Tag Archives: games industry

Enslaved fails to reach 500,000 sales

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Sales of Ninja Theory’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West haven’t even reached 500,000. That’s according to the Namco Bandai money report which states the new IP only sold 460,000 copies worldwide.

Namco had predicted sales would reach 800,000.

The disappointing figures suggest that Enslaved becoming a franchise might be unlikely, although only last week the Train2Game blog reported that  Namco Bandai  were looking at a sequel.

“It didn’t perform as well as we hoped it would, but we’re very proud of how it was received by both the media and the gamers who have experienced it,” said Namco Bandai Marketing Director Lee Kirton.

“I can’t discuss where we are in terms of a sequel, but we’re looking at reviews and feedback from the press and because of the gameplay and quality that Enslaved delivered, we see it as a great catalogue title going forward.”

Ninja Theory also want to produce a sequel, but for now are working on the reboot of Devil May Cry for Capcom.

Train2Game tested out Enslaved: Odyssey to the West at last years Eurogamer Expo, you can read our thoughts on the game here.

There’s also a report of the Enslaved Developer Session with Ninja Theory’s Tameem Antoniades a highly interesting read too. It contains information that will be of interest to Game Designers, Game Developers and Game Artists! It’s a must read.

You can also check out the thoughts of Train2Game Blog for more information.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the sales figures of Enslaved? Does it show that producing a new IP is a huge risk? Or was the game just released at a bad time?

As usual, you can leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum. Alternatively, you can tell us your thoughts via the Train2Game Twitter account.

[Source: Eurogamer]

Train2Game, in association with DR Studios and the University of Bedfordshire, will be holding a Game Jam at the end of March. For more information, see this Train2Game blog post or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.

Enslaved could become franchise suggests Namco

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Last years Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was a game that we at the Train2Game blog followed rather closely, but when it was released it was met with rather disappointing sales despite a lot of marketing.

However, speaking to MCV Online, Namco Bandai has revealed that the poor sales haven’t killed off the franchise.

“It didn’t perform as well as we hoped it would, but we’re very proud of how it was received by both the media and the gamers who have experienced it,” said Namco Bandai Marketing Director Lee Kirton.

“I can’t discuss where we are in terms of a sequel, but we’re looking at reviews and feedback from the press and because of the gameplay and quality that Enslaved delivered, we see it as a great catalogue title going forward.”

Namco Bandai also told MCV that they want to become a top five publisher.

“That’s the ultimate goal. We can’t go into too much detail about new titles and new business but we are working to a three-to-five year plan. We’re working closely with developers, discussing exciting new projects.”

Train2Game was at the Eurogamer expo last year and I personally was lucky enough to get a lot of hands on time with Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and you can read all about here.

There’s also a report of the Enslaved Developer Session with Ninja Theory’s Tameem Antoniades a highly interesting read too. It contains information that will be of interest to Game Designers, Game Developers and Game Artists!

You can also check out the thoughts of Train2Game Blog for more information.

So Train2Game, did you play Enslaved: Odyssey to the West? If so, do you think it needs a sequel? Were you planning on buying it before other bigger titles got in the way? Do you think you’ll look into it soon?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum. You can also let us know what you think on Twitter.

[Source: MCV Online]

Train2Game, in association with DR Studios and the University of Bedfordshire, will be holding a Game Jam at the end of March. For more information, see this Train2Game blog post or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.

Train2Game blog student interview special: Artist Fiona Stewart pre-Scottish Game Jam

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This weekend, Train2Game Art & Animation student Fiona Stewart (AKA FeeTheGiraffe on the Train2Game Forum) will be joining a team of experienced game developers at the Scottish Game Jam. Before Fiona left for Scotland, the Train2Game blog caught up with her to see how she was feeling before the big event.

Train2Game blog: Hi Fiona, first of all can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Train2Game Artist Fiona: I’ve been a Train2Game Art & Animation student since May 2010. I originally trained as a graphic artist and worked for a publishing company. I then went on to study Fine Art at a private studio which then lead to Bradford Art College to study Painting and Printing at B.A. level.

