Tag Archives: UK Games Industry

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 20.10.14

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Fifa 15Another two big games released this week and they still can’t take the number one spot from the powerhouse which is Fifa 15. The Evil Within wasn’t enough to scare Fifa away, leaving it at number two and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!, has managed to reach number three. Just squeezing into the top ten is F1 2014 which hits number ten.

All formats

Week ending 18 October 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 1
2 THE EVIL WITHIN BETHESDA SOFTWORKS –
3 BORDERLANDS: THE PRE-SEQUEL! 2K GAMES –
4 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 3
5 FORZA HORIZON 2 MICROSOFT 4
6 ALIEN: ISOLATION SEGA 2
7 DESTINY ACTIVISION 6
8 DRIVECLUB SONY COMPUTER ENT. 5
9 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 10
10 F1 2014 CODEMASTERS –
11 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS 7
12 SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 9
13 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 11
14 NBA 2K15 2K SPORTS 8
15 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 12
16 – THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 16
17 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 14
18 SLEEPING DOGS: DEFINITIVE EDITION SQUARE ENIX 13
19 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 18
20 THE SIMS 4 EA GAMES 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 Play Games to help SpecialEffect

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SpecialEffectSpecialEffect are hosting another Gameblast in February of 2015. This is your chance to play games and help people in need!

The gaming marathon weekend will take place from February 20 – 22 and the idea is that you play games for an extended length of time, whether it be 48 hours or 24 hours is entirely up to you, and get your friends, family and whoever else to sponsor you to do so.

This gaming marathon is entirely down to your self to decide what you can do. Do as much or as little as you want to and try and raise as much money as you possibly can to help SpecialEffect to raise money that will go towards supporting disabled gamers back in to the game.

Last February gamers raised an incredible £70,000 in GameBlast14, and every penny and cent went towards levelling the playing field for gamers with disabilities. This time SpecialEffect are aiming for £100,000, so they’re going to need all the help you can give!

If you want to find out some helpful tips and sign up for this event you can go to http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/gameblast-about

Train2Game News Focus on the Positive

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Bath Digital FestivalTraditionally, many of those outside the Gaming world see online gaming as an antisocial activity, gamers as ‘loners’ who spend hours in darkness in their basements, playing war games.

The reality is very different. With around 1 in 3 of us playing games on a regular basis, gaming has grown from a niche hobby for a few, to mass entertainment for the many. The largest grossing entertainment release to date is not a Harry Potter nor Star Wars release but a game: Grand Theft Auto 4. The most popular YouTube personality on the planet now is not a singer, reality TV star or an actor but a gamer, PewDiePie with around 30 million subscribers.

So while games have broken out as a form of entertainment, is now the best time to ask if all they can do is fun? Dr Tomas Rawlings of Auroch Digital and Bristol Games Hub says an emphatic, “Yes.”, A gamer and regular commentator on games and gaming who has spoken at Games for Change New York in 2013 and was a keynote speaker in 2014 at Games for Change Paris says; “Gaming is breaking out of its traditional boundaries and audiences. We’re addressing the point that as games are so good at fun – and they are- then they can also be good at education, engagement, therapy and much more. Therefore, rather than talking about Games as being distractions from reality, we should be thinking about what Games can do for good. They are a form of engagement where people can not only have fun, but also give back to society, whether contributing to education, health, culture or science.”

Due to the increase in smart phones and mobile apps, (look around next time you’re on the train at how many people are playing Candy Crush) , games are now a primary medium that people use to understand the world around us. This view is reinforced by a survey in March this year by various US University researchers who found that by far the most part of gamers use these games to play together and enhance their social life, rather than locking themselves away. Another poll by CivicSurvey.org found that 52% of gamers report playing games where they think about moral and ethical issues and 44% report playing games where they learn about a problem in society.

There are an increasing number of children’s teaching apps, which approach learning in a fun way, as well as games that help cancer researchers, even games that confront domestic violence.

So, why not make improvements to society whilst having fun?

Learn more about this fascinating topic during the Bath Digital Festival at Games for Good: The Panel.

Dr Tomas Rawlings will be joined by a panel of experienced industry experts to discuss how Games can do more for society.

http://2014.bathdigitalfestival.com/event/games-for-good-the-panel/

Train2Game News From Bedrooms to Billions out now

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From Bedrooms to BillionsToday, the global videogame market is worth a staggering $93 Billion, far larger than the $15bn music industry, and bigger still than the $88.3bn worldwide film industry.

