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Tag Archives: Games design
Train2game News Student working with Theory Studios
Ezekiel Morris gaining valuable experience by volunteering with studio and working on film projects.
Student Ezekiel Morris is working with animation collective Theory Studios to gain valuable experience as he embarks on his games making journey.
Ezekiel is working as a concept artist for the US team and not currently employed. He has been working on film projects and hopes the experience will be another string to his bow as he looks to gain full time employment in the future.
Theory Studios is an award-winning studio with a team based around the world, producing: commercials, cartoons, and high-quality visual effects.
Ezekiel Morris, Train2Game student: ‘I’m working as a Concept Artist for the Theory Studios but not employed at this time. I am finding it alright actually. The people are friendly, down to earth; they have a lot of passion and respect. I’m learning some new stuff, it’s a new opportunities with new people.’
‘I’m experiencing good things. My ambition is to break my own records to outpace my yesterday by being better today, to do my work with more force and power now more than ever. I got the position by networking and volunteering. My advice for others is start networking, volunteering and collaborating on small projects.’
‘Studying with Train2Game I’ve learnt how to use different modelling techniques in 3Ds max to speed up my workflow. I am concentrating on other projects at the moment so my work on the course has slown down.’
‘I’m not working on any games at the moment just Film Animation. But I can’t tell you what the projects are, watch this space.’
http://theorystudios.com
www.train2game.com
For more information contact mark@train2game.com
Train2Game, bringing City & Guilds to the Games Industry
Train2Game is a proud supporter of www.plasisgamesportal.com and www.gamatier.com
Train2game News Mobile Fraud Prevention Suite
At the San Francisco Mobile Growth Summit, adjust announced a major product addition to their mobile attribution and analytics system with the Fraud Prevention Suite.
With today’s product release, app developers and marketers will be able to leverage a comprehensive suite of tools that analyze and intervene in hundreds of millions of user acquisition workflows to prevent fraudulent activity from claiming payouts. Early beta results of the Fraud Prevention Suite indicate a substantial improvement in campaign activity with an estimated $1.7 million USD identified within 17 days, based on recent CPI rates of fraudulent charges.
Paul H Müller, adjust’s Co-Founder and CTO, said: “The Fraud Prevention Suite gives our clients a completely new way to proactively mitigate potential fraudulent charges and optimize their user acquisition spend across their entire user acquisition stack. We’re uniquely positioned to offer this kind of solution in the market because our technology is directly embedded in all the advertising our clients run – so we can analyze every interaction as it happens, and change how that data is interpreted on the fly. This is unlike reactive, after-the-fact analysis tools that are unable to prevent corrupted datasets and illegitimate payouts.”
adjust’s Fraud Prevention Suite specifically targets three typical approaches by fraudulent publishers:
● Anonymous IP Filtering is the first implementation to actively reject pay-outs for simulated traffic originating from data centers or other illegitimate locations.
● Purchase Verification synchronously vets and verifies purchases, allowing app publishers to block cost-per-acquisition payouts or revenue shares from faked purchases.
● Click Spam Distribution Modelling analyzes the aggregate distribution of users acquired to rapidly prevent apps from faking background “clicks” and thereby claiming organic traffic as paid.
In January, adjust ran initial beta tests of its product suite with customers, like San Francisco-based HotelTonight, by sampling a traffic flow that included more than 400 million installs to generate an overview of fraudulent activities. This initial test targeted only the portion of paid user acquisition from major US and European brands which were generated from so-called “anonymous IPs” – a strong indication that the traffic had been tampered with or falsified. Starting today, all customers have the opportunity to access adjust’s product suite for protection from fraudulent activity and charges.
Brian Han, Head of Growth at HotelTonight, said: “Controlling the quality of our traffic, and thereby preventing fraudulent activity, is a key concern for us. adjust’s Fraud Prevent Suite is the first solution we’ve found that is able to proactively intervene, and we’re really excited about using adjust for that purpose.”
