Tag Archives: mobile gaming

Barriers of entry into industry “being blown away” say Remedy (Good news for Train2Game students then!)

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Remedy logo

In a statement that Train2Game students may mind surprising coming from a big developer, Alan Wake producers Remedy believe casual and social games are very good for the games industry.

Last week, the Train2Game blog reported on Angry Birds reaching 200 million downloads; it’s just one sign of how huge this relatively new sector of the games industry has become.

And Remedy Executive Vice President Aki Järvilehto believes that this is a positive thing, which allows easier entry into the games industry – some Train2Game are likely to see themselves getting their first job in a mobile development role.

“I think the market is changing in a radical fashion. Barriers of entry are literally being blown away. New business models are booming and this is not about devaluation,” Järvilehto told Industry Gamers.

“Facebook is doing tremendous things to gaming and attracting completely new people to enjoy different more casual and social games. I can’t see how the fact that mainstream consumers are finally embracing our industry could be negative. After all isn’t that what we’ve been hoping for since forever?”

“Games and gaming as an experience is certainly changing – platforms are evolving and developers and consuming is evolving with it” Järvilehto concluded.

Facebook games have certainly become popular, with the Train2Game blog previously reporting on the success of titles such as Cityville.

Last month, the Train2Game blog even reported that the role of a Game Designer is even more important for a casual title; so working on one could provide a Train2Game student with large amounts of experience!

Meanwhile, earlier this month the Train2Game blog revealed how Remedy believe game developers learn from their mistakes.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Järvilehto’s comments? Do you agree with his views about casual games? Can you see yourself developing one in future?

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

[Source: Industry Gamers]

Angry Birds hits 200 million downloads – a reminder to Train2Game students how big mobile gaming is!

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Casual mobile game Angry Birds, which as the Train2Game blog reported reached 100 million downloads in March, has now already been downloaded over 200 million times.

That’s according to developer Rovio, with their various versions of Angry Birds currently available on iPhone, iPad, Android devices, PC, PlayStation 3, PSP and Mac.

As reported by the Train2Game blog, the popularity of the game has even led to Angry Birds merchandise being sold on the High Street.

We have seen more growth and engagement with Angry Birds games and merchandise across all markets,” said Rovio CEO Mikael Hed.

“The growing numbers of fans give us more incentive to keep creating more fresh, fun and engaging Angry Birds experiences and making them available to everyone.”

He also noted that Rovio is “very, very profitable,” and expects the company to make revenue of 50 to 100 Euros this year.

Angry Birds is a huge piece of evidence for those studying Train2Game courses about the ever rising impact of mobile games. As reported by the Train2Game blog, Rovio themselves believe that the gravity of the games industry is shifting towards mobile.

And the Train2Game blog has previously mentioned how developing mobile games could potentially be a route for Train2Game students into the games industry.

For more information about mobile gaming, see the Train2Game blog interview with games industry analyst Nicholas Lovell from December last year.

What are your thoughts on the success of Angry Birds? What is the games appeal? Does its success encourage you to develop mobile games?

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

[Source: Industry Gamers]

Train2Game blog interview with industry veteran Jason Falcus

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“Iguana Entertainment  is an independent Game Developer formed in 2009 by industry veterans Darren and Jason Falcus.The company puts heavy focus on mobile gaming, with Train2Game student  Lauren Black  helping in their development on a work placement.”

In an interview with the Train2Game blog, Iguana Entertainment Development Director Jason Falcus discussed his experiencein the industry, the future of mobile development and provides some advice for Train2Game students. Read it below.

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

Train2Game blog interview with Dragons’ Den: The Official Game Lead Designer Mete Djemal (Part 1 of 2)

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Dragons’ Den: The Official Game from DR Studios – under license from 2waytraffic, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, for iPhone and iPad is released just days away on Thursday 21st April. In the run up to its release, The Train2Game blog caught up with Lead Designer Mete Djemal to discuss features of Dragons’ Den: The Official Game, and give us an insight into the Game Development process behind the title.  Below is part one of a two part interview.

Can you begin by telling us some basic information about the Dragons Den: The Official Game project and the challenges behind its production?

With Dragons Den: The Official Video Game, DR Studios were given the opportunity to take the Dragons’ Den License and create a video game. I think the main challenge was how we’d make a game out of a TV show that offered little in the way of an interactive experience on the face of it. But as we looked into it we actually thought it was a pretty good concept because you could actually play as a Dragon and be an investor; make money, lose money so it has that strategy element to it.

The first challenge developing Dragons Den: The Official Video Game was to create a realistic looking environment and the Dragons. We weren’t allowed to use the real likenesses of the Dragons so we had to create characters and we wanted the player to feel as if they were actually in the Den, so we studied a lot of footage of Dragons’ Den. The final result of Dragons Den: The Official Video Game was the creation of a full 3D Den. At first, it was going to be a 2D environment, with static characters and no 3D models, but after looking at it we decided we want to make the most real looking experience so we decided to go full 3D models and it really came from there.

