Tag Archives: Microsoft

Train2Game news: Your chance to join Microsoft Flight closed beta

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Train2Game students have the opportunity to join a closed beta for Microsoft’s new flight sim title, Microsoft Flight. It’s intended for Microsoft Flight take over from the discontinued Microsoft Flight Sim series, with the beta is scheduled to take place in January.

“We have big news for all of our Flight fans: the Microsoft Flight launch sequence has begun!” said a post on Microsoft.com.

“We’re thrilled to announce that the Microsoft Flight beta is scheduled to kick-off in January 2012 and we are now accepting applications to participate in the beta program – to apply click here.”

The post adds that Microsoft will be sorting through Microsoft Flight beta applications over the coming month, with those selected to participate receiving further information before January’s take off.

Beta testing is an excellent way for Train2Game students, especially those on the Games QA Tester course to practice their bug hunting skills. Not only that, but in an interview with the Train2Game blog, Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester Karl Tars said that beta testing is potentially a way to get into the industry.

For more on the significance of beta testing to the game development process, see the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, will you attempt to get involved in Microsoft Flight’s closed beta? And what are your thoughts on Microsoft’s attempt to revive the flight sim?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: MCV Online]

Train2Game news: Next-Gen Xbox console ‘Xbox Next’ rumoured for 2013 launch

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Train2Game students will get their hands on the next-gen Xbox console during 2013. That’s according to sources of Develop Online.

Reportedly codenamed ‘Xbox Next,’ Develop reveals sources ranging from chip manufactures to middleware firms say they expect the next-gen Xbox console to be revealed at E3 2013 before going on sale in the months afterwards.

It’d point towards a release in the run up to Christmas 2013, and if true, Train2Game students may want to start saving now!

Develop also report that British developer Lionhead are working on an internal project called ‘Fable Next’ and Unreal Engine 4 could be available before the 2014 release date reported on by the Train2Game blog.

Develop report that Microsoft has declined to comment.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the reports? Do you believe we’ll see ‘Xbox Next’ before the end of 2013?

Leave your comments on the Train2Game blog, or here on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Develop Online]

Train2Game news: Ubisoft see a ‘bright future’ for Kinect

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Train2Game students may have mixed opinions on the future of Kinect, but Ubisoft believe it has a bright future.

The publisher is behind a variety of motion control titles including Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Just Dance and Fighters Uncaged, and SVP of sales and marketing Tony Key believes the system will only continue to grow.

“Well, when the install base gets big, it becomes a more attractive business model for publishers to say all right, I can make money making a Kinect-only game.” he told Gamasutra.

“So I think you’ll see more and more Kinect titles coming next year, which is going to support more and more hardware sales. So I see a bright future for Kinect.”

Key also predicts that there will be a much higher number of Kinect titles released next year.

“What kinds of products, I can’t say. But I do think the system will continue to grow, and I also think that the amount of games coming out in 2012 will be much higher than the amount of games coming out in 2011.”

Ghost Recon: Future Solider is one of a number of Ubisoft titles scheduled for release next year that’ll be Kinect compatible, find out more in the Train2Game blog interview with the developers. 

The Ubisoft SVP of sales and marketing also told Gamasutra that Just Dance has been crucial to bringing women to Kinect.

“We think that Just Dance is a huge game changer for the Kinect system in terms of bringing more females into the Kinect space.” he said.

“Microsoft is spending a lot of time, resources and strategy around bringing more families in, bringing more females in. Because they have the male, they’ve got him nailed. So to really really grow they know they’ve got to get those people in there.”

“I think Just Dance 3 is an awesome opportunity where we could have a Kinect game with more females playing than males. And that would be a first for Kinect as far as we know.” Key added.

So Train2Game, what do you make of Ubisoft’s predictions? Will Kinect become more popular in 2012? Are they right to rely on the success of Just Dance?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Gamasutra]

Train2Game news: More to come from current gen consoles says Gears of War 3 designer

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Train2Game students may be eagerly any announcements on the next generation of consoles, but there’s plenty of life in what we already have yet.

