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Train2Game News Lunar New Year Sale

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Gamers are being urged to ‘pig out’ on some of the hottest Steam games around in the highly-anticipated Lunar New Year Sale from leading digital retailer Fanatical.

Over 1,000 games have launched on the Fanatical Store. Ranging from top AAAs to entertaining and retro Indies, with up to 91% off. Plus, gamers can also save an additional 8% off selected Steam games by using the LUNAR8 coupon code.

Take on the role of hit assassin Agent 47 in diverse sandbox locations filled with opportunities to take out your target with HITMAN 2 (-37%) – or enhance your stealth action experience with two additional expansions and the Executive Pack DLC with HITMAN 2 Gold Edition (-37%). See DC Comics’ famous superheroes and villains engage in close-quarter combat and decide the fate of the world in arcade-style fighter Injustice 2 – Legendary Edition (-60%), including all released DLC with 10 additional characters and five Premiere Skins.

Grab your friends and family for a night of laughs, trivia and team spirit (sometimes) with The Jackbox Party Quadpack (-40%) which includes four Jackbox Games party packs with 20 game modes available, as well as streaming capabilities to share your comedy moments with millions of gamers worldwide.

Plus, for the next 48 hours gamers can get The Jackbox Party Pack 5 at the best ever price (-50%) featuring five party-saving new games to enjoy as part of Fanatical’s latest Star Deal.

Lead your clan of Viking warriors into unknown territory and build settlements to withstand the elements and foes in simulation strategy Northgard (-33%); witness a gripping narrative that flows into a live action show based on your in-game decisions with third-person shooter Quantum Break (-75%); and visit galaxies with over 50,000 planets, moons and asteroids as you embark on a journey to build an intergalactic empire in turn-based strategy Distant Worlds: Universe (-75%).

Take on one of the most challenging, yet addictive society survival Steam games in deadly arctic conditions with Frostpunk (-40%); run and gun your way through classic animated environments with a flurry of enemies in Cuphead (-20%); and tend to your duties as a shopkeeper while travelling through portals to slay monsters in the dungeon-crawling, action-adventure Moonlighter (-40%).

Fanatical always stay true to supporting the hard-working developers and publishers featured on their store by only stocking officially licensed Steam keys, which means that your purchases benefit the people who create these amazing games.

The Fanatical Lunar New Year Sale ends on February 11th 2019 at 11:59pm (GMT).

Please note: Some games included in the Lunar New Year Sale may be region locked. The coupon code is not available to use on Star Deals, bundles and pre-orders.

Train2Game News Controller Support for Fortnite Mobile

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Gamevice announced today that its low latency, direct connect controller is now compatible with Fortnite mobile – well timed with Fortnite’s 60 frames per second update that recently launched for iOS and now some Android devices.

Fortnite for mobile is the exact same gameplay as Fortnite for console, and even allows you to play with your friends on other game systems – but mobile players were limited to only using a touchscreen. Now Fortnite mobile players can even the playing field against console rivals using Gamevice, with the precision of a low latency controller coupled with butter smooth 60 FPS on iOS. It’s the best way to compete against console counterparts!

Gamevice is the best Apple MFi partner with direct Lightning support, making it the most responsive controller on iOS devices. Read the full story on Gamevice’s recent blog post giving various details on technical aspects of iOS function, matchmaking and more.

Fortnite’s recent 7.3 update added full controller support for iOS and Android devices making Gamevice the key to getting the exact same experience as Fortnite for console. Now, mobile players don’t have to obscure their view by putting their greasy thumbs on the screen, they can simply snap on their Gamevice to experience unabated visuals and play at home or on the go.

The preferred controller of gamers everywhere, Gamevice creates a console experience on mobile devices to more than 1,000 video games including Street Fighter IV, Minecraft, NBA 2K19 and now Fortnite!

The controller has extended its critically-acclaimed functionality to users of smartphone-controlled devices including robots and drones like DJI’s Spark and Sphero’s SPRK+ robot. By providing precision control and an ergonomic design, Gamevice allows users to achieve a new level of usability and comfort over a mobile device’s touchpad interface, and offers the lowest latency of any mobile controller available.

With prices starting at £74.99, Gamevice provides lightning-fast control to video games and mobile controlled gadgets for popular iOS and Android smartphones or tablets on the market.

For more information on Gamevice, please visit gamevice.com.

Train2Game News Valentines Razer Line

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RazerTM, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveiled the latest high-performance gaming gear and accessories to be given the popular Quartz Pink treatment.