Additionally, to provide deeper understanding and insights to customers and partners, adjust is hosting the first-ever European mobile fraud conference, called “Mobile Spree”, on June 2 in Berlin. Initial confirmed key speakers for the conference include Spotify, Zalando, Delivery Hero, GetYourGuide, and HotelTonight. Interested parties can learn more at http://mobile-spree.com.
Train2Game News Sinclair smashes Crowdfunding Record
Sir Clive Sinclair Smashes His Previous Crowdfunding Record in Less than 3-days
The Vega+ comes complete with 1,000 licensed games built-in.
Sir Clive Sinclair has smashed his previous Crowdfunding record of £155,677 in less than 3 days – having achieved his initial target of £100,000 within 48-hours, the campaign to produce a 2nd games console, called the Vega+ now exceeds the sum raised during the entire 2-month campaign last time round to fund the original Vega console. Contributors now have a further 38 days during the current Indiegogo campaign to pledge to secure a Classic Black Vega+ or a limited edition version – available in red, white or blue, of the new pocket size, fully mobile games console or a number of other perks from as low as £5.
The Vega+ is based on his hugely successful Spectrum products of the early 1980s. The Vega+ is the only games console that exists with 1,000 licensed games already included and with an LCD for you to use on the go. This launch follows the huge public and media support of the initial Vega product last year, and is the next step in the evolution of the Vega.
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ to give it its full name takes advantage of major advances in technology to achieve big cost savings by replacing most of the electronics in Sir Clive’s earlier computer products. Instead the Vega+ uses a low cost micro-controller and some clever software to enable the Vega+ to run all of the games, 14,000 or more of them, developed during the years when some 5 million of the original Sinclair Spectrum were being sold.
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ is being marketed by Retro Computers Ltd, the Luton-based start-up in which Sir Clive’s company Sinclair Research Ltd is a shareholder. The development and marketing of the Vega+ is under licence from Sky In-Home Service Ltd, who inherited the intellectual property rights to the Spectrum computers from Amstrad. Development of the product is complete, and a fully-functioning prototype is ready to go into production.
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ is as simple to use as any of the popular games consoles, but far less expensive. It has a colour LCD so the user can play it anywhere. Additionally, it can be connected to a TV so the user does not need a computer monitor, and it comes complete with 1,000 licensed games built-in. The user will also be able to download additional games free of charge from the thousands that are available on the web, so there is no need for users to pay any more than the cost of the basic product, which will be in the region of £100 from the company’s web site and from various online retailers and High Street outlets.
The Vega+ has been developed by Chris Smith, who is the world’s leading expert on Sinclair Spectrum technology and author of the definitive technical book “The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to design a microcomputer”. The design concept of the Vega+ is by Rick Dickinson, who was responsible for the design of all of Sinclair’s ZX computers in the 1980s.
Paul Andrews, Managing Director of Retro Computers Ltd, is a lifelong fan of Sir Clive’s products, and has himself worked within the games and media publishing market for many years.
David Levy, the company’s Chairman, is President of the International Computer Games Association and has been responsible for the development of more than 100 consumer electronic products since the late 1970s.
Sir Clive Sinclair says that the success of the original Spectrum was due to the fact that: “it was adaptable, approachable, very easy to program, and simple to use”. Of the Vega+ Sir Clive says: “The present surge of interest in retro products inspired me to plan the Vega+ as a handy games console which can be played anywhere.”
Retro Computers Ltd has today launched its financing for their new product via the Indiegogo crowdfunding web site. The funding will be used for the UK manufacture of the first production run, which will be for sufficient numbers of the Vega+ consoles for all those supporters of the Indiegogo campaign who choose the Vega+ as a perk, and to prepare us for the second production run. A range of limited edition Vega+ consoles and other related exclusive items are being offered on the site, including some special edition Vega+ consoles with red, white and blue bases, which will only be available during the Indiegogo campaign.