Since then I’ve been on the fringes of the games industry for the last four years as a texture artist having transferred my painting skills to digital. I also help other (non digital) Fine artists and catalogue their work for them. I joined the Train2Game Art & Animation course to learn 3D modelling, animation and how to make video games

Train2Game blog: How and why did you get involved with this weekends Scottish Game Jam?

Train2Game Artist Fiona: I was asked by Dave Sharp if I would be interested in joining his team as their 2D artist was not available for the Scottish Game Jam.  Already knowing some of the other team members, I felt I could slot in fairly easily. I had followed the team during last years Bangkok Game Jam, so I’m semi aware of what it involves. After seeing what they produced within the 48 hour period, I felt I wanted to experience it and hopefully gain some knowledge as well.

Train2Game blog: Are you confident the skills you’ve learned so far with Train2Game will help you?

Train2Game Artist Fiona: Having already learnt Photoshop as a digital artist prior to joining Train2Game, I believe half of my battle is already won. The Train2Game course has however provided me with the skills to know how a game gets put together rather then just knowing how to draw pretty pictures. So, I now feel confident enough in my abilities to be able to be of some use to the team while at the Scottish Game Jam.

I do feel confident enough to know how a game should look and how to produce the artwork to for use in one… the rest is up to the programmers.

Train2Game blog: How are you preparing for the event?

Train2Game Artist Fiona: Well, at the Scottish Game Jam nothing is provided so we have to take everything we might possibly need. For me that is my drawing tablet, camera (for taking photo textures or ref material if I need to), a card reader to read the photos, a Media drive that contains Photoshop, a bulk of photos I have already taken, my stash of fonts and brushes for Photoshop, my Wow-Pen and trackball (for when my hand starts to hurt so I can swap over), a laptop, a pillow and plenty of money for coffee!

Train2Game blog: What do you think you’ll learn in a high pressure environment at the Scottish Game Jam?

Train2Game Artist Fiona: Oh, tonnes. You’re being thrown in at the deep end. You have limited time to get it all right and with the promise of execution if we lose (thanks Dave) You have to work making sure you don’t make a mistake or you’ll hold the other team members up. Communication and teamwork has to work or it will all fall down.

Train2Game blog: How much are you looking forward to taking part in it?

Train2Game Artist Fiona: I’m looking forward to it a lot. I’m excited and nervous but I’m sure my experienced team mates will guide me though.  I hope I do OK!

Train2Game blog: Thanks Fiona, and good luck!

Train2Game, in association with DR Studios and the University of Bedfordshire, will be holding a Game Jam at the end of March. For more information, see this Train2Game blog post or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Analyst predicts “blowout” quarter for Activision

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Train2Game blog Activision logo image

The fact Activision will make a lot of money isn’t a surprise to Train2Game students, but the publisher will make an larger revenue this quarter than originally predicted.  That’s according to Analyst Cowen and Company who have raised their original estimations from $4.58 billion to $4.77 billion.

“We expect strong sales of Call of Duty: Black Ops and World of Warcraft: Cataclysm to drive a blowout quarter.”

Regular readers of the Train2Game blog may remember how both of these Activision published games have been very, very successful. Call of Duty: Black Ops was the biggest selling game in the UK during 2010, while World of Warcraft: Cataclysm sold 4.7 million copies worldwide in its first month.

These figures mean Cowen and Company have altered their predictions, increasing them up to $4.77 billion.  And Cowen’s Doug Creutz doesn’t think it’ll stop there:

“We believe that despite some challenges, Activision can grow earnings in FY11, based on continued growth from the Call of Duty franchise and likely new output from Blizzard.”

He also added that ‘modest’ income from True Crime: Hong Kong will help contribute a little to Activisions’ profits.

Cowen’s predictions for the next year assume Diablo III and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be released during the 2011 financial year.  Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty was another big seller for Activision during 2010, shifting 3 million copies during its first month on sale.