This includes:
• Razer Basilisk mouse
• Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma mouse mat
• Razer Huntsman keyboard
• Razer Kraken headset
• Razer Raiju Tournament Edition controller for PS4
• Razer Seiren X microphone
• Razer Base Station Chroma headset stand
• Quartz case for Razer Phone 2

Razer’s Quartz Pink colorway was first launched in 2018 to the delight of gamers, streamers and influencers worldwide.

With a humble lineup of 4 peripherals to choose from, it was the beginning of a ‘pink phenomenon’.

Fans on the quest for Quartz began to refresh their setups with bold color themes – balancing power in pink. We’ve paid attention. With more than double the gear available this year, one can enjoy a new series that lets you stand out even further from the crowd…in style.

“Our fans told us they could not get enough of our Quartz Pink editions,” said Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “We listened and we have given the stunning pink treatment to our latest gaming gear, giving you the unfair advantage in both performance and looks.”

Discover the entire Quartz family here: https://www.razer.com/quartz.

Train2Game News Now Play This

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Ukie has become a major funder of this year’s Now Play This, part of the London Games Festival, to support more experimental game commissions and to help extend the exhibition’s run.

It comes as part of a new three-way partnership with Games London and Now Play This CIC.

This year, Now Play This will extend from four days to nine, bringing the latest in experimental game design from around the world to Somerset House for its biggest edition ever. Ukie’s funding will enable more commissions and content to exist for practitioners to showcase their work to the public. It will also fund more workshops and key industry talks on skills development as well as networking opportunities.

The commitment from Ukie reflects the significance of Now Play This and its role as part of the London Games Festival, which is a joint project between Film London and Ukie, supported by the Mayor of London. The exhibition is a popular, family friendly part of the Festival programme and extending the run will enable more people to get hands on with the games on display.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment) said: “Now Play This is a true celebration of the culture, curiosity and creative breadth of games. We are delighted that this contribution from the sector means more creativity and artistry from the community. We’re also pleased that the funding will help Now Play This to have more original commissioned work and more opportunities for anyone interested in our powerful form of art.”

Jonathan Reekie CBE, Director of Somerset House Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to Ukie for their enhanced support of this year’s Now Play This at Somerset House. This has enabled us to double the length of the festival to nine days, with more games, talks and workshops for visitors of all ages. With Ukie’s support, Now Play This continues to offer a vital platform for talented artists and game developers and ensure that experimental game design often engaging in unexpected subjects is thriving.”

Now Play This is a festival of experimental game design which runs at Somerset House in London as part of London Games Festival. This year Now Play This will run over nine days from 6-14 April, featuring exciting hands-on gameplay for all ages to enjoy, from solo games to multiplayer collaborative experiences, from a host of multidisciplinary artists and creators. Visitors can also enjoy a range of free outdoor gaming installations, as well as a series of insightful talks, workshops and activities from the designers and makers taking part in the festival.

Train2Game News 2018 Game Investment Doubles

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Digi-Capital’s Games Report Q1 2019 tracked games companies raising $5.7 billion in 2018, which was over twice the previous record investment from 2017.

Tim Sweeney’s Epic Games’ $1.25 billion was not only the largest round raised last year, it was the largest non-IPO games investment of all time. The only larger single amount raised by a games company was when Netmarble Games held its IPO in 2017. Even that record might not survive given Fortnite’s extraordinary performance.

As a sign of both financial muscle and the need to expand beyond core markets, Tencent was either a major shareholder in or investor in four of the top five deals last year. As we’ve discussed before, this is becoming a familiar pattern. Tencent was behind investments in Douyu ($630 million raised), Shanda Games ($474 million) and Huya ($462 million raised). France’s Voodoo raised $200 million from Goldman Sachs to round out the top five.

11 other companies also raised $100 million plus rounds last year, with more in the single millions to tens of millions range. By far the largest categories for investors were mobile and games tech/other (particularly streaming), each of which took around one third of investment dollars last year. MMO/MOBA games, eSports, console/PC games and AR/VR games companies also raised significant amounts.

The games acquisitions market was also on fire in 2018, with over $22 billion games M&A making it the second highest year on record. Games M&A dollars are always dominated by mega-deals, which last year included Naspers selling 2% of Tencent for over $10 billion dollars for a 60,000% return, and Tencent and others acquiring Vivendi’s $2 billion plus stake in Ubisoft.

Zhejiang Century Huatong acquired Shenyue Network (the online games affiliate of Shanda Games) for $4.4 billion, PAI Partners picked up Asmodee Digital for $1.4 billion, and Aristocrat closed its Big Fish Games deal for nearly $1 billion. There were another eight acquisitions in the $100 million plus range, and more in the single millions to tens of millions range.

