Train2Game news: Your chance to join Star Conflict closed beta

Train2Game students have the opportunity to join the closed beta for space themed action MMO Star Conflict, which begins today.

Star Conflict from Star Gem Inc is described as “a game in which anyone can feel like the pilot of a combat spaceship, take part in fierce wars between intergalactic factions that are struggling to obtain the mysterious artefacts of an ancient race and write your name in chronicles of the Universe.”

Train2Game students interested in participating in the Star Conflict closed beta can register at http://star-conflict.com/en/signup You can see Star Conflict in action in the teaser trailer below.

Beta testing is an excellent way for Train2Game students, especially those on the Games QA Tester course to practice their bug hunting skills. In a recent interview with The Train2Game Blog, Brawl Busters developers Rock Hippo told us that beta testing is “crucial” to the game development process.

For more on beta testing, how it’s useful for Train2Game students, and opportunities to get involved with it, keep reading the Train2Game blog.

What are your thoughts on Star Conflict? Will you apply to be part of the closed beta?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog or on the Train2Game forum

Train2Game student industry experience diaries: James Bouckley at Unity – week 4

Train2Game student James Bouckley  is on a Train2Game work placement at Unity. In this industry experience diary, James discusses what he’s been working on at the studio.

Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

More Train2Game industry experience diaries are right here on The Train2Game Blog. 

Train2Game news: PlanetSide 2 video shows design process for creating rifle scope

Train2Game Art & Animation students can get a great insight into the modelling process for weapons in PlanetSide 2, thanks to a video released by Sony Online Entertainment.

PlanetSide 2 senior artist Patrick Ho talks us through the construction of the NC Scope 4X in a time lapsed video.  You can watch below, right here on The Train2Game Blog.

Train2Game students can apply for a place in the upcoming PlanetSide 2 beta by visiting http://www.planetside2.com/. As previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, Sony Online Entertainment’s Creative Director Matt Higby says beta testing is crucial to the development of PlanetSide 2.

““For MMO games beta is critical. There is a lot we can do to test gameplay and mechanics in studio, but getting the massive scale needed to ensure the game really works requires getting real players in.” he said.

“It’s also critical to determine if our player progression curves are too punishing or too lenient, find exploits, balance issues and so on. Beta for us as a company is an incredibly critical phase of development.” the PlanetSide 2 creative director added.

Keep reading The Train2Game Blog, for the latest beta testing opportunities.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the time lapsed modelling video?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: RTI 2 launching to cover Train2Game and Epic Games’ Make Something Unreal Live at The Gadget Show

Train2Game students will be taking part in Train2Game and Epic Games’ Make Something Unreal Live at The Gadget Show Live next week, as they compete to win a fully licensed Unreal Development Kit for IOS.

If you’re not one of the thousands of people who’ll be able the games based on Fighting Fantasy being built live on the Train2Game stand at the Birmingham NEC, you can still keep up to date with the latest developments through RTI 2, a new online channel launching next week, specifically to cover Make Something Unreal Live.

RTI 2 will being you reports, previews and interviews – including some with the legendary games industry figures advising Train2Game students – as Commando Kiwi, Derp Studios, IndigoJam and Digital Mage strive to complete their Fighting Fantasy games for IOS live in front of the crowds at The Gadget Show.

Reporters Danny Palmer, Harry Cole and Debby Penton will be there to bring you the latest news as it breaks.

You’ll be able to tune into RTI 2 live from next Wednesday, with perhaps a little sneak peak coming on Tuesday too. Tune in to  the channel right here, or via the link below.

Interviews with Train2Game students taking part in Make Something Unreal Live are right here on The Train2Game Blog.

Train2Game news: Mass Effect 3 senior writer on getting into the games industry

Train2Game students looking to get a job in the industry should be playing games, and anaylsing their strengths and weaknesses as they do so. That’s according to Mass Effect 3 senior writer John Dombrow.

“Find what you’re good at and then keep getting better at it. Whether it’s writing, designing levels, creating sound FX, doing concept art – you’re only as good as your product.” he told the BioWare Blog.

“You should play games all the time, see what works, what doesn’t, and learn from the successes and failures of others.” he said, before adding that getting ahead in the industry, to for example, become senior writer for Mass Effect 3, takes a lot of work.

