Train2Game News: GTA: San Andreas now available for iOS

CJ_and_HomiesRockstar Games is proud to announce that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is now available for select iOS devices.

Upon its original release, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas took the groundbreaking series to new heights, delivering three detailed cities and an entire state for players to roam.

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was a giant leap forward for the series, bringing the early ’90s West Coast to life in a massive world full of possibilities,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “We’re thrilled for players to experience it all on mobile devices.”

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas features a vast open-world covering the state of San Andreas and its three major cities – Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas. In addition to enhanced visual fidelity and over 70 hours of gameplay, the game has received several technical upgrades for the iOS version and has been specially modified for use with mobile devices. Upgrades and enhancements include:

  • Re-mastered, high-resolution graphics including lighting enhancements, an enriched color palette and improved character models;
  • Dynamic detailed shadows and real-time environmental reflections (iPhone 5 series/iPad 4th Gen and above);
  • Physical controller support for all Made-for-iOS controllers;
  • Cloud save support for playing across all of your iOS devices for Rockstar Social Club Members;
  • Updated checkpoint system;
  • Dual analog stick controls for full camera and movement control;
  • Three different touch control schemes and customizable controls.

Five years ago, Carl Johnson escaped from the pressures of life in Los Santos, a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs and corruption. Now it’s the early 90’s and Carl’s got to go home. His mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster. On his return to the neighborhood, a couple of corrupt cops frame him for homicide. CJ is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is available for $6.99, and can be purchased for iOS.

Train2Game News: Createrria becoming indie phenomenon

logo_big11 days after its launch on the Apple App Store, Independent Polish developer Incuvo are proud to announce some impressive stats for its debut title Createrria, the first application that allows players to create and publish their own games.

Since its full global roll out on December 6th Createrria has achieved some impressive numbers that have catapulted it in to the status of genuine indie phenomenon!

·      500,000 users
·      560,000 games created
·      66,000 games published within the Incuvo community
·      60,000 shares to through social media including Facebook and Twitter
·      7.4 million plays of games created by the Incuvo community
·      Reached #1 Adventure game for iPad on the US app store
·      Reached #9 all free apps for iPad on the US app store

Createrria is fast becoming a must have app for games designers and developers with it’s easy to use creation tools.

Train2Game News: Mobile Game Creation App Released

IMG_0146Independent Polish developer Incuvo have released their innovative game creation app Createrria.

This is the first application that allows players to create and publish their own games, free to download, Createrria is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod with an Android version to follow next year.

Createrria turns the fun and joy of making games in to a game itself. Become an instant game designer by creating the games you always wanted to play or construct your own improved version of world famous franchises! Want to tell a story or create an awesome action game? No problem. Have a great idea for a puzzle game or platformer? Go right ahead. Createrria offers quick and easy tools to create any game you want without any technical or programming skills. With just a few taps you can craft your own games and share them with your friends.

“Nowadays you can create almost anything on mobile devices; Take photos, paint, compose music, even shape virtual pottery – you  name it. But until now there hasn’t really been a good app for game creation. We want to change that with Createrria. And remember, this is meant for players, not developers.” commented Jakub Duda, Incuvo co-founder.

“I often start Createrria early in the morning just to check new crazy game ideas that appeared in the community the previous night. It’s a great feeling when players surprise you with new creations.” said Wojciech Borczyk, Incuvo’s second co-founder.

Want to create that great 8-bit classic? Then the Pixel Art Theme is for you. How about a Grimm fairy tale with a twist? The Fable Theme is what you’re after. Featuring a variety of powerful and easy-to-use tools, all the graphic styles in Createrria comes with its own set of backgrounds, terrain, items and enemies!

Already the recipient of critical acclaim including making the final of the ‘Game Connection 2012 Best Project’ Createrria will unlock the game making dreams of aspiring creators everywhere.

You can view the trailer for Createrria below

Train2Game News: Assassin’s Creed Pirates out on mobile

AC PiratesToday Ubisoft announced that the next game in the award-winning Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed Pirates, is now available on iOS and Android.

The year is 1716, the dawn of the Golden Age of piracy in the Caribbean. Players take on the role of Alonzo Batilla, a young and ambitious Captain who is embarking on an epic quest to find La Buse’s legendary treasure. Along his way Alonzo will cross paths with famous buccaneers including Blackbeard, Bellamy and Hornigold and find himself caught in the middle of the ancestral fight between Assassins and Templars.

In Assassin’s Creed Pirates, players will be tasked to manage their crew, upgrade their ship, recruit new crew members and engage in massive and brutal real-time naval battles to become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean.

Ubisoft Paris has developed a brand new mobile engine to bring groundbreaking 3D visuals to Assassin’s Creed Pirates. This engine is responsible for the breathtaking moving waters, lush islands, and gorgeous graphics that set new visual standards for mobile platforms.

This is definitely becoming a trend with the big franchise games to have a smaller mobile game. It shows that the big developers even see the mobile market as a strong and healthy platform.

Train2Game News: Xbox One SmartGlass app available now

Xbox One SmartGlassThe release of Xbox One is nearly upon us but before Xbox One arrives on Nov. 22, you can download the Xbox One SmartGlass app today.

The Xbox One Smartglass App is separate from the Xbox360 app that you may currently own on your smartdevice. You may remember from the Xbox One launch announcement that Microsoft are planning on making this app a lot more integral to your console experience.

Of course you may wonder what the point to getting the app would be before the console is even released. Until the console is released you may want to try these three things to wet your appetite for the next generation console:

  • Search for the perfect game. Don’t waste any time – search for new Xbox One games so you can jump right in when your console is ready. Xbox One SmartGlass also lets you view information such as game details, achievements and challenges so you’re ready to get going with your favorite games. You can even check out the Game DVR clips already uploaded by the community!
  • Keep up with friends. Connect with friends and the Xbox Live community even before you finish setting up your console. Use the app to see what your friends have been up to, check out their latest achievements, or read your messages while you’re waiting.
  • Personalize your dashboard. Pin your favorite games and apps to the Home screen so you jump into your favorite activities right when you finish setting up your console and log into Xbox Live.