Unsurprisingly, mobile dominated acquisition activity last year as it did the year before. MMO/MOBA and console/PC made up most of the rest of the acquisitions market. The games market as a whole is incredibly consolidated, with the top 10 public (i.e. stock market listed) games companies taking over three quarters of public games company revenue and around four fifths of public game company valuations worldwide (note: this is not all market revenue/valuation, as privately held companies are also significant). The big keep getting bigger.

Over the last decade, games IPOs have gone through three year repeating cycles where one huge year is followed by two quiet ones. The last high came in the record year for games IPOs in 2017, with games IPOs in 2018 raising around 90% less than that high point (as Digi-Capital anticipated at the start of last year). While it’s too early to tell, if the 3 year cycle repeats in the same way 2019 could also see muted games IPO activity.

In such a highly consolidated, hit driven market, the level of games deal activity last year was extraordinary. Again it is too early to tell whether this year will continue in a similar vein, or if the cyclical nature of deal-making might see the market pull back. One thing’s for sure, it’s not going to be dull.

(Full details and all transactions in Digi-Capital’s new 258 page Games Report Q1 2019)

Train2Game News Project Z

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Leading anime video game developer and publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announced DRAGON BALL GAME – PROJECT Z (working title) for the Americas on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM®.

This new Action RPG (role-playing-game) is slated for a 2019 launch and will take players on the most dramatic and epic telling of the DRAGON BALL Z story, experienced through the eyes of Kakarot, the Saiyan better known as Goku.

Currently in development at Tokyo, Japan based video game developer, CyberConnect2; the game will tell the legendary story of DRAGON BALL Z, taking players on an unforgettable adventure to experience over-the-top battles and challenging quests, create life-long friendships, and crusade to protect Earth from fearsome villains.

“Combining the fabled story of DRAGON BALL Z with a proven video game development studio is a surefire way to create an awesome DRAGON BALL adventure,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “We can’t wait to unveil the official name for the game and share more gameplay details with players!”

DRAGON BALL GAME – PROJECT Z (working title) is scheduled to launch in the Americas in 2019 for the PlayStation 4 system, Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM. For more information regarding DRAGON BALL GAME – PROJECT Z (working title) or other products from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., please visit: https://www.bandainamcoent.com, or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS, or join the conversation on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

Train2Game News Celeste Piano Collections

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Materia Collective is thrilled to announce the latest installment of their Piano Collections album and sheet music series with Celeste Piano Collections.

Lena Raine’s award-winning soundtrack is transformed into a classical masterpiece by arranger and performer Trevor Alan Gomes across 13 tracks and accompanying sheet music book engraved by David Peacock. Celeste Piano Collections is now available in digital format with limited edition purple marbled vinyl, CD, and physical sheet music books planned for release soon:

Celeste Piano Collections on Bandcamp
Celeste Piano Collections on iTunes
Celeste Piano Collections on Spotify

“Lena has a way of brilliantly hyper-saturating the music with rhythmic ideas, counterpoint and even multiple lead lines, so taking those full-to-the-brim tracks and transforming them into equally complete piano solos was my greatest challenge to date,” notes arranger/performer Trevor Alan Gomes. “My favorite track on the album, ‘Confronting Myself,’ was a puzzle to arrange for solo piano. I wanted to somehow capture the ‘glitched’ sound, so I translated that sensation to time signature and harmonic changes. ‘Exhale’ was also a joy to arrange for the super talented violinist Michaela Nachtigall, aka ‘Otama-Mama.’ Having just one track with an additional instrument feels like the strawberry on top that completes the album and gives it a lovely roundness.”

Limited Edition Vinyl on Bandcamp
The album features mastering by Jett Galindo (Sony/The Bakery), layout and design by Rozen, and illustrations and art by David René Christensen. The album features 13 key themes from the game and will include a digital booklet on iTunes and Bandcamp. The full track list is as follows:

01. Prologue
02. First Steps
03. Resurrections
04. Awake
05. Scattered and Last
06. Madeline and Theo
07. Quiet and Falling
08. In the Mirror
09. Little Goth
10. Confronting Myself
11. Reach for the Summit
12. My Dearest Friend
13. Exhale

Learn more about the Celeste Piano Collections:
https://www.materiacollective.com/music/celeste-piano-collections

Train2Game News Nintendo Switch Indie Games

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Embark on a mythical adventure in Unruly Heroes, unleash your inner goat in Goat Simulator, and put your puzzle-solving skills to the test in When Ski Lifts Go Wrong, all available now on Nintendo Switch

The new year is the time for new things and, in a new Indie Highlights video, Nintendo of Europe showcased a selection of exciting independent games coming to Nintendo Switch this year. The video included the first look at SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, a beautifully hand-drawn roleplaying card game from Image & Form Games, the creators of critically-acclaimed titles such as SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Dig 2. SteamWorld Quest is set for release first on Nintendo Switch in 2019.