Indiegogo: http://igg.me/at/vegaplus/x/9227470
Train2Game News Stone Carved PS4
Today, Ubisoft Entertainment has released a range of stunning photos of a hand-crafted Sony PlayStation®4 and DUAL SHOCK ®4 controllers, to mark the upcoming launch of Far Cry Primal on February 23rd, 2016.
Working free-hand, accredited master carver and stone mason, Nick Roberson, was commissioned to intricately replicate these items from stone, to showcase the Stone Age era that the franchise moves to in the latest installment.
In addition to the PS4 console and controllers, Nick Roberson was also commissioned to craft an entire gaming den from hand-carved finest Fletcher Band sandstone. The den was also kitted out with a stone television, pizza box, beer can and an impressive carved coffee table.
The result is a stunning image of a prehistoric take on the contemporary items of today, as regularly seen in modern gaming pads across the country.
Footage of the main pieces being chiseled can be viewed here in the official video feature: CLICK HERE
“This project was undertaken to highlight the vast landscape and rich setting of the Stone Age era in Far Cry Primal,” comments Tom Goldberger, Senior PR Manager at Ubisoft. “Nick has managed to immortalize, in stone, the beautiful, elegant designs of these iconic items with unbelievable accuracy.”
Stonemason, Nick Roberson, who has over 20 years of experience, which has seen him take on commissions for Hollywood movies, comments on his involvement on creating the man cave; “This project was a great challenge for me and I really enjoyed seeing the modern and techy items come together in this natural form. The buttons of the controllers were certainly tricky but I’m delighted with the final results and the fantastic way they’ve been collated for the shoot.”
Far Cry Primal is available to own on February 23rd on the Sony PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system and Microsoft Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and will be available on Windows PC on March 1st, 2016.
For more information regarding Far Cry Primal, visit:
https://www.ubisoft.com/en-GB/game/far-cry-primal/
Train2game News SpecialEffect Accessible Games Room
David Cameron opens Accessible Games Room at Oxfordshire Charity SpecialEffect
Witney MP David Cameron officially opened the SpecialEffect Accessible Games Room at the charity’s headquarters in Charlbury, Oxfordshire, on 12 February.
The facility, the first of its kind in the UK, will allow the charity to welcome people with disabilities from across the UK and help them benefit from the fun and inclusion of video games and other forms of leisure technology.
The room was established thanks to a £130,000 donation from the inaugural Twin Town Car Challenge Event, organised by Witney businessman and SpecialEffect Vice-President Brendon Cross of STL Communications.
Mr Cameron was joined by SpecialEffect Vice-Presidents Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People, and Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, along with senior figures in the UK video game industry and the local business community.
He described SpecialEffect founder and CEO Dr Mick Donegan as “one of the most inspirational people I have met”. He said: “You are making an enormous difference to lots of people and I will do anything I can to help.
“It is also bringing together the things I am passionate about, because it shows business can be a force for social and economic good.”
“I would urge games companies to join in whatever way they can to back this man, to back this great charity that is doing such extraordinary work.”
Minister for Disabled People, Julian Tomlinson said: “We are very proud to see how quickly SpecialEffect is growing and we will do all we can to get it support from the industry.”
Tom Watson MP, deputy leader of the Labour Party added: “It is a great pleasure to be on the same side as Mr Cameron for once and I am deeply honoured to be involved with the charity. I hope more and more people will support them.”
“We’re delighted and honoured that Mr Cameron is here for this launch,” said Dr Mick Donegan, the Charity’s Founder and CEO. “Leisure technology is an amazing medium for fun, inclusion and quality of life. To be able to level the playing field and extend that medium to people that would otherwise not be involved is a real privilege.”
“The response to our work from Oxfordshire businesses and, increasingly, the video games community has been overwhelming so far. Their support will be pivotal to the success of the SpecialEffect mission to help more people worldwide experience the very real benefits that this technology can bring.”