2014 has also proved to be a momentous year for the industry in the UK, with the sector getting back on track and witnessing the long-awaited introduction of Games Tax Relief. As such, this is an opportune time to review and reflect on the UK’s incredible heritage and role in creating what is now, the biggest entertainment business on Earth.

‘From Bedrooms to Billions’, a new two-hour feature length documentary film which tells that remarkable, true story of the British Videogame Industry from 1979 to the present day is out today.

‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ is a crowdfunded production, two and a half years in the making, that shows how the creativity and vision of a relatively small number of individuals allowed the UK to play a key, pioneering role in the shaping of today’s multi-billion dollar videogame industry.

Developments in computer technology in the UK of the late 70s early 80s helped inspire a generation of small teams of enthusiasts, hobbyists, school kids, bedroom coders and entrepreneurs to make and release some truly classic games. ‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ reveals some of the remarkable stories, struggles and successes that saw the UK videogame industry go from quite literally nothing to a major force littered with original thinkers, innovators and eccentric characters.

The film then looks at how the cottage-style early games business began to evolve into a fully-fledged industry which in turn inspired more young developers and publishers to enter the industry, before the appearance of overseas games platforms presented an all new challenge by the early to mid-1990s.

It also features interviews with key contributors to the UK story, including Peter Molyneux, Jeff Minter, David Braben, David Perry, Jason Kingsley, Mark Healey and many others from across video game development, publishing and journalism from over the past 40 years, combined with compelling archive footage.

‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ is the first to attempt to bring this amazing story together. Starting in the late 70s, spanning ‘Thatcher’s Britain’ of the 80s and culminating in the dramatic shift of fortunes for the UK Video Games Industry by the late 90s. The film celebrates the importance of this era and why it has become such a landmark period in the history of British invention, creativity and industry.

‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ is rapidly becoming regarded as one of the most comprehensive and thorough video game documentaries ever created and is essential viewing for anyone interested in video games, either as a player or as a creator.

The film is available now from www.frombedroomstobilliions.com

Train2Game News Guinness World Records Gamers Edition 2015

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Guinness World Record Gaming 2015The latest and most astonishing records in the world of gaming have been recognized in the upcoming publication of the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2015, available to buy on 6th November 2014.

The eighth edition of the hugely popular Gamer’s Edition – described as the “annual bible of gaming goodness” by MSN Games – is packed full of all the information a gaming enthusiast would ever need, ranging from the most impressive gaming records to behind-the-scenes knowledge from within the gaming industry. It also offers the very best artwork and images from all your favourite titles.

HUNDREDS OF NEW AND UPDATED RECORDS – As ever, the world’s best-selling gaming annual features the world’s greatest gaming records. These include the Longest videogame marathon on Minecraft (24 hours 10 minutes), the Largest collection of Tomb Raider memorabilia (2,383 unique items), the Highest margin of victory against the computer on 2014 FIFA World Cup (German native Patrick Hadler won 321–0), the Most “Game of the Year” awards (249 for The Last of Us), and the Best-selling eighth-generation console (the PS4, with over 10 million copies sold).

TOP 50 GAMES – In this year’s Gamer’s Edition, we present the best 50 games as voted for online by our readers. By giving Gamer’s fans the opportunity to have their say, this allowed us to focus on the titles our readers like best (such as Minecraft, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto), as well as to include games such as Crash Bandicoot and World of Tanks that we had not featured in such detail previously.

IMPROVE YOUR GAMEPLAY AND BECOME A RECORD-BREAKER – We know that gamers worldwide are always looking to enhance certain aspects of their gameplay. This can take hours of studying YouTube walkthroughs or scrolling through online tutorials. A new addition to this year’s book is entitled “For the Win” and provides handy, at-a-glance top tips on everything from how to beat that boss you’ve spent weeks trying to defeat to how to unlock the trophy you’ve been striving for. This will help you to not only hone your skills, but also to potentially become a record-breaker!

FEATURES, KNOWLEDGE, TRIVIA – This year’s book is packed full of new features covering topics as diverse as the toys-to-life phenomena, gaming firsts, zombie games, Alien games videogame fashion and the big titles you’ll likely be playing over the coming months. We also look at the transformation of handheld gaming from Mattel’s Auto Race in 1976 to the innovative mobile gaming scene of today. Exclusive interviews with a range of industry insiders provide you with a range of perspectives on the gaming world from within. And there’s no shortage of entertaining gaming trivia to build up your gaming knowledge.