You can watch the Indie Highlights – 23.01.2019 (Nintendo Switch) video and get further information via the Indie Highlights Hub on the official Nintendo website.

Here’s a rundown of the games featured in today’s Indie Highlights video:

Use the hand you’ve been dealt to triumph over evil, in SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech from Image & Form Games and Thunderful Publishing. In this innovative roleplaying card game, you’ll lead a party of heroes through a beautifully hand-drawn world, building your own deck of cards along the way and using them to defeat an array of enemies in intense turn-based battles. The game mixes traditional fantasy elements with steampunk robots for an unforgettable experience filled with fun and humour. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is coming first to Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Magic, mythology and madcap kung fu action combine in Unruly Heroes from Magic Design Studios, available now on Nintendo Switch. This action-packed adventure game is inspired by the Chinese story “A Journey to the West”, better known as the Monkey King Legend. Terrible creatures are sowing chaos throughout the land and it’s up to the Monkey King and his three colourful companions to turn back the tide of evil. Tackle the adventure solo, or with friends in up to 4-player local co-op. You can even test your kung fu skills against other players in local or online* P-v-P mode.

Have you ever dreamed of being a goat? Well, look no further than Goat Simulator: The GOATY from Coffee Stain Publishing. The wildly successful indie phenomenon is available now on Nintendo Switch. This is the cutting edge of goat simulation technology, and the Goat Simulator: The GOATY package includes Goat Simulator plus Goat MMO Simulator, Goat Simulator: GoatZ, Goat Simulator: Payday and Goat Simulator: Waste of Space.

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong from Curve Digital is a deliriously fun physics-based construction puzzler, packed full of creative challenges, sports and disasters! Start in the rolling foothills and journey up to the jagged peaks. Puzzle over carefully designed scenarios to help every passenger reach their destination. With more than 100 challenging, pre-constructed levels and a sandbox builder mode for players to create their own, there are hours and hours of fun to be had on the slopes. When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Take to the battlefield in Wargroove, a turn-based strategy game from Chucklefish. Choose from a large cast of different commanders, each with their own special “groove” attack that can be used to sway the battle in your favour. The game features a full story campaign as well as online* and local multiplayer for up to four players. The war doesn’t end there though, as easy-to-use editors and customisation tools allow you to create and share your own maps and campaigns. Wargroove marches on to Nintendo Switch on 1st February, and is available to pre-order on Nintendo eShop now.

HEAVY METAL! ZOMBIES! BIG GUNS! Double Kick Heroes by Headbang Club and Plug In Digital mixes the shoot ‘em up and rhythm game genres for a high-octane experience unlike anything you’ve played before. Speed through a post-apocalyptic wasteland on the highway to hell, with the power of bone-crushing heavy metal rhythms as your only weapon against the zombie hordes. Featuring more than 30 original metal songs, plus tracks from guest bands such as GOJIRA, Double Kick Heroes will be coming first to Nintendo Switch in summer 2019.

Inmost is a ghoulishly atmospheric puzzle-platformer from Chucklefish in which you follow three different playable characters across one dark, interconnected story. In an old, abandoned castle, rendered in beautiful pixel-art style, you’ll need brains and bravery in equal measure to escape from the shadowy evil lurking in the depths. Inmost comes first to Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Dive into a massive sci-fi adventure in CrossCode, the retro-inspired 2D action RPG from Deck 13 Interactive and Radical Fish Games. Combining 16 bit-style graphics with smooth physics, a fast-paced combat system and engaging puzzle mechanics, CrossCode launches on Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Forager from Humble Bundle is a 2D open-world game in which you can build your future as you see fit. Combining exploration, combat, farming and crafting, Forager allows you to try out a variety of different playstyles as you start small then gradually expand your territory, your skillset and your network of friends – and enemies. Forager is coming soon to Nintendo Switch.

The presentation also includes a highlights reel recapping some of the numerous great indie titles already available on Nintendo Switch. So whether you’re discovering this extensive catalogue of games for the first time, or you’re an experienced gamer just wondering what to play next, be sure to check out both the presentation and the Indie Highlights Hub.

With Unruly Heroes, Goat Simulator: The GOATY and When Ski Lifts Go Wrong all available from today, SteamWorld Quest in the pipeline and a diverse range of other exciting titles arriving throughout the year, 2019 looks set to be another action-packed year for indie gaming fans on Nintendo Switch.