What were the initial concepts behind Dragons Den: The Official Game and how did they develop during the course of the development?

The initial concept of Dragons Den: The Official Game was to create a game in which you play as a Dragon. As with the TV show, you’re presented with various inventions and crazy business ideas, and as a Dragon you choose to invest your money in some of these ideas.  We also decided it’d be better to use real world inventions rather than make believe ones so it’d keep Dragons Den: The Official Game more in fitting with the actual TV show and realistic.

So, one of the biggest challenges during the development of the game was to find enough real world inventions which required a lot of background research. We looked at all sorts of things with some of the inventions being over 100 years old before deciding on the best ones to include in Dragons Den: The Official Game.  We then had to write concepts and short descriptions of the inventions. The idea being we wanted to keep these vague, we didn’t want the player to know what the inventions actually were as that’d make the game too easy.

We therefore had to present these inventions in a way that kept the concept real so you could believe in the invention then at the same time keep it quite vague in terms of what it actually was. For example, the names of the inventions; we had to rename all of the inventions to keep it realistic but not give away the actual real concept, the real name of the actual invention. Dragons Den: The Official Game contains 120 inventions – more than originally planned.

Another challenge in the development of Dragons Den: The Official Game was designing the interactive experience in a way which it was fun for the user and made them want to come back and keep playing.  We went through various designs before deciding on the idea in which you as a player had a certain amount of money to invest in inventions and ideas.  The original idea was for the Dragons Den: The Official Game player to have an unlimited amount of money, but we wanted  a bit of jeopardy in there, so we decided to limit the amount of money the player would have so they’d have to think about which investments you want to invest in without blowing their money away on an invention that could be a complete disaster.

Dragons’ Den: The Official Game has a multiplayer mode, can you explain how that works?

When it comes to the social side, the multiplayer side, we felt that Dragons Den: The Official Game would be even more fun to play as a multiplayer game. As we have five Dragons in the game – like in the actual TV show – it can support up to five players in a turn based game. How this works is that each player takes it in turns to invest or not invest in an invention. The idea is that the players hide from the other players whether or not they’ve invested to keep other players guessing.

In Dragons Den: The Official Game – as in the TV show – you can also share the investment. So we decided that as a player, even in single player mode, if you don’t want to invest the full amount you can actually go in with another Dragon and invest a smaller percentage of the money.

Part 2 of the interview will be published later this week.

Dragons’ Den: The Official Game is a DR Studios/2Way Traffic production and is released for the iPhone and iPad on Thursday 21st April. For more information visit www.dragonsdengame.co.uk 

Sony: casual gaming “a growing market that we simply cannot neglect”

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Sony PSP2 Train2Game blog image

Train2Game students will probably know it as the worst kept secret in gaming, but today the PS2P was finally officially revealed. You’ll be able to read all about it on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog shortly.

Not only are Sony confident the PSP2 (codename: NPG) will attract hardcore gamers, but they’re also planning to corner the casual market through Android enabled smartphones. This will happen through the newly revealed ‘PlayStation Suite’ which will allow Sony games to be played on Android devices.

Writing on the PlayStation Blog,  President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Andrew House said the opportunity was too hard to ignore:

“Casual gaming on multi-purpose mobile devices is a growing market that we simply cannot neglect. With that in mind, PS Suite is a new initiative to offer PlayStation quality games on Android based portable devices, be it mobile phones, smartphones or tablet PCs. By offering a fantastic selection of legacy PlayStation games (PS one classics), alongside content made specifically for PS Suite, we believe that we will be offering the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users.”

“Via a program, called PlayStation Certified license program, we will work with hardware manufacturers to provide devices that optimize the gaming experience. We want to give consumers the freedom to choose between various devices when they wish to enjoy a certain piece of PlayStation content.”

“We also realise that PlayStation content should be provided through a secure and unique means, that is both reliable and user friendly. Therefore we also plan to open PlayStation Store to download content on the Android based portable devices. This is a significant move for us and one that we firmly believe will make PlayStation content more accessible than ever before.”

Sony’s move towards the casual market may not come as a surprise to regular Train2Game blog readers, with a recent report stating that social media and casual games are booming.

While earlier this month Capcom suggested that smartphones are drawing people away from handheld consoles. Could developing games for Android phones therefore be a good move for Sony?

Last month Android revealed that their latest operating system – Gingerbread – is optimised for Game Development.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Sony move towards the casual market? If you’re an Android phone user, would you use it to play Sony games?  And do you think gaming giants like Sony moving towards casual games is a positive thing when it comes to finding work in the games industry?