Stephen Fall, Senior Managing Editor of the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition, said: “In the all-new Gamer’s 2015 we count down our readers’ favourite games. We cram in facts, figures and features on all aspects of gaming, along with exclusive interviews with leading figures in the industry. We also follow the latest developments in the epic battle of the eighth-generation consoles. And, as always, there are top tips for improving your gameplay. Now in its eighth edition, Gamer’s remains the ultimate videogame guide.”

Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition 2015 is out on Thursday, 6th November 2014

Train2Game News Golden Joystick Voting

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Golden JoystickWith less than one week left of voting, today, Green Man Gaming, the headline sponsor of the Golden Joystick Awards 2014, has revealed that they will be giving away XCOM: Enemy Unknown to voters of this year’s awards.

Voters, including those who have already voted, will be eligible to claim their free copy from TODAY via the free game giveaway site, which is now LIVE!
goldenjoysticks.greenmangaming.com

By using the same email address they registered and voted with, users will need to sign-up to Playfire (and link to Steam) in order to receive their verification email and game code.

Voting closes on 20th October, so this will be your last chance to have your say.
You can cast your vote for the awards at www.goldenjoystick.com

Paul Sulyok, CEO at Green Man Gaming, says, “After the success of the Golden Joystick Awards last year, we knew we had to make our offer to voters extra special this year, and are thrilled to have once again partnered with our friends at 2K Games to make this incredible free game giveaway possible.”

The offer is for the full PC version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the turn-based alien invasion strategy game from Firaxis and 2K Games. This critically acclaimed title was described by PC Gamer as, “more coherent and elegant than anything the genre has granted us in years”, awarding it 87%, with GamesRadar giving it an “Excellent” 4.5 out of 5 rating.

Extending the offer, thanks to Playfire Rewards, any user who plays XCOM: Enemy Unknown and unlocks the “and so it begins…” achievement, will receive an 80% voucher for XCOM: Enemy Within.

The Golden Joystick Awards presented by Green Man Gaming is the world’s most popular and credible games awards. Taking place on the afternoon of Friday 24th October at the indigO2 in the world famous O2 Arena, it celebrates the very best in the gaming industry. It is the only annual awards voted for by gamers, and in 2013 an incredible 10 million votes were cast in what was a record breaking year.

Now in its 32nd year, the 2014 awards have 16 reader voted categories, with additional special awards being chosen by an expert panel consisting of the editorial teams. The awards recognise every aspect of the world of gaming with gongs including Best Original Game, Studio of the Year, Best Visual Design and Game of the Year.
The Golden Joysticks shortlist was chosen by an editorial panel comprised of Future games staff from publications including CVG, PC Gamer, Edge, Kotaku UK and more.

Voting for the awards is open now at www.goldenjoystick.com

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 13.10.14

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Fifa 15Several new games have entered the charts this week including the highly anticipated Alien: Isolation from Sega. None of them were enough to kick Fifa 15 from the number one spot though. Alien: Isolation almost got there at number two with the next closest new release being Driveclub at number five. Skylanders: Trap Team and NBA 2k15 entered at numbers seven and eight respectively. The definitive edition of Sleeping Dogs was the final new game to enter the chart at number thirteen.

All formats

Week ending 11 October 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 1
2 ALIEN: ISOLATION SEGA –
3 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 2
4 FORZA HORIZON 2 MICROSOFT 3
5 DRIVECLUB SONY COMPUTER ENT. –
6 DESTINY ACTIVISION 5
7 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS –
8 NBA 2K15 2K SPORTS –
9 SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 4
10 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 6
11 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 8
12 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 7
13 SLEEPING DOGS: DEFINITIVE EDITION SQUARE ENIX –
14 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 13
15 CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 9
16 THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 12
17 THE SIMS 4 EA GAMES 10
18 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 14
19 TERRARIA XBOX 360 CLASSICS 18
20 – FROZEN: OLAF’S QUEST GSP/AVANQUEST 20
< 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 StandUpForGamesAid hits the road

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Imran YusufAfter two years of sell-out London shows at the Nation’s home of fun times, The London Comedy Store, GamesAid is thrilled to announce its show is hitting the road, heading north and will put on its first night at the Manchester Comedy Store.

Hosted by avid gamer and industry veteran, turned funnyman; Imran Yusuf the GamesAid patron has pulled together an epic line up of laughter inducing talent.