Activision reveals its results for Q4 1010 on February 9th.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the predictions on the estimated revenue of Activision? Well deserved for publishing a number of great games over the year? Or do you think they’re become too big and too successful?

Or do you just think the whole estimate by Cowen and Company is completely obvious anyway?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GamesIndustry.biz]

Starcraft II modder offered job by development studio

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World of Starcraft Train2Game blog image

Regular readers of the Train2Game blog will know all about how modding and community development can provide a leg up into a job in the games industry.

Now another budding game developer has been offered a job thanks to their modding work. A Starcraft II modder known only as ‘Ryan’ has been courted by League of Legends developers Riot Games after seeing a mod he’s working on called ‘World of Starcraft’

Yes, it’s an MMO based on the RTS Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty being built using the games Galaxy Editor.  Videos of World of Starcraft were removed from Youtube following coverage on a number of websites, at the request of ‘Activision Games Inc’ As of yet, the mod and its forums have yet to be affected by any order from Activision Blizzard.

However, Blizzard isn’t the only game development studio that have noticed Ryan’s work with modding. Riot Games Director Games Design Director – and former World of Warcraft designer – Tom Cadwell has contacted Ryan about the possibility of a job offer.

“When I see a modder with a lot of drive that has done something cool, I tend to contact them. I shot him an email recently asking if he was interested in exploring an opportunity here” he wrote on the Riot Games forum.

He also left his thoughts on the Blizzard situation:

“I don’t know because I’m not a Blizzard employee, but I seriously doubt this is anything other than the fact he named the mod World of StarCraft, which has an air of legitimacy that borderline infringes on Blizzar”.

“Blizzard is very supportive of their modders, but also vigorously depends certain aspects of their IP (as they should and must).”

Speaking to Pixelated Geek, Ryan said of the opportunity:

“I would be a complete idiot not to… I’ve waited my whole life for something like this.”

The Train2Game blog will be sure to yet you know the outcome of this tale! It looks like it could be another example of how modding and community design can help give aspiring developers a leg up into the industry, especially when it comes to working with PC games.

Only recently the Train2Game blog examined the Team Fortress 2 community developers who are now have an income from their creations!

The lesson for Train2Game students? Try your hand at modding, who knows where it may lead!

What are your thoughts on Ryan’s situation? Are you encouraged by the fact Riot Games are actively looking to recruit modders? And what are your thoughts on the whole World of Starcraft idea and the issues around it?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GamesIndustry.biz]

Codemasters recruiting for new online F1 game

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F1 2010 Train2Game blog image

Codemasters are hiring staff for a new browser based Formula 1 game. – encouraging news for Train2Game students keen to see jobs being created in the video games industry.

The new game development team will lead the development of what Codemasters describe as a ‘service-based online game.’ The announcement from Codemasters states:

“Set to deliver a fully official and high quality FORMULA ONE browser gaming experience, the as-yet-unnamed game will focus on being highly accessible, thanks to an innovative design approach to car control, while offering persistence and depth of gameplay for a mainstream online gaming audience.”

“FORMULA ONE is incredibly popular in many countries around the world, particularly in countries where online gaming is either already big or rapidly growing such as India, Brazil, Korea and China, the potential is clear” said David Solari, Vice President and General Manager for Codemasters Online.

“We have proven F1 is a major games brand and what we have planned will build upon that”.

No date has been given for the release of the newly announced project.

F1 2010 proved massively successful for Codemasters last year, with the game even taking top spot in the UK Charts during late September. The provided the Warwickshire based company with their most successful ever game.

What are your thoughts on the announcement? Are you pleased to see more jobs being created in the games industry? Do you think targeting a ‘mainstream online gaming audience’ could point towards Codemasters looking towards social media gaming?

Leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm sells 4.7 million copies in one month

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World of Warcraft Cataclysm Train2Game Blog Image

Train2Game students certainly weren’t the only people hyped for the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm last month, with Activision Blizzard revealing that 4.7 million copies of the expansion have been sold worldwide.