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

Remember, you can follow Train2Game on Twitter here.

Capcom: Smartphones drawing users away from handheld consoles

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Train2Game blog Capcom Logo image

Train2Game students certainly spend a lot of time playing video games on their smartphones, and Capcom believe the whole portable market is moving in that direction.

Capcom Interactive’s president and COO Midori Yuasa told MCV Online that gamers are increasingly abandoning handheld consoles and PCs in order to play casual games on smartphones such as the iPhone. She also confirmed that Capcom is investing in a variety of titles for the iPhone this year.

“The casual gamer that used to play on the PC and the hardcore gamer that used to play on a dedicated gaming portable now plays on their smartphone,” said Yuasa.

“The iPhone and larger smartphone markets are extremely important to Capcom as, like no device before, smartphones have the potential to become a universal game platform.

“We have a lot of stuff on the horizon for both hardcore and casual gamers, so 2011 is shaping up to be huge on Capcom’s mobile front.”

The Capcom COO used the company’s successful release of the free to download Smurfs Village for the iPhone last November, where players have the option of in-game purchases which cost between £2.99 and £59.99.

“A freemium business model can be extremely effective as illustrated by the success of Smurfs’ Village. However, the key is that the game has to be designed from day one as a freemium title.

“If you try and shoehorn in an alternate revenue model into an existing design, you end up with a muddled experience that users either ignore or hammer with user reviews.”

It’s another sign for Train2Game students that the casual mobile market is growing extremely quickly. Yuasa’s comments come little over a month after the Train2Game blog reported that  market research firm  Interpret claimed ‘Stagnating’ handheld consoles are losing their market to smartphones

Of course, Nintendo are confident that the 3DS will be a huge success, with President Satoru Iwata predicting the handheld console will have a ‘rocket start’ For more information about the Nintendo 3DS, check out the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, do you think Midori Yuasa is right? Have you abandoned your handheld console in favour of smartphone games? Or do games on your iPhone or Android mean you just won’t bother to buy a handheld console again?

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

[Source: MCV Online]

iOS owners download an average of 60 apps per device

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Train2Game blog App Store Image

Apple device owners have downloaded an average total of 60 apps each according to analyst group Asymco.

The news is sure to please any Train2Game students who are thinking of developing game applications for likes of the iPad and iPhone in the future, with over 30 million apps being downloaded everyday.

The study by Aysmco was conducted through measuring iOSdevice sales against actual Apple App store data.

And with re-downloads not being taken into account, it’s likely that the there are in fact more iPhone and iPad app sales everyday.

Many ‘casual’ games on Apple devices will also make extra revenue through in-App sales. Both these in-app sales, and the downloading of games themselves, means research group eMarketer predict that social media gaming will be worth more than $1 billion in revenue by the end of this year.

The prediction is made even more likely given that another report suggests that one in five consumers now play social games.

It’s also likely that the number of apps being downloaded as the market for iPhone’s and iPad’s gets larger, will only increase.  Last month the Train2Game blog spoke with industry consultant Nicholas Lovell , who discussed the concept of in-game purchases as part of the interview.

30 million apps downloaded a day, and Ios users owning 60 each on average, what are your thoughts on this Train2Game? Do you own an iPhone or an iPad, how often do you download apps and games?

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

[Source: Develop Online]

European Nintendo 3DS announcement coming next month

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Nintendo 3DS

Good news for the Nintendo fans among Train2Game students!  The Japanese giants are set to reveal launch plans for the Nintendo 3DS at a launch event in Amsterdam next month.

MCV Online report that invitations to the gathering have been sent out to the press, and suggest that Nintendo will reveal a European launch date and price for the 3DS, along with a launch line up.

The Nintendo 3DS is not only the world’s first 3D handheld console, but it also offers the chance to play games in 3D without the need for special glasses. Train2Game students who wear regular glasses are no doubt pleased about this!

The Nintendo 3DS will be available in Japan from February 26th 2011, with a European release date expected to be in March. If that is the case, it’ll mean eager Train2Game students should be able to resist importing a 3DS from Japan!

There are no official launch titles yet, but earlier this year Nintendo revealed a software trailer that shows a wide variety of 3DS games in development. Big name titles include Super Street Fighter IV DS, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater, Dead or Alive Dimensions, and Mario Kart 3DS. This morning CVG has reported that The Sims 3 will also be coming to Nintendo’s handheld.  You can see the Nintendo 3DS software line up video here on the Train2Game blog.

While we have no official confirmation of what the launch titles will be, though this is likely to change after the Nintendo event! You can check out the Thoughts of Train2Game blog to see which games Gabe believes will be available with the Nintendo 3DS at launch. Of course, all will be revealed on January 19th.

Earlier this month on the Train2Game blog, we reported on how handheld consoles are losing the mobile gaming market to smartphones. Could the Nintendo 3DS help slow down this trend?