Raising over £9,000 at its last London show for UK based children’s and youth charities the initiative has been a huge success as a raiser of both funds and awareness for GamesAid and the great causes it supports. The line-up is:

Imran Yusuf (MC)
Mick ferry
Daliso Chaponda
Jo Enright
Rob Rouse

All of whom along with Imran are waiving their fees to ensure as much cash as possible goes to those who need it. Tickets are on sale now from: http://thecomedystore.co.uk/manchester/special-events/

With a solid line-up and a great purpose , #StandUp4GamesAid Manchester is a night of comedy that is not to be missed. GamesAid drives to raise funds for a multitude of children’s charities and thrives off industry support. The involvement of Imran and others highlights the success and quality that this night promises.

Train2Game News Deco Digital recruiting QA Tester

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Deco DigitalDeco Digital are an independent video game developer based in Derby and they are looking for a QA Tester to join their team.

Deco Digital was founded in 2013 at the University of Derby by Joe Brammer and Howard Philpott. The studio has since gone on to become an ID@Xbox developer, designing games for Xbox One and PC.

They have previously worked on Pneuma: Breath of Life for the Xbox One which is an enthralling first person puzzler putting gamers’ minds to the test in a visually stunning world using Unreal Engine 4 and Physically Based Rendering. They are currently working on an, as yet, unannounced IP.

The Studio are looking for a full time QA Tester to help develop their current title. You will be required to work out of the Derby studio. Previous testing experience is preferred but not required and they are looking for somebody who is passionate about video games and wants to help develop something special.

Everyone who currently works at Deco Digital has done free work on indie games and mods to reach their goals, they believe its a great way to train yourself to be disciplined, self motivated, and to improve your overall skills. Most of all, having video game credits is almost essential to getting a full time job in the games industry.

If you are interested in applying for the position go to http://www.decodigital.co.uk/qa-tester-application.html and fill out the form.

Good luck to all those who apply!

Train2Game News GreenShoots Funding

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CE_Primary_RGB_OBCreative England and Microsoft have announced that our highly popular Greenshoots programme is set to run for a second year and it’s bigger and better than ever before.

Speaking at EGX Creative England’s Head of Games & Digital Jaspal Sohal announced that the next round of the programme is now open, which offers £250k (up to £25k each) to 10 indie studios across England.

In a change to the first iteration of Greenshoots, investors and publishers are now involved from day one which means the supported studios have the potential to receive additional investment from the start of their project. Applicants can now also apply to develop for Xbox One with the programme no longer limited to tablet and mobile development.

The games from Greenshoots Round 1 ranged from underwater shoot ‘em ups and robot-infested puzzle games, to futuristic galaxy battles and crazy golf. All of the games, now released2, were showcased back in July to a crowd of industry experts and investors.

Jaspal Sohal, Head of Games & Digital at Creative England, said:

“Round 1 of Greenshoots proved to be a phenomenal success, helping 9 new indie studios to launch some amazing titles.

“This year the programme is an even better opportunity for burgeoning games studios; we have potential investors involved from the very start and Microsoft have extended the programme to include PC and Xbox One titles. Greenshoots Round 2 is a fantastic opportunity for any indie studio looking to develop their first IP.”

Andrew Webber, UK Microsoft Marketing Lead, said:

“At Microsoft we believe that a game developer’s success is our success. With the brilliant results from last year’s Greenshoots and the impact it has made on the participating studios, we are delighted to partner, once again, with Creative England. What’s particularly exciting this year is that Greenshoots has evolved to put the participants in front of more investors and publishers than ever before from day one.”

Paul Norris, of Greenshoots Round 1 support studio Mad Fellows, said:

“Applying to Greenshoots has been the single most important and productive decision we’ve made since founding Mad Fellows. Creative England and Microsoft have raised our profile as developers, given us access to funding and follow-on funding, introduced us to invaluable contacts, provided master classes and offered numerous opportunities to speak and present our game at high profile events.

“The Greenshoots programme has been pivotal in ensuring we made it through our first year as a company and has set us on a path for continued success in the future.”

The Greenshoots programme helps developers to kick-start development of new intellectual property (IP) and reach a global audience, plus they’ll receive support, mentorship and expertise from Microsoft and industry partners. While developing their title, Greenshoots encourages developers to push their game out across all platforms. The programme is designed to inject the business with funds for development and marketing and studios only pay back the investment when they’re making money from the game.

Applications close 9am on October 20th, 2014. To download a full set of guidelines click here and to apply Click Here.