Connecting Xbox One SmartGlass to your Xbox One is easy. Just use the same wireless network on your Xbox One SmartGlass-enabled device as your Xbox One and open the app to automatically connect to your console. Once synced, you can use Xbox One SmartGlass to fly through your console set-up by using gestures to navigate and your device’s keyboard to log in to Xbox Live.

Additionally, Microsoft have partnered with developers to deliver some amazing experiences for movies, games and apps available on day one and beyond worldwide. These include Star Trek Into Darkness, Fast & Furious 6, Dead Rising 3, Just Dance 2014, Battlefield 4, Internet Explorer and Machinima.

The Xbox One SmartGlass app is available for download now on all iOS, Android and Windows 8 smart devices.

Train2Game News: New Apple iPad’s

Apple LogoApple has unveiled their new iPad Air and the latest version of its smaller iPad Mini line, both of which sport Apple’s 64-bit A7 processor.

The new iPad Air’s biggest selling point is it a smaller form factor and is about 20 per cent thinner than the fouth generation iPad, but still boasts a 9.7 inch screen. It is one of the lightest tablets in the world at only one pound in weight.

The A7 chip made its debut with the iPhone 5S, and Apple claims it provides “twice the CPU and graphics performance” of the last iPad. The new processor also supports OpenGL ES version 3.0.

Both models also have the same M7 motion coprocessor as the iPhone 5S, which tracks accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass data, and a 2048×1536 resolution retina display. Both new devices also come with an iSight 5 megapixel camera, and run iOS 7.

The iPad Air is due on shelves November 1st at a $399-to-$699 price tag. The iPad mini should follow later in the month for $529. Apple have also dropped the price of the current iPad mini to $299.

Train2Game News: Batman: Arkham Origins TV Spot

Batman Arkham OriginsWith just a few days until the launch of Batman: Arkham Origins, today Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment unveiled the game’s TV spot.

The emotional piece depicts the transformation from Bruce Wayne’s dark childhood to his position as the feared crime-fighting hero. It is a short clip but it shows a lot of character in Bruce Wayne and it certainly has me excited for the new game!

You can view the TV spot below

Batman: Arkham Origins is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license and features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City.  Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, players will meet many important characters for the first time and forge key relationships.

The games will release on all platforms worldwide beginning Oct 25, 2013.  Batman: Arkham Origins free-to-play mobile game is available now in the Apple App Store for iPad, iPhone and iPod.

Train2Game News: Apple Announcement Tonight

Apple LogoApple is expected to reveal the latest updates to its iPad range at an invitation-only event which kicks off tonight in America

Various technology websites and national news publications have claimed for months that the next-gen iPad will be thinner and lighter than previous models. It is has also been estimated it will run Apple’s new 64-bit A7 chip and feature an improved camera. It’s also been said that the company’s new fingerprint sensor, Touch ID, could make it into the final product.

iPad mini is reportedly due to be upgraded soon with a retina display and either the A7 processor or the A6 one currently used in iPhone 5C.

The new Mac Pro and OS X Mavericks could also feature at tonight’s event, which coincides with both Nokia’s Innovation Reinvented showcase and the US launch of Microsoft’s Surface 2.

It’s claimed that Apple will launch the new iPads on November 1, this may be confirmed during tonights announcements.

In July, Apple reported a second consecutive drop in quarterly profits despite a significant increase in iPhone sales.

During the three months ended June 29, iPad sales came in at 14.6 million units, down from 17 million in the same period a year earlier.

Train2Game News: AppsWorld Reminder for T2G Students

AppsworldThe academic team will be at AppsWorld 2013. So if you need some one-to-one tuition or simply need a little help come to Stand M6.

The added bonus is this year’s Earls Court 2 event is set to be the biggest yet with over 250 exhibitors and over 8000+ attendees including developers, mobile marketers, mobile operators, device manufacturers, platform owners and industry professionals registered for two days of high level insight and discussion.

AppsWorld 22-23 October 2013 at Earls Court 2 Train2Game STAND NUMBER M6

To see more information about the event visit http://www.apps-world.net/

Train2Game News: Help for Heroes mobile game

Hero BearsHelp for Heroes launched a new game on mobile devices to help aid their charity featuring the voices of Jeremy Clarkson and Lorraine Kelly.

The game, Hero Bears was launched today and Help for Heroes is aiming to break the record for the fastest downloaded charity game app to help raise money so it can provide support for Service personnel and veterans who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses. The previous record holder, Comic Relief in 2013 had 75,000 downloads in three months.

Players of the game will guide two Help for Heroes bear mascots as they hold a stretcher carrying a third bear across an obstacle course. With the nostalgic military tune The Colonel Bogey March playing in the background, the aim of the app is to collect as many tokens along the route while jumping over gaps, changing levels and squeezing through gaps.

The game also has videos featuring patrons of the charity Jeremy Clarkson and Lorraine Kelly. Clarkson gives scathing put-downs to players with low scores while Kelly offers positive encouragement to help spur them on. As fans of the charity, both Kelly and Clarkson thank the public for downloading the app.

The app is the brain-child of Bryn Parry, Co-Founder of Help for Heroes. A former professional cartoonist, Bryn drew the iconic hero bear characters which are used in the app. A rolling water-colour styled background creates a unique gameplay theme.

Hero Bears is available now on iOS and Android and costs £1.99 with £1 of every sale going to Help For Heroes