototyping phase of their top down action sci fi puzzler game. They are looking for a determined, talented 2D artist who works well with others and will be committed to the project.

The current studio is made up of a mixture of highly talented professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Getting a chance to work with these people would certainly assist your future prospects for employment or could lead to coming on board full time with the team.

The game has a science fiction theme that plays on the idea of how an aristocratic society, limited in their ability to run their city, enslaves their own population. Morality, Power and Control are all themes that are prevalent in the story and as you can imagine the game is built around a strong narrative and is targeting the core market. It will initially be released on PC, Linux and Mac with future plans to release the game on to Microsoft and Sony Consoles.

Your Job:

  • Development and preparation of prototypes and style determination in close collaboration with our Lead Artist.
  • Development of ideas from concept through quick sketches to finished illustration
  • Planning and independent implementation of graphic concepts for game worlds, characters, vehicles, storyboards and other visual content of our game
  • You will find sound solutions to any challenges that arise. Development and management of internal design ideas and continuing education programs. Close cooperation with the designers, programmers and audio designer.

Your Profile:

  • A solid experience in visual arts, animation, visual effects.
  • Very good knowledge of Photoshop or other 2D art and painting programs
  • Excellent traditional and digital drawing skills
  • Extremely well versed in anatomy, proportions, perspectives and color theory
  • You have distinctive communication skills — and you enjoy working in a team
  • A very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written
  • Passion for the development of games

Additional plus:

  • Knowledge of Unity
  • 2d animation skills
  • Knowledge of 3d programs

We offer:

  • An exciting job where you can assume responsibility and develop professionally
  • A dynamic team with friendly, highly-qualified colleagues from all over Europe
  • A culture of mutual respect and active training
  • Shared equity percentage profit share program once game is released

This is an equity share position and the experience and knowledge you could gain from working here is invaluable.

If you are interested in the position email your CV and Portfolio to applications@dreamharvest.co.uk

You can also find out some information about the team and previous projects on the Dream Harvest Website here: www.dreamharvest.co.uk

Train2Game News Batman Arkham Knight announced

Batman Arkham KnightAfter a leak by GAME yesterday, Batman: Arkham Knight has now been officially announced.

The game popped up on GAME sites for pre order yesterday before being swiftly taken down but the damage was done. Batman: Arkham Knight will be the finale of the Arkham series, set after the events of Batman: Arkham City and will be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In the explosive finale to the Arkham series, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city he is sworn to protect. The Scarecrow returns to unite an impressive roster of super villains, including Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, to destroy The Dark Knight forever. Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady’s uniquely designed version of the Batmobile, which is drivable for the first time in the franchise.

The addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Batman Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City.

“Batman: Arkham Knight is the pinnacle game of our hugely successful franchise, and we are giving players the most expansive, impressive title in the series,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The Rocksteady Studios team is continuing to focus on the excellent gameplay for which they are known while delivering a thrilling new experience for gamers and Batman fans.”

“The team at Rocksteady Studios is putting a tremendous amount of work into delivering the final chapter of our Batman: Arkham trilogy so that fans can feel what it’s like to be the Batman,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios.  “We’re excited to be developing the game for next-gen platforms, which has allowed us to bring to life the design elements that we envisioned from the beginning such as the Batmobile and how it augments Batman’s abilities, to the fully detailed and realized Gotham City.”

You can enjoy the trailer for Batman: Arkham Knight below:

Train2Game News Testing opportunity at Roll 7

roll7Roll7 have an opportunity for some Train2Game student’s to play test one of their up and coming projects. If you are chosen you would be one of the first in the world to lay eyes on it.

On March 19 Roll7 are inviting a few select Train2Game students to there studio to test their next game. The game is a side scrolling 2D shoot-em-up with a cover system that needs fine balancing before the game is shown at Rezzed this year.

This is a voluntary, unpaid position but it would be fantastic to put on to your CV, you would get to visit Roll7 studios to talk with the developers and you may also be considered for future, paid, testing rolls at the studio.

Roll7 studio is based in London on Arklow Road. You would need to be able to get to the studio under your own intiative on March 19.

If you are interested in testing the game for Roll7 you can email Tom at Tom@roll7.co.uk

To find out more about the studio visit www.roll7.co.uk

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 03.03.14

Thief logoThe charts have picked up this week with a few new entrants and a brand new number one! Square Enix’s revitalisation of the Thief series has come in at number one and the follow up to the hit tower defence game, Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare has debuted this week at number four. In the lower half of the top twenty, Castlevania: Lords of Shadows 2 has entered at number ten whilst the latest game from the Tales series, Tales of Symphonia: Chronicles has come in at number thirteen.