The huge success of Cataclysm – a game which has more than likely stolen the lives of many Train2Game students – means that it has set a new record for monthly PC game sales.   The previous record holder was another World of Warcraft expansion in the form of  Wrath of the Lich King.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm was released on December 7th and sold 3.3 million copies worldwide in its first 24 hours.  Here in the UK, it managed to reach third in the All Formats chart.

“We created thousands of new quests, introduced new lands to explore, and extensively revamped the game world for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, making it our biggest and most ambitious expansion yet,” said CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment Mike Morhaime.

“We’ve been floored by the community’s response so far, and we’d like to thank them for their continued passion and support for World of Warcraft, and for helping Cataclysm reach this incredible milestone.”

Prior to the launch of Cataclysm 12 million players – including many Train2Game students – held monthly subscriptions for World of Warcraft.

2010 was a good year Activision Blizzard’s PC releases, with Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty selling over three million copies during its first month on sale.

Today UKIE revealed the top selling games of 2010. In the PC Chart, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm was fourth.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the success of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm? Are you impressed by the sales numbers? If you’re still playing, how are you finding it?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Activision Blizzard]

UKIE reveal top selling games of 2010. Can you guess what they are Train2Game?

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Call of Duty: Black Ops

Train2Game students are evidently aware that 2010 was a huge year for the games industry, and everyone has their own opinion as to what were the top games.  Of course, debate will continue to rage across the internet – including the Train2Game forum – but now Interactive Entertainment body UKIE has revealed the UK’s top selling games of 2010.

Train2Game students probably won’t be too surprised about what title was at the top of the list…Yes, it was that little game you might have heard of called Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Activision’s flagship title has sold over three million copies in the UK, with almost half of those sales coming in the first 24 hours. Call of Duty: Black Ops has held the Number One spot in the UK All Formats Chart for eight weeks. It currently sits in third, the games lowest position in the All Formats Chart since its massive release in November.

Current chart topper FIFA 11 was the second biggest selling game of 2010, which is again rather unsurprising given its record breaking amount of worldwide sales. Both the Number 1 and Number 2 best selling games of 2010 have received plenty of discussion on the Train2Game forum and the Train2Game Facebook page.

Just Dance was the third best selling game of 2010 and is one of four dancing or fitness games to make the top ten. The others are Wii Fit Plus (5th) Just Dance 2 (6th) and Wii Sports resort (8th)

Rockstars’ Red Dead Redemption was the fourth biggest selling game of the year, while Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – reported by the Train2Game blog to be one of the biggest surprises of the year – was 2010’s seventh biggest selling video game.

Xbox 360 exclusive shooter Halo: Reach – which made $200 million worldwide during its first day on sale – was the ninth biggest selling game of the year. The top ten is rounded out by Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

UKIE Director General Micheal Rawlinson said the games industry is ever growing, something that’ll please students on Train2Game courses!

“2010 was another strong year for the video games industry, with record breaking sales figures from games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops. 2010 also saw casual gaming really take off, particularly on social networking sites and on mobile phones. With more video games than ever before being played, on an ever growing range of games consoles, PCs, mobile phones, mobile devices and internet enabled TVs, the industry has widened beyond all expectations and will continue to expand exponentially in 2011.”

The full 2010 All-Formats Top Ten is as follows:

1: Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
2: FIFA 11 (EA)
3: Just Dance (Ubisoft)
4: Red Dead Redemption (Take-Two)
5: Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
6: Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
7: Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
8: Wii Sports Resort (Nintendo)
9: Halo: Reach (Microsoft)
10: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (EA)

Interested Train2Game students can also check out the individual consoles top five selling games on the UKIE website.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Top Ten of 2010? Does it show a games industry that’s very healthy? Or do you think the list is too unsurprising? And what are your thoughts about almost half of the best selling games being casual titles?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE]

UK Charts: FIFA 11 stays top as Black Op slips

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FIFA 11 remains top of the All-Formats chart, while Train2Game students may be surprised to see Call of Duty: Black Ops has slipped to third.