Train2Game News GirlsGotGame Design contest
One Small Step Games and Ares Magazine are holding a GirlsGotGame Design Contest, a competition that focuses on game designs by women.
“Since we launched the contest last month, we’ve received a lot of support and encouragement from people in the industry,” says OSS Games owner Michael Anderson, who decided to increase the grand prize to $200 and extend the contest through the holidays and to the end of January in order to give more women a chance to enter.
The Ares team hopes to publish a game from the contest in the fourth issue of the magazine. “Our plan is to highlight a number of science fiction and fantasy fiction stories written by women in the fiction line up for that issue,” says Executive Editor Carmen Andres. “Wrapping the magazine around a challenging and exciting game designed by a woman would strengthen the package.”
Designers receive $1000 if a game is chosen for publication.
Designers are free to use any format and components they choose, but Anderson notes that the purpose of the contests is to find games to publish in Ares. Extra credit will be given to designs that use the components of games that run in the magazine.
The contest runs until midnight January 31, 2015. If more than eight designs are received, a runner up will be selected to receive $25. Entrants are limited to women.
Contest information, component guidelines, and the online entry form are on the website of Ares Magazine at www.aresmagazine.com.
To enter the contest, select Game Design Contest #2: Girls Got Game under the Ares Online menu. To subscribe to Ares, go to www.ossgamescart.com.
Train2Game News: Top 3 Game Engines
Across the past week Train2Game held a poll to see which is your favourite game engine. These are the results!
In descending order the Third most popular games engine for Train2Game Students is the CryEngine 3. It was originally developed by German studio, Crytek, as a technology demo for Nvidia and, when the company saw its potential, it was turned into a game. That first game developed using the engine was the first Far Cry.
The CryEngine 3 Free SDK, originally called Sandbox Editor, is the current version of the level editor used to create levels for the CryEngine line of game engines by Crytek. Tools are also provided within the software to facilitate scripting, animation, and object creation. It has been included with various Crytek games and is used extensively for modding purposes. The editing style is that of the sandbox concept, with the emphasis on large terrains and a free style of mission programming. The editor can also construct indoor settings.
Recently the engine has been used to create games such as Crysis 3, Monster Hunter Online and Ryse which will be released on the Xbox One.
Second in the poll was the Unity engine. Unity (also called Unity3D) is a cross-platform game engine with a built-in IDE developed by Unity Technologies. Unity is primarily used to create mobile and web games, but can also deploy games to consoles or the PC. The game engine was developed in C/C++, and is able to support code written in C#, JavaScript or Boo. It grew from an OS X supported game development tool in 2005 to the multi-platform game engine that it is today.
The Unity Engine is simple to use and as of this month free to publish to mobiles. It is clear why it is popular among Train2Game Students.
The Unity Engine has been used to create popular mobile games such as Bad Piggies, Slender: The Arrival and it was used to port Temple Run 2 to Android devices.
Finally the number one games engine according to Train2Game students is Epic’s Unreal Engine. Although primarily developed for first-person shooters, it has been successfully used in a variety of other genres, including stealth, MMORPGs and other RPGs. With its code written in C++, the Unreal Engine features a high degree of portability and is a tool used by many game developers today. It was first developed in 1998 for Unreal.
The third and current generation of the Unreal Engine (UE3) is designed for DirectX (versions 9-11 for Windows and Xbox 360), as well as systems using OpenGL, including the PlayStation 3, OS X, iOS, Android, Stage 3D for Adobe Flash Player 11, JavaScript/WebGL, PlayStation Vita and Wii U. Its renderer supports many advanced techniques including HDRR, per-pixel lighting, and dynamic shadows. It also builds on the tools available in previous versions.
In October 2011, the engine was ported to support Adobe Flash Player 11 through the Stage 3D hardware-accelerated APIs. Epic has used this version of the engine for their in-house games. Aggressive licensing of this iteration has garnered a great deal of support from many prominent licensees. Epic has announced that Unreal Engine 3 runs on both Windows 8 and Windows RT.