That’s according to Epic Games Design Director and the man behind Gears of War 3, Cliff Bleszinski.

“I think if we bring out any more products on the 360 depending on life cycle, we’ll be able to squeeze more water from that stone,” he told The Telegraph.

“That said, I still think there is a huge amount of room for improvement in graphics. We want to get to Avatar-quality and real time and beyond. I think we can absolutely get there, hopefully in the next generation if everybody ponies up and does good hardware.”

And Bleszinski hinted that there are already new consoles in the works, but refused to be drawn on anything. “I could tell you, but I’d violate an NDA.” he said.

Nothing is official, but as the Train2Game blog reported earlier this year, Microsoft were looking for designers to work on the next Xbox console.  Meanwhile, Sony claim they’re in no rush to develop the successor to the PlayStation 3.

There’s no indication of any release dates for the next generation of consoles, but some Train2Game students have speculated that the 2014 release scheduled of the newly announced Homefront 2 sequel could point to it being one of the first next-gen titles.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Cliff Blesinski’s remarks?  How much room for improvement do you think the current generation of consoles has? And when do you think we’ll see new systems released?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: The Telegraph]

Train2Game students on ‘garbage’ Kinect comments of Super Meat Boy dev

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As reported by the Train2Game blog on Friday, Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen labelled Kinect for the Xbox 360 as ‘garbage’ and that it’s ruining game design.

As you might expect from such a controversial comment – and the manner in with was said – it’s split opinion amongst Train2Game students

A number of Train2Game students made their voices heard on the Kinect issue on both the Train2Game Facebook page and the Train2Game forum; here’s a selection of some of their comments.

“He is right though they are bringing out all this stuff when there is no need” said Ian Casper Dale on the Train2Game Facebook page. “For the Kinect you have no controllers and the only games for it is things I can do in real life like running, fighting etc it’s a load of BS if you ask me and I agree with Super Meat Boy”

“I have to agree people are worrying too much about Kinect and losing the TRUE meaning and game play of what thay started out as”  Darren Williams agreed on Facebook.

“I couldn’t agree more with Edmund McMillen” added Steven Brashaw “Motion control is unnecessary, why do you think games like Mario Kart Wii & Smash Bros Brawl have Gamecube controller compatibility? I’ll stick to pads thank you & have a nice day”

However, not all Train2Game students see Kinect as a novelty, and some have very positive to say about the Xbox 360 motion controller.

“I suppose aiming for the casual gaming Market ( as they seem to be ) is always a safe bet. After all they are biggest spenders. Give it time am sure something good/better will rear its head and if not it’s at least a good direction for gaming in the future.”  Brian Malm replied on the Train2Game Facebook page.

Catriona Smith also praised Kinect on the Train2Game Facebook page, adding that it’s great for her child.

“I have the Kinect and I love it and my 3 year old loves it as well the games that you can get for the Kinect all good and fund to play plus you have the star wars game for it as well and it is a good way to get fit if you don’t have time to go to the gym” she said.

Meanwhile, on the Train2Game forum, Vampire Duck agreed that Kinect is great for fitness, and no one is forcing the Super Meat Boy developers to use Kinect.

“Well I’ve lost half a stone or more playing Kinect Adventures, so I don’t think I could agree. I like losing half a stone or more. 

“As for the rest, it is an option, no one is forcing him to use it, it’s not even as if all or the majority of Xbox games use it, and nothing can get sold without it. I think he may still be a little pissed with Microsoft’s broken promises on Super Meat Boy promotion, which is fair enough.”

So there you have it, a little insight into what you, the Train2Game students think about Kinect. But what are your thoughts on the matter?

You can get involved in the discussion on here on the Train2Game blog, on the Train2Game Facebook page, or on the Train2Game forum.

Kinect is ‘garbage’ and Game Design is what matters says Super Meat Boy dev

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Train2Game students may be split on the impact Kinect will have on the industry, but Super Meat Boy developer Edmund McMillen hates it. Absolutely hates it with a passion.

