Tag Archives: UK Games Industry

Train2Game News Games On Song

Posted on by

Games on SongToday, the UK games industry charity GamesAid http://www.gamesaid.org/ is inviting Black Friday shoppers to add the Games on Song Christmas charity single to their virtual baskets, to once again help raise vital money for children.

The UK alone is predicted to spend over £1.205bn this weekend, apparently saving £233m on their purchases.

Out NOW, the Games On Song Christmas charity Single is available to download on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/oep3bzl for just £1.29 / $1.99. Not only the best purchase of the whole weekend, but the one that will keep on giving, as all the profits from every sale goes directly towards helping children’s charities across the UK, helping them to have a very merry Christmas!

The Games On Song choir is made up of members from the videogame industry including Sony, EA, GAME, Ubisoft, Mastertronic, OnLive, SEGA, Green Man Gaming, Bethesda, Riot Games, Marvellous AQL, Ukie, and many, many more.

“As an industry, we know the power of the consumer, and that they are passionate about the positive impact video games can have. “We hope they will help us spread the word as they shop this weekend and buy lots of singles!” said Emily Britt, Chair of GamesAid. “Those members who donated their time and voices to this single hope to bring a smile to Black Friday shoppers, and to the children who will benefit from every sale.”

Train2Game News Babcock Job Vacancies

Posted on by

Babcock-logoBabcock have a numerous amount of jobs available for several different levels and areas of development.

Babcock is the UK’s leading engineering support services organisation with revenue of over £3.5bn in 2014 and an order book of circa £12 billion. They manage critically important assets that help to bring power to homes and businesses, keep trains running safely, ensure mobile phone networks stay operational and help our armed forces defend national interests.

Based in Milton Keynes they have jobs available for Developers and 3D Artists among others. What better way to end this year and begin 2015 with an exciting new career that will give you great experience readying you for heading into games development.

If this sounds like the right move for you then you can view a list of the jobs available here.

For all of those who apply I wish the very best of luck!

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 24.11.14

Posted on by

GTA VThree big new games released in the charts this week with the release of the next generation Grand Theft Auto V knocking Call of Duty: Advance Warfare off the top spot. Far Cry 4 hit second pushing CoD down to number three. Dragon Age: Inquisition was also released this week debuting at number five.

All formats
Week ending 22 November 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR –
2 FAR CRY 4 UBISOFT –
3 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 1
4 – FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 4
5 DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION EA GAMES –
6 ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY UBISOFT 2
7 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 20
8 LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 5
9 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 7
10 HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION MICROSOFT 3
11 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 14
12 ASSASSIN’S CREED: ROGUE UBISOFT 6
13 DESTINY ACTIVISION 10
14 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 12
15 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 13
16 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS 11
17 TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO 19
18 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 16
19 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2015 KONAMI 8
20 FORZA HORIZON 2 MICROSOFT 17
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News LxB Games hiring

Posted on by

LxB GamesIndependent studio created by Train2Game student offering paid contract work to Train2Game students

In yet another Train2Game success story, a student has setup her own professional studio and is now looking to the Train2Game community to service the studio. Students are invited to apply for paid contract work creating games. At this time LXBGAMES are looking for a Programmer but have many more projects planned in the future.

Laurece Brown, CEO & Founder, LxBGAMES, is on the hunt in the Train2Game community to find suitable people to work with her independent studio. Laurece, who is set to complete the Train2Game course in January 2015, is looking for support for students who will complete work on projects for a fixed fee. The games planned are not going to be huge and each project won’t take long to complete.

LxBGAMES is currently working on Sweet Life, details can be found on the team’s website (www.lxbgames.co.uk) and social media. The team has a lead programmer and lots of artists available. They are now looking to compliment the team with a hard working programmer, who has skills in: Animation, Action Script and Flash. Budgets are not huge at this time but students will be paid to complete the work. LxBGAMES are currently looking for support on Sweet Life but any applicants interested in contract work will be kept on file for future projects.

If you are interested, contact:

Laurece Brown
lxbgames@hotmail.com
www.lxbgames.co.uk

Train2Game News App store no longer using word free

Posted on by

AppsApple has removed the term ‘Free’ from the app download button on its App Store as it aims to comply with recent EU rules.

Previously free-to-play games had used the term ‘Free’ instead of a price like their premium counterparts. This has now been changed to the word ‘Get’.

Though no official statement has been made, the move is likely part of Apple’s plans to make it clearer that free-to-play games include in-app purchases following criticism from the European Commission in July that labelling games as free could be misleading.

Google has already made a number of changes to its service to ensure its app store is compliant with EU rules. Apps are displayed as offering in-app purchases while the download button is listed as ‘install’, rather than ‘free’.

Train2Game News Record beat to aid SpecialEffect

Posted on by

SpecialEffectChris Cook, Community Manager for GamePointsNow/GameKeysNow, has officially set a new Guinness World Record for the Longest Video Game Marathon on a Football Game by smashing the previous record by a whole 44 minutes to set a new time of 48 hours 49 minutes 41 seconds

The event took place at the Loading Bar, London from Nov 5th until the 7th and saw Chris play over 120 matches of FIFA 15, both online and offline . So far, the event has raised over £580 on behalf of its charity, Special Effect, with donations still being made.