The engine is free to download and has a small charge of $99 to publish from, as long as you don’t make over $50,000 after which Epic will start to take a percentage.
The Unreal engine has been used in countless games including The Batman Arkham Games, BioShock Infinite, The Borderlands games, Dishonored, The Gears of War series and countless others.
It is quite clear why the Unreal Engine is the most popular engine among Train2Game Students.
Final Alert for Microsoft competition!
Final Alert
The closing deadline is coming fast to join the latest Train2Game Microsoft competition.
Registration closes today, but worry not you have until mid-January to complete you entry.
Full details can be found on Student World – GOOD LUCK.
Train2Game News: Games Industry Jobs – 5.12.12
The Train2Game blog has found more jobs for you to apply for to hopefully get that foot in the door.
Art
Job Title Junior 3D Artist
Job Category Art / Animation
Skills Required Character Artist, Vehicle Artist, Environment Artist, 2D / Concept / Texture Artist, Technical Artist
Location Brighton
Job Description Come and join the Futur!
The team behind the critically acclaimed Velocity is looking for a talented Junior 3D Artist!
We are primarily looking for someone with demonstrable experience modeling and texturing of vehicles for use in a game engine such as Unity.
As Junior Artist you will be required to concept and model a number of vehicles as well as adopting the in house art style to create 2D game assets. You will therefore need to demonstrate a strong ability in both 3D asset creation and 2D illustration skills. The role will require closely working with all other members of the team to ensure high standards of presentation are maintained across each project.
This role is suited towards a highly motivated and talented recent graduate. While industry experience is not required, working knowledge of industry standard art creation software is.
Requirements include:
Excellent 3D modeling and texturing ability.
A strong interest in sci-fi and predominately vehicle design.
Strong 2D illustration skills a must.
Animation skills a plus.
General understanding of game design and development.
Ability to work both individually and in a small team.
Excellent communication skills with a friendly and positive demeanour.
Self motivating and diligent.
You must be excited about working in the sci-fi genre and have a strong portfolio that demonstrates both 3D vehicles and 2D illustrative skills. (Please note that if your portfolio does not contain examples of both then unfortunately, it will be automatically rejected without reply).
If you have the demonstrable skills, experience and passion for futuristic games then please get in touch as we’d love to hear from you! Please email your latest CV and a cover letter along with your portfolio to jobs@futurlab.co.uk. Please be aware that all suitable candidates will be asked to take an art test.
We’re a small and friendly team and we’re about to grow. This is a great opportunity for someone to be involved right at the beginning of the next exciting chapter of our story.
Design
Job Title Game Designer – IEB Microsoft Studios Soho (818909) Job
Job Category Game Design
Skills Required Game Design
Division Interactive Entertainment Business
Location Soho, London
Role Purpose
Do you love designing fun high quality games and experiences?
We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented game designer to join our growing multi-disciplinary team. The game designer will have the opportunity to engage in the exciting process of creating and maintaining games (including new IP). The game designer will be a member of the creative team working with the creative director. The ideal candidate must have a full understanding of the design vision and business model, be able to communicate it to the team and be responsible for the creation and maintenance of all game design documents and their execution.
Team/Department Mission
This role is part of a Microsoft Studios team creating games and entertainment services influenced by changing consumer consumption and emerging business models. Part of its purpose will be to showcase functionality of Microsoft platforms but the primary goal is to establish new entertainment franchises. The ethos of this team is to be distinctive, deliberate and disruptive. It has large ambitions.
Key Accountabilities:
– Drive game design and communicate across the team. Know the game inside out.
– Communicate major design decisions and issues with the creative director and executive producer.
– Work with technical, art and audio leads to realize the game design vision.
– Produce and roll out prototypes and design documents.
– Review work as it is implemented to ensure that it fits the design vision and is of the quality desired.
– Assist with the development of design team systems and tools.