Unfortunately for him, and as reported by the Train2Game blog, Kinect featured heavily in the Microsoft E3 presentation.

McMillen believes that more focus should be put on Game Design, rather than creating peripherals such as Kinect. He passionately believes it…in a very sweary fashion.

“Gameplay is what matters. Good game design” McMillen told Eurogamer.  “It’s almost as if they thought developers said ‘s**t, we’ve hit a wall and we can’t design fun games anymore, and can’t innovate through game design itself, we need all these crazy-ass peripherals that are going to help break through barriers and find new uncharted territory”

“No, just f***ing sit down and come up with a new genre. Chris Hecker came up with a new genre – Spy Party – so I guarantee other people can too. Minecraft – a creative MMO. And Katamari too. We don’t need peripherals.”

Speaking about Kinect specially, McMillen was just as ‘passionate’ in his views.

“That thing is a piece of garbage. There is absolutely nothing good for it. It’s a joke. It’s a f***ing joke. It doesn’t make any f***ing sense. It’s painful because they justify it by saying ‘a lot of people bought it’, but that’s just marketing.”

As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Kinect has been a success in that over 10 million units have been sold.

“I’m telling you, there’s not going to be anything for it that’s so compelling that 10 years from now you’ll tell your friends ‘wow, I really want to break out the Kinect and play this’. It’s just not going to happen.” McMillen said of Kinect games.

Microsoft have previously stated that all their future first party games will come with Kinect support.

“Buttons. Buttons and game pads. Just give me my f***ing game pad back.” He replied when asked what he wanted from the next generation of consoles.

So Train2Game, do you agree with the Super Meat Boy devs comments? Should the industry focus more on games then things like motion control?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Eurogamer]

Microsoft: Kinect becoming ‘super-responsive’

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As reported by the Train2Game blog, Microsoft gave Kinect a huge push during their E3 press conference, with developers getting better at using the technology.

Now  Kinect developers are starting to unlock “a whole bunch of new stuff” with their “super-responsive” titles. At least that’s according to Kinect’s Microsoft creative director, Kudo Tsunoda.

“I think the great thing about Kinect, and you saw so many new types of experience at the E3 keynote, is it’s all being down with the same hardware and development tools that have been available for a while – it’s just us as developers getting better at using the technology,” he said.

“You could see that in Kinect Star Wars: we’ve got the responsiveness down now where you could be blocking laser shots coming in with the lightsaber, which obviously needs to be very responsive to be able to do that.”

“It’s super-responsive, and that’s certainly unlocking a whole bunch of new stuff.” He added.

Microsoft has already stated that all first Xbox 360 titles will come with Kinect support in future, and you can find out more here on the Train2Game blog.

And as also previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Minecraft for the Xbox 360 will also come with Kinect support.

Only yesterday the Train2Game blog reported that while Peter Molyneux is a huge fan of Kinect, he believes the lack of buttons leads to interface control issues.

So Train2Game, how do you see Kinect technology developing? How much will it improve in future? And to what extent could it change Game Design as we know it?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: CVG]

Molyneux: lack of buttons for Kinect causes problems

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Peter Molyneux has admitted that there are problems with motion control, in comments that may be well supported by Train2Game students.

“I’ll admit that Kinect has got some problems. As an input device it has some real problems.” He told Gaming Union.

“Without a thumb stick, navigation is a real problem. You haven’t got any buttons, so ordering the player to do something can be somewhat of a problem” he continued. It’s a fair point that Train2Game Game Designers may have thought of too.

“But what Kinect does have is a great sense of freedom and emotion. So that’s what we’ve tried to do with Fable: The Journey.It started about seven months ago when Microsoft came to us and said, ‘Look we want you to do a [Kinect] experience for the core gamers” Molyneux added.

“So we sat down and thought through the problems with that, and the first thing was figuring out how we can make Kinect more engaging, more engrossing, and more emotional than any control-based game or any Fable game has ever been before.”