All formats

Week ending 1 March 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 THIEF SQUARE ENIX
2 THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 1
3 FIFA 14 EA SPORTS 2
4 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES
5 CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 3
6 BATTLEFIELD 4 EA GAMES 4
7 LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 5
8 MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 6
9 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 8
10 CASTLEVANIA: LORDS OF SHADOW 2 KONAMI
11 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 7
12 RAYMAN LEGENDS UBISOFT 10
13 TALES OF SYMPHONIA: CHRONICLES BANDAI NAMCO GAMES
14 NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS EA GAMES 12
15 GRAN TURISMO 6 SONY COMPUTER ENT. 16
16 DONKEY KONG COUNTRY: TROPICAL FREEZE NINTENDO 9
17 ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES SEGA 19
18 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 17
19 WWE 2K14 2K SPORTS 14
20 LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA XBOX 360 CLASSICS 18
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Future T Gaming looking for staff

Train2GameTrain2Game student, Ed Turrall, is looking for other Train2Game students to join his student studio, Future T Gaming, to work on an interesting idea.

Ed is looking for voluntary Students who have a year or two experience on the course in their respective field. He has a big idea and wants students who would be committed and skilled enough to bring the idea to fruition.

The main objective of the game is to conquer and occupy a new and uninhabited planet in a solar system far away from Earth. The plan once you reach this planet is to make sure you have the necessary resources for your crew and passengers. You start by building Greenhouse buildings where you can then plant food and start working on the atmosphere of the planet.

The way you build and plant objects will depend on what level you are which basically means you can do as much as you want as things will be cheap and sell for a lot. For example, you plant and harvest Oranges or Apples, these will cost you around 5cc (colony coins) to plant but will sell for 20cc and also give you 50exp.

Ed said, “The game idea I have is to make a game like all of these farming games, which are nice, but seem too boring after a certain level is reached. What I want to do is change this way of gaming and bring a new kick into the era of farming games.”

There are a number of positions available for all areas of games development.

If you are interested in joining Ed and Future T Gaming, visit http://beta.train2game-online.com/teams/team.php?id=106&fb_source=message to find out more about the game and to get in touch with him.

You can email Ed with your CV and Portfolio at mail@edwardturrall.co.uk

Train2Game News Thief competition held in GAME stores

Thief ChestSquare Enix, developers of Thief are holding an event in GAME stores around the UK with big prizes available.

Square Enix publishers of interactive entertainment products in Europe and across PAL territories, will be giving sneaky shoppers the chance to crack 1 of 10 chests in GAME stores across the UK from 11am tomorrow, to mark the highly anticipated launch of Thief this Friday.

Would be thieves will be given a standard issue lock-pick, a ‘how to’ guide to picking locks and just five minutes to break into a locked chest at each participating GAME store. Prizes include a PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, PlayStationVita handheld entertainment system, a high-end gaming rig from AMD, or Titan Books’ The Art of Thief signed by Nicolas Cantin, Game Director on Thief, with GAME store vouchers.

Over the course of tomorrow, until the lock is cracked at each location, a total of “10” high value prizes will be given out to participants who successfully manage to pick the locks.

Participating GAME stores include:

Westfield, Stratford –

https://twitter.com/GAMEStratford

Bullring, Birmingham –

https://twitter.com/GAME_Bullring

Trafford Centre, Manchester –

https://twitter.com/GAMETrafford

Meadow Hall, Sheffield –

https://twitter.com/GAMEMeadowhall

West Quay, Southampton –

https://twitter.com/GAMESouthampton

Lakeside, West Thurrock –

https://twitter.com/GAMELakeside

Norwich, NR2 1PT –

https://twitter.com/GAMENorwich

Newcastle, NE1 7XP –

https://twitter.com/GAMENewcastle

James Centre, Edinburgh –

https://twitter.com/GAMEStJames1

Cardiff, CF10 2ER –

https://twitter.com/GAMECardiff

To avoid disappointment, please check the relevant participating GAME stores twitter channels for regular updates on the competition and remaining prizes.

Train2Game News New Autonomous Games Console

OTON_WHITE_BKG2_logo_1Today, the EnGeniux OTON X autonomous game console is set to open beta signup to early adopters and developers to demo the console basic user interface (UI) on the EnGeniux OTON X test server.

The OTON X console is the first autonomous game console is being prepared for developer and early adopter release. The console has attributes similar to other upcoming autonomous devices such as cars and home automation systems; the only difference is that OTON self-creates games, without human input. The system creates games using a custom algorithm with preset design parameters and a sprite database to create custom game environments.

During the beta testing, the project will offer crowdfunded OTON X (developer units) to early adopters and developers. Systems will cost $99 for early bird units and $139 for standard units. These models will not have the built-in rear projector that will come with the final unit. Over one thousand users have signed up for OTON beta testing, with the list growing daily.

“We’re excited to let gamers, developers and media interact with the OTON UI because of its unique design layout,” says OTON X creator and project manager Derrick Samuels.

The goal of the beta is to gain feedback on the user interface and to move forward with adding more features. Interested parties can sign up for the OTON X UI beta at http://otonx.kickoffpages.com.

For more information on the OTON X visit http://www.otonx.com/