– Test the game to ensure it is playable and fun.
– Support user testing and data gathering to continually improve the game.
Key Success Criteria:
– Be a positive, active, and contributing team member.
– Create presentations that outline plans for game design.
– Be able to pitch/communicate new concepts, mechanics and business models.
– Liaise closely with other disciplines to realise a shared vision.
– Communicate complex dependencies falling out of design into art, tech, audio and UI.
– Continuously evaluate games in development and make tough decisions to focus on, iterate on or cut features in order to make the game better.
– Continuously familiarize yourself and the team with important developments in game design and production outside of the team/project.
– Work with gameplay developers to develop systems that support desired gameplay.
– Work with tools developers to develop tools and workflows that enable inspired creativity on the design team.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
– Strong communication skills across all disciplines and at all levels.
– Design experience on shipped AAA console products and/or Mobile/F2P.
– Strong technical skills and a basic understanding of programming or scripting.
– Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
– Strong relationship-management skills.
– Passion for gaming, with excellent design insights across genres.
– Ability to produce articulate design documentation detailing innovative gameplay mechanics, character biographies, control systems, interface design, story lines and asset inventories.
– Willing to accept and provide direction, work well under pressure, and handle multiple tasks.
– Ability to work closely with all core development functions, as well as supporting functions.
– Comfortable with Unity, MS Word, MS Visio, MS Power Point.
You can apply HERE.
Developer
Job Title Games Programmer – iOS / Android
Job Category Programming
Skills Required AI / Artificial Intelligence, Tools, Gameplay, Mobile / iOS / Android, Graphics / Engine, Core Technology, UI / Front End, Graduate Programmer
Location Brighton
Job Description Boss Alien are a growing company working on exciting projects with small team sizes. We need programmers who are happy to work in whatever area is required of them – this could change on a daily basis!
We are looking for smart, energetic, friendly people to join us!
Required:
2.1 degree in Maths, Physics, Computer Science or related, or equivalent industry experience
Excellent knowledge of C# or C++
Excellent knowledge of algorithms and data structures
Experience of creating games on desktop or mobile platforms
Desire to make great games
Great communication skills (verbal and written)
Happy to work as part of a team
Demonstrable love for some area of game technology
A passion for playing games and solving problems
Flexible and keen to learn new skills
Great to have:
Knowledge of two or more other programming languages (for example Java, Python, PHP, Clojure)
1 or more years of games industry experience
1 or more shipped titles on console, desktop or mobile platforms
Strong knowledge of console, desktop and mobile architectures
Knowledge of asynchronous engineering techniques
Experience of Unity, Unreal or XNA
SQL
Experience using digital content creation tools (for example Max, Maya, Photoshop)
Find out more about us and apply at www.bossalien.com
Junior / Graduate Programmers with relevant demos and a positive attitude are encouraged to apply!
QA
Location: Edinburgh
Salary: Competitive
Company: Rockstar North
Rockstar North is looking for enthusiastic and self-motivated individuals to join our Games Test teams in Edinburgh. You will be expected to play through our latest games looking for problems and reporting errors, to ensure game quality before release.
Responsibilities
You will be finding and reproducing bugs, errors or problems in-game as directed. The role will require accurate, detailed and complete reporting to the required standards and subsequent revision of those errors or problems.
Qualifications
Successful applicants will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and enjoy working as part of a team. You will have good general computer skills and be a confident learner working with word processing, databases and spreadsheets. You will be able to show consistent attention to detail and have the ability to remain focussed when approaching repetitive tasks. We will be looking for flexibility regarding unsociable and extended working hours to meet the demands of the role.
Additional Information
Candidates must be 18 years of age and above and provide two references. The position will be a full-time short term contract. Applicants will preferably be educated to further or higher education standards.
This is a two stage application process. You will first be asked to complete an application pack from which you may be asked to attend an interview.
PLEASE APPLY ONLINE VIA www.rockstargames.com/jobs
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