For further updates visit the Indie Highlights Hub at http://www.nintendo.co.uk/indiehighlights

Train2Game News Farming Simulator eSports League

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After testing the waters in 2018 with the first season of the Farming Simulator Championship, GIANTS Software is ready to dive deeper into the world of eSports with the upcoming season two.

Major changes lie ahead, when the Farming Simulator Championship becomes the Farming Simulator League, a full-fledged eSports league with 10 tournaments across Europe. At the end of the season, the best teams will compete for the title of the Farming Simulator Champion and 100.000€ in prizes. Every single tournament will not only grant circuit points for the best teams, but also wield big prizes, bringing the total prize pool for season two up to a total of 250.000€

GIANTS Software teamed up with some of the industries finest for the upcoming league, partnering with Logitech G, Intel, noblechairs as well as long term partner Nitrado to provide the best experience possible to both, players and fans of the Farming Simulator League.

“We have a unique opportunity”, explains Christian Ammann, CEO of GIANTS Software and manager of the eSports division. “competitive farming is something people enjoy for years now, but it hasn’t been done in eSports so far. We have lots of eSports enthusiasts in our company who can’t wait to show the world that farming can indeed be fun and competitive at the same time. We believe we found the right mix of real farming and fun to play game elements to ensure everyone will find it entertaining.”

The game itself is changing as well. Not only will the new league be held in the brand new Farming Simulator 19, but it will also move from bale stacking to a competitive 3 vs 3 mode where teams challenge each other to determine who is the best on the field. The game will, of course, stand true to its roots in farming and combine real field work like harvesting with fun and challenging game elements. GIANTS Software will reveal more about the new game mode in the near future.

This is just the beginning, so keep an eye out for more information around the new Farming Simulator League in the near future.

Train2Game News Northern Exposure

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Secret Sauce, producers of Northern Exposure, are thrilled to announce their day-long games event will return for its third instalment on the 27th February at the Northern Design Centre in Gateshead’s thriving digital quarter.

Cumron Ashtiani, Founder at Atomhawk, will be speaking at February’s conference and said “I’m delighted to have been asked to get involved in the latest Northern Exposure event. October’s event was a great opportunity to meet and discuss ideas with so many people who are passionate about the games industry. I’m looking forward to returning in February to follow up on my previous talk about the highs and lows of growing a business and to meet with more great people”.

Northern Exposure will be partnering with UKIE to deliver a well-rounded day of discussions including a keynote courtesy of Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO at UKIE. She said, “The games industry all over the UK is of vital importance to the creative industries and tech economies in the UK, but also globally. Northern Exposure is a great opportunity to discuss how we can continue to grow by helping local studios and developers access the opportunities the global digital economy offers, as well as inspire new ideas that will shape the industry in the years to come.”

The Northern regions of the UK have a long and proud history of excellence in the games industry and Northern Exposure is a celebration of regional success, as well as an opportunity for local studios and developers to hear from national and international industry experts.

“It’s wonderful to see the local games community come together for Northern Exposure; this is our third instalment and the talks are always super inspiring and informative”, said Katy Reilly, Project Manager at Secret Sauce. “Northern Exposure emulates the region’s famous GameHorizon Conference by bringing together local speakers as well as guests from the wider games sector. It’s a pleasure to produce an event like this and put focus on creating something which is valuable to the community and shines a light on what’s happening in the region.”

This one-day event features talks from business owners, industry leaders, professionals and experts, sharing personal stories of success, failure and lessons learned. Hear expert tips and nuggets of knowledge to inspire your own business and games. There are plenty of opportunities to network throughout the day, followed by a drinks party in the evening.

Bob Makin, Managing Director at SockMonkey, will be making a return in February to host the event and guide attendees through a full day of exciting talks and discussions. “It’s great to be asked back to host Northern Exposure again” said Bob, “we’ve got such a fantastic gaming and interactive scene up here in the North East. It’s wonderful to have an event where we can shout about what we do up here and all the great games that are developed by ridiculously talented people. I can’t wait!”.

Secret Sauce is also delighted to welcome Escape Technology on board as Networking Sponsor for Northern Exposure; Neil Parmar, Account Director at Escape Technology said, “events like Northern Exposure are vital for the continued development of the games industry. We’re thrilled to be a part of the community and look forward to sharing our insights into creative CG technologies”.

Early bird tickets are available now at £25.00 which is a whopping 50% discount on the general admission tickets. Be quick though, as the early-bird offer ends on January 27th.

Tickets can be purchased through the eventbrite page: https://northexpo2019.eventbrite.co.uk

Keep up to date with future announcements on the website: www.north-expo.co.uk