EA’s FIFA 11 is this years top selling game,  having taken first from Call of Duty: Black Ops last week. It’s the fourth week the football giant has held the top spot, having originally claimed Number One after its release at the very end of September.

Call of Duty: Black Ops once again slips down a position to third, after previously holding number one for a total of eight weeks including at Christmas. Could Train2Game students see Call of Duty: Black Ops slipping further down the charts in the coming weeks? FIFA 11 and Black Ops are separated by Just Dance 2 which climbs from fourth up to second.

The top five is rounded out by Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit which drops once place to fourth, while Wii Fit Plus re-enters the top ten and takes fifth after jumping eight spots up the charts.

The success of Wii Fit Plus causes Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – which the Train2Game blog reported as one of the biggest surprises of last year – to drop one place to sixth. Former Number One Gran Turismo 5 remains in seventh place.

Another former chart topper in the form of Fallout: New Vegas continues its steady climb up the chart moving up one position to eighth place. It takes the place of The Sims 3 which drops to ninth, while the top ten is completed by Kinect Sports.

Mass Effect 2 has re-entered the charts ahead of its PlayStation 3 release and takes 18th spot.

The UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten for the week ending January 8th 2011 is as follows:

1. FIFA 11 (Electronic Arts)
2. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
4. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (Electronic Arts)
5. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
6. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
7. Gran Turismo 5 (Sony)
8. Fallout: New Vegas (Bethesda)
9. The Sims 3 (Electronic Arts)
10. Kinect Sports (Microsoft)

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on this weeks chart? Do you think Call of Duty: Black Ops will continue to slip, or will it reclaim Number One in the future? Could Just Dance 2 take the top spot next week?

And with Square Enix releasing Kingdom Hearts: Re: coded for the Nintendo DS – which you can read about here on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog –  this week, do you think it’ll feature in the top ten come Monday?

As usual, Train2Game blog readers can leave their thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Pachter blasts Activision for not introducing Call of Duty online fees

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Train2Game Call of Duty

The man gamers, including Train2Game students, love to hate has spoken again. No, it isn’t Bobby Kotick but the guy is talking about Call of Duty.  Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter has blasted Activisions’ decision not to charge an online fee for their successful online shooter.

As reported on the Train2Game blog last month, Pachter recently predicted that Call of Duty: Black Ops players would have to eventually pay an online. Activision quickly moved to say they’d never, ever charge a fee for playing Call of Duty online.

Pachter is seemingly not happened with this decision, and in a move that may surprise many Train2Game blog readers, the analyst has openly criticised the gaming publishing giants for their position:

“We were disappointed to hear Activision’s new head of publishing flatly deny the company’s plans to charge for multiplayer,” said Pachter.

“We firmly believe that until the publishers address monetization of multiplayer, game sales will continue to be challenged by the publishers’ altruistic decision to provide significantly more entertainment value per hour than ever in history.”

“Considering that each of the publicly traded publishers exists to maximize shareholder value, we view their reticence to monetize multiplayer as a betrayal of shareholder trust, and can only hope that each implements plans to address the impact of increasing free multiplayer going forward.”

“Even if we are mistaken and charging for multiplayer doesn’t result in packaged goods growth, we think that investors will be satisfied if publisher revenues once again begin to grow due to contribution from multiplayer monetization.”

“In our view, monetization of multiplayer is one of the greatest opportunities for the publishers, and we think that it would be a serious strategic error to pass on this opportunity,

Michael Pachter may be unhappy with the decision of Activision not to charge for playing Call of Duty: Black ops online, but Train2Game students will certainly approve. Many posters on the thread on the Train2Game forum weren’t exactly keen on the idea.

Regular readers of the Train2Game blog will also know about the massive success of Call of Duty: Black Ops and may question why Activision would risk alienating players by charging! Call of Duty: Black Ops is still selling well and regained the top spot in the UK charts this week.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Pachters’ comments? Why do you think he is so keen to lay into Activision?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

(Source: Industry Gamers)