So Train2Game, do you want a Nintendo 3DS? Are you looking forward to the announcement? And which games do you expect to be launched with the handheld console next year?

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

‘Stagnating’ handheld consoles losing market to smartphones

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Angry Birds Android Train2Game blog

Yet more evidence has emerged that shows Train2Game designers, developers and artists would do well to work on mobile games in the future.

A report from market research firm Interpret shows that consumers playing games on their phone has increased dramatically, while gamers appear to be abandoning their DS and PSP devices.

“The proliferation of highly multifunctional smartphones and messaging phones is a very real threat to the dominance by the DS and PSP of the handheld gaming market,” said Interpret research and analysis manager Courtney Johnson

The report, which is based on a survey of 9000 people, says that 43.8% of the phone, Nintendo DS and DS PSP gaming market plays games on phones—a significant 53.2% increase over the past year—while the proportion of those who play on the DS or PSP has fallen by 13%. In fact 27% of people who own both a smart phone and a PSP or Nintendo DS, say that they don’t even use their handheld console anymore, preferring to play games on their smartphones.

The ever increasing library of mobile games for both iPhone and Android means that there’s more and more choice when it comes to choosing a game to play on the go. It also means that there’s a chance that Train2Game students could help develop a mobile game that could eventually fall into the hands of millions of people.

Evidence of this can be seen in a post on the Train2Game blog last month which shows that over three million people have downloaded Cut the Rope from the iPhone App store since it was released at the beginning of October. Of course, the increase in mobile gaming isn’t just limited to the iPhone, with plenty being available for Google’s Android phones.

Google recently revealed Android 2.3 which they say will take mobile gaming to the next level. Interested Train2Game students – especially game developers who’d like to produce games for the OS nicknamed gingerbread – can find out more about Android 2.3 in this post on the Train2Game blog, which comes complete with video.

Gaming giants Nintendo and Sony will be hoping new developments with their handhelds can help them fend off the increasing popularity of mobile gaming.  The Nintendo 3DS is set for release early next year, with a large number of exclusive games being developed in 3D as you can see in this Train2Game blog post from earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Sony will be hoping to attract consumers to the PSP with Square Enix bringing four exclusive games to the handheld console next year. Of course, if you’ve read the Thoughts of Train2Game blog recently, you’ll know that there are increasing rumours of a PlayStation phone which could encourage PlayStation fans to ditch their iPhones.

Any Train2Game students interested in the full report can see it here.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the increasing number of people playing games on their smartphones? Is it really that big a threat to the PSP and the Nintendo DS? What systems do you use for handheld games?

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

Android 2.3 ‘optimised for game development’

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Android 2.3

Google has revealed how its latest smartphone operating system, Android 2.3 , has been optimised for game development. It’s therefore something that many Train2Game students – who will be looking to develop mobile games in future – will be interested in.

The new Android OS, nicknamed Gingerbread, has been produced with “optimised tools and performance for game development.” Explaining the new features Android Technical Lead David Turner said:

“In Android 2.3 we’re taking gaming to the next level. Game developers always want the best performance so we’ve given them what they’ve asked for in Android 2.3”

New features that Train2Game game developers will be interested in include Concurrent Garbage Collection, which minimises application pauses, smoothes animations and provides increased responsiveness.

Turner also said that the new OS has received tweaked input processing which lowers CPU processing and therefore allows game developers to produce higher performing games for smartphones running the OS.

Google has also “broadened the native APIs exposed by the platform, meaning developers now have direct access to audio, input and sensor events, assets and the OpenGL ES API” according to the Technical Lead in the video.

Android 2.3 will launch with the Samsung Galaxy S in 2011 and it’s rumoured to be the operating system of the rumoured PlayStation Phone.  (If you check out the Thoughts of Train2Game blog, you can see videos that show the PlayStation phone in action.

Train2Game students can see the new features of Android 2.3, and how it could benefit game development, in the video below.


Train2Game students will no doubt be extremely aware of how important games on smartphones are becoming and how developing a great one can provide massive success for even a small team of game developers. Last month we reported on the Train2Game blog that game Cut the Rope has been downloaded from the App store over three million times, which has most likely brought developers Zeptolab a healthy little income.

Meanwhile earlier today, it was revealed that iPhone game Game Dev Story has been named one of the biggest gaming surprises of 2010. You can join in the discussion about your top surprise games of the year on the Train2Game forum.

If any Train2Game blog readers want more of an indication of how important the mobile gaming market is becoming to game developers, check out the Train2Game interview with games industry consultant Nicholas Lovell.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the new Android operating system? Could it tempt you away from an iPhone? And do you see yourself using the skills you’ve developed with Train2Game to make games for the Google smartphone OS?

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