‘I’m so glad to have raised so much for an incredible cause; but none of this would have been possible without the incredible support team of volunteers. They really kept me going throughout and I’m eternally grateful for all of their help and energy, especially when things got tough’

The event was streamed live via Twitch.tv and featured giveaways from companies like QWERTEE, Hauppauge, Boomerang Rentals, Insert Coin tees, NiftyMods and Campo Retro.

SpecialEffect is an award-winning charity that helps people with disabilities to benefit from the fun, rehabilitation and therapy of video games. They support people of all ages through assessments, equipment loans and equipment modifications.

Train2Game News Franco Jam

Posted on by

Franco JamUK studio Creative Assembly is hosting a game jam this weekend in honour of Simon Franco, a member of the team that passed away earlier this year.

Franco was a senior programmer on Alien Isolation, and worked on multiple Total War games during his 10 years at the Surrey studio.

This weekend, small teams of Creative Assembly staff will compete to create a whole game in two days, with proceeds raised and donations going to Royal Surrey County Hospital, which cared for Franco.

The judges panel for the contest will consist of Franco’s friends and family, plus Sprungdigi ambassador Darius.

A live stream will run throughout the event, which will also include a charity auction of Steam keys and signed goodies from Creative Assembly’s various games.

“Simon Franco was a dear friend and colleague to many here at CA,” the studio wrote on its blog.

“Simon was a big Magic the Gathering enthusiast, with a passion for creating retro games in his spare time, as well as being a dedicated father who sadly didn’t get to meet his youngest daughter before he passed. He was positive, kind and always had a time for anyone that asked for it.

“We were all deeply saddened by his sudden passing earlier this year and to commemorate his life, work and passion for retro gaming, we’re hosting a weekend-long GameJam in his honour.”

Creative Assembly is also inviting people to donate to their cause by clicking here.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 17.11.14

Posted on by

Call of Duty Advanced WarfighterA wave of new big name games has just been released but none were enough to knock Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare from the top spot. Assassin’s Creed Unity sneaks in to number two and Halo: The Master Chief Collection fights its way to third. The new LEGO Batman game has swooped in to fifth with the other Assassin’s Creed game, Assassin’s Creed: Rogue in sixth. Finally Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 heads to eighth in the table with the new World of Warcraft expansion, Warlords of Draenor, battling its way to number nine.

All formats

Week ending 15 November 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 1
2 ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY UBISOFT –
3 HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION MICROSOFT –
4 FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 2
5 LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE –
6 ASSASSIN’S CREED: ROGUE UBISOFT –
7 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 6
8 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2015 KONAMI –
9 WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WARLORDS OF DRAENOR BLIZZARD –
10 DESTINY ACTIVISION 5
11 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS 7
12 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 10
13 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 12
14 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2015 SEGA 3
15 ALIEN: ISOLATION SEGA 4
16 – ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 16
17 FORZA HORIZON 2 MICROSOFT 11
18 SUNSET OVERDRIVE MICROSOFT 8
19 – TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO 19
20 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 13
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 10.11.14

Posted on by

Call of Duty Advanced WarfighterFIFA 15 has been knocked from the top spot by the game we all assumed would do the job, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. With the lead up to Christmas these two will be battling for top spot. Football Manager 15 has debuted this week hitting number three. Towards the bottom of the top twenty a few games have made there return to the charts including, LEGO The Hobbit and Tomodachi Life which could also be due to Christmas.

All formats

Week ending 8 November 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION –
2 FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 1
3 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2015 SEGA –
4 ALIEN: ISOLATION SEGA 13
5 DESTINY ACTIVISION 6
6 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 3
7 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS 9
8 SUNSET OVERDRIVE MICROSOFT 2
9 THE EVIL WITHIN BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 4
10 – MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 10
11 FORZA HORIZON 2 MICROSOFT 7
12 – DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 12
13 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 5
14 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 8
15 WATCH DOGS UBISOFT 14
16 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT –
17 – SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 17
18 LEGO THE HOBBIT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE –
19 TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO –
20 FROZEN: OLAF’S QUEST GSP/AVANQUEST –
< previous week
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2014 UKIE Ltd

These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.

Train2Game News Great British Winter Game Jam

Posted on by

Great British Winter Game JamLondon games studio Space Ape Games, have announced the Great British Winter Game Jam.

Held on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November 2014, the Game Jam is a team-based event taking place at Space Ape’s studio’s in Soho Square, London. The competition is open to anyone, and teams of up to 5 participants can enter via http://tgbwgj.eventbrite.com. There are a maximum of 50 tickets up for grabs, which means that 10 teams can get through to the weekend session.

Space Ape Games are very excited to confirm the judging panel for the Jam, industry veterans David Gardner OBE and Miles Jacobson OBE, along with award winning scriptwriter Rhianna Pratchett. The theme for the Game Jam will be revealed on the first day of the competition, and judging will take place on the afternoon of Sunday 30th November.

The winning team will take home Unity 5 Pro licenses for each member of the team, with additional prizes being announced over the coming weeks. More importantly, everyone that takes part will get to spend time with the judges and have their games showcased to the London Indie community. Teams will need to bring their own equipment such as laptops, mobile devices and phones.

London is host to an impressive game dev community. Space Ape is pleased to bring them together for a weekend of fun, collaboration and healthy competition in the spirit of previous Game Jams such as The Great British Summer Game Jam earlier this year
For more information about The Great British Winter Game Jam, check out the Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/GBWGameJam. Information about Space Ape Games as well as career opportunities at the studio are available at www.spaceapegames.com