“But also be realistic – you’re not going to land your first job in the industry as Lead Designer. Be prepared and willing to work hard starting from the ground floor, improve your craft, and eventually you can get where you want go.” Dombrow said.

The full interview is over on the BioWare Blog, and should provide interesting reading for Train2Game students, as the Mass Effect 3 writer discusses the best part of his job, his average day and more.

The Train2Game Blog has previously spoken to BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk, who offered Train2Game students their own advice on how to break into the games industry.

There’s more news from BioWare  here on The Train2Game Blog, where you can also find plenty more advice from industry professionals on getting into the industry.

What are your thoughts on the advice from the Mass Effect 3 senior writer? Do you already analyse the games you’re playing?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Sniper Elite V2 developer Rebellion hosting Twitter Q&A session today

Train2Game students have the opportunity to question the team behind Sniper Elite V2, as developer Rebellion take part in a Twitter Q&A later today.

Rebellion CEO and Creative Director has previously offered advice to Train2Game students on getting into the games industry in a video interview, which you can watch right here on The Train2Game Blog

The Sniper Elite V2 Q&A begins at 15:00,  and if you’ve got a question for Rebellion, tweet it to the development team using the hashtag #SEV2. Sniper Elite V2 from the Oxford based studio is scheduled for release next month on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Watch Sniper Elite V2 developer diary below for an insight into the upcoming shooter.

So Train2Game, what would you ask the Sniper Elite V2 development team?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game student industry experience diary: Fee Stewart at Radiation Burn – Week 11

Train2Game Art & Animation student Fee Stewart has been on a Train2Game work placement at Middlesbrough based game developer Radiation Burn. In her latest diary, Fee discusses working on a game for Nintendo 3DS and more.

Read it here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page. You can read her previous diaries here, while there are also plenty of industry experience diaries from other students on the Train2Game Blog.

Train2Game student industry experience diary: Stuart Davison – week 4

Train2Game student Stuart Davison  is on a Train2Game work placement. In this industry experience diary, he details what he’s been up to and what he’s learned by working in the industry.

Read what he has to say about his Train2Game work placement  here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

More Train2Game industry experience diaries are right here on The Train2Game Blog. 

Train2Game news: Next-gen consoles won’t solve ‘creative problems’ of games says Warren Spector

Train2Game students might be eagerly anticipating news of next-gen consoles, but the arrival of PlayStation 4 or Xbox 720 won’t help solve the most common problems of game design in video games.

At least that’s according to Deus Ex creator Warren Spector, who is currently working on the recently announced Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two for Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

“If it comes, it comes; when it comes, it comes,” he told Edge on the on subject of next-gen consoles.

“I’m not a tech guy, particularly. I’m a design, story, character guy. I think most of the problems we have to solve are creative ones, not technical ones.” said Spector, not revealing what he believes the creative problems of game design are.

“Obviously we make software, so there’s always a technical element to what we do, but I will make games that do whatever I want them to do at the end of the day, and I will use whatever technology available.” the Deus Ex creator added.

Other developers, such as Epic Game’s Cliff Bleszinski, have previously stated they’d like next-gen consoles to come with extremely high-end technology.

For the latest news and reports about next-gen consoles, keep reading The Train2Game Blog.

So, what are your thoughts on Spector’s comments? Should developers be focusing on creative problems rather than technical ones?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: London studio Mediatonic to double in size, advertise 12 jobs

Mediatonic's Monster's Probably Stole My PrincessTrain2Game students will be interested to hear that London studio Mediatonic plans to double its size, with the game developer beginning by advertising ten new positions on their job page.

These include an internship that Train2Game students might be interested in applying for.

Mediatonic, a studio who specialise in developing games for digital platforms,  has moved to larger offices in Soho ahead of their planned expansion.

“Moving into offices in the heart of Soho has given us the room to grow, with a view to doubling our headcount by Christmas to just over 50 employees.” said Mediatonic Director of Games Paul Croft.

“With the success of some of our recent projects we’re experiencing an overwhelming demand for original game designs and to provide support for live games once they hit the market.” he added.

Paul Croft discussed Mediatonic, the benefits of game jams and more in an interview with The Train2Game Blog last year.

And as previously reported by The Train2Game Blog, the studio was named as one to watch by Industry Gamers.

There’s more on Mediatonic here.

What are your thoughts on the London studio’s planned expansion?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.