Microsoft are very keen to push Kinect, and as reported by the Train2Game blog, the motion controller featured heavily in their E3 presentation. Earlier this month, the Train2Game blog also reported that Microsoft say all first party titles will come with Kinect support in future.

Train2Game students may also like to be reminded that earlier this year, Molyneux stated that up and coming game developers – which of course includes those currently on Train2Game courses – should get more support from the industry.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Molyneux’s comments about Kinect? Does it show that the traditional controller still has a lot to offer?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Gaming Union via Develop]

All first party Xbox 360 titles to come with Kinect support

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All first-party Xbox 360 titles will come with Kinect voice support in future.  That’s according to Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer who was speaking about the device.

Train2Game students can remind themselves about the Kinect heavy Microsoft E3 presentation here on the Train2Game blog.

“It’s not a mandate that everything we do in first-party has to support Kinect right now,” Spencer told GameSpot.

“But I will say, specifically with voice, that there are some things that just seem to make navigating and playing games so much easier, that I would guess the answer will be yes in the end, that you’ll see all first-party games using some form of Kinect functionality.”

He added that while adding Kinect doesn’t mean making huge differences to gameplay, but would make the whole experience better.

“Whether it’s voice in Forza or head-tracking in Forza, which you wouldn’t say is somehow turning the Forza gameplay experience on it’s head,” Spencer said.

“Rather, it’s just using the advantages of what Kinect brings to make the experience better. So I think there’s some specific examples where Kinect makes everything better.”

As reported by the Train2Game blog last year, Spencer said Kinect would become core to the Xbox 360 experience.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Spencer’s comments? Do you think Kinect support will change major Xbox 360 games? Do you think it needs to happen?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GameSpot]

Train2Game E3 news: Microsoft goes Kinect heavy

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Mass Effect 3 will have Kinect support

Microsoft’s two hour E3 presentation focused on a range of improvements and new uses for Kinect.

As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, the hands free motion controller broke the 10 million sales barriers in March.  Microsoft’s E3 conference shows their looking to both consolidate and increase this market with Kinect news for both hardcore games and more casual applications.

Massive upcoming titles including Mass Effect 3 will see Kinect integrated into gameplay with the use of voice recognition technology.  It’ll mostly be used for selecting dialogue during conversations, with the option of commanding squad mates too. Of course, Mass Effect 3 will still feature regular control.

The introduction of Kinect compatibility for Mass Effect 3 does two things; firstly it allows Microsoft to take a step towards bringing Kinect to a hardcore audience – the Bioware title is highly anticipated by Train2Game forum users – while the voice commands are step towards making gaming a more interactive experience.

Interestingly, the Train2Game blog reported in April that Kinect developer Rare believe that voice commands are the future. The future may be here with Mass Effect 3 is released next year.

Microsoft’s E3 conference also revealed that Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will be adding Kinect compatibility. Players will be using it to customise weapons and then test them on a virtual shooting range. It’ll be interesting to see how it works first hand, and then to see if’s implemented for the full-game. Again, it’s evidence of Microsoft attempting to bring Kinect to the hardcore.

Kinect Star Wars

However, in what may be disappointing news for Train2Game students, the Kinect Star Wars demo showed that it appears to be an on the rails game with a lightsaber instead of a gun – not the hardcore title many were looking for.

The press event also demonstrated that Microsoft are very much attempting to use Kinect to tap into the casual market that the Nintendo Wii has held for some time.  Kinect Disneyland Adventures, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, and Kinect Fun Labs all demonstrated a family friendly direction for Kinect. We also got more casual titles in the form of Kinect Sports 2 and Dance Central 2.

At least when it came to non-Kinect titles there was something for the hardcore gamer, with live demos of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Tomb Raider looking very impressive. It very much looks like the Train2Game blog is justified in listing Tomb Raider as one of the most anticipated games of the year. (That is, if it’s released this year. There’s no date yet)

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Kinect heavy nature of the Microsoft presentation? Does it demonstrate Kinect is the future of the industry? Or are Microsoft just attempting to force it into as many titles as possible? How would you implement it into ‘hardcore’ games?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.