Tag Archives: UK Games Industry

Train2Game News Turtle Beach launches your beautiful game

Posted on by

BeautifulGameTurtle Beach, the leading audio brand in the videogames industry, is today embarking on a quest to crown the community’s favourite game.

From now until July 9, gamers are being encouraged to nominate their favourite videogame in a poll which will ask male, female, young and old to come together to crown the most popular title of all time.

Before the poll begins Turtle Beach is asking the community to support their favourite game or series by submitting a campaign video, image or even text nomination explaining why it’s so deserving. Nominations can be submitted via http://yourbeautifulgame.com or on the Turtle Beach Facebook page.

Spot prizes will be available throughout the nomination period – with one lucky winner bagging the ultimate gaming prize, consisting of several next-gen consoles complete with a top-of-the-range Turtle Beach headsets with which to enjoy the best possible gaming experience.

“During this summer of sport, everyone’s talking about the ‘beautiful game’, but we wanted to discover the world’s most celebrated videogame,” said David Roberton, VP of International Marketing at Turtle Beach Corporation. “We’re genuinely interested to see people’s passion for their favourite games, characters and franchises and why they consider them to be so enthralling.”

Voting and full terms and conditions are now open at http://yourbeautifulgame.com

Train2Game News Endemol Job deadline approaching

Posted on by

EndemolThe deadline for the position at Endemol is fast approaching, get your application in quickly if you want a chance to work on some great projects.

A position like this doesn’t come along very often with the possibility to work on some good intellectual properties like Catchphrase and Pointless with a chance of getting one of your ideas off the ground with a strong team behind you. A job here would gain you great experience for future prospects you may have.

The deadline for the position is this Friday June 27.

To read more about the position you can see the previous post here and you can apply by visting https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=YRHOo0wfT6koVipNUDC-8A#

Train2Game News UK Top 20 games – 23.06.14

Posted on by

bruce_leeWatch_Dogs has been beaten from it’s top spot down by EA Sports UFC. Further down the charts the only other new entrant is Moto GP 14 which enters at number fourteen.

All formats
Week ending 14 June 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – EA SPORTS UFC EA SPORTS –
2   WATCH DOGS UBISOFT 1
3 TITANFALL EA GAMES 6
4  WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW ORDER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS NINTENDO 2
5 – FIFA 14 EA SPORTS 5
6   2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL EA SPORTS 2
7 MARIO KART 8  NINTENDO 4
8 – CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 8
9 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION 3 EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 3
10 – MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 10
11 – GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 11
12 – BATTLEFIELD 4 EA GAMES 12
13 MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT SQUARE ENIX 9
14  – MOTO GP 14 PQUBE –
15 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 13
16 – LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 16
17 THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 14
18 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 17
19   TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO 15
20   LEGO THE HOBBIT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 18
< 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 Unity for PS Mobile offers Vita support

Posted on by

PS VitaUnity now fully supports PlayStation Mobile, allowing users on the PSM Developer Program to publish content to the PlayStation Store and Vita for free.

The PSM build option works with both the free and Pro versions of the Unity game engine.

The new release features in-app purchase APIs and also allows developers to distribute their titles to PlayStation TV.

Unity for PS Mobile differs from the existing Vita build option however. PSM support is designed to provide free access for development on a standard retail Vita, while the existing Vita build option provides full native access to the handheld and full access to PSN.

Visit the official website for more information.

Train2Game News Psychology in Games at Develop

Posted on by

DevelopTandem Events – organisers of Develop in Brighton – today announced the inclusion of three psychology sessions as part of the Evolve day.

Taking place on the first of the three days of Develop in Brighton, Evolve is dedicated to sharing new ideas about the latest and hottest trends in video games development.

One of those trends, using psychology within video games development, has become of increasing importance to the flow and style of modern day gaming. Evolve will have three sessions dedicated to the latest research curated by Berni Good, founder of Cyberpsychologist Limited.

Dr Linda Kaye from Edge Hill University will begin proceedings with her session entitled Social Psychology and Digital Gaming Experiences – What Can Developers Learn From This Discipline? Dr Kaye will outline some key insights from her research on concepts such as group flow and social identity theory. Linda will help delegates understand how gaming with others provides largely positive psychological experiences and outcomes for players, as well as outlining the implications for game development.

Following on from Dr Kaye is Alex Meredith from Nottingham Trent University with his session Psychological Research in Video Gaming 101 which will delve into the methods available to developers to doing psychological research in video games. He’ll explain under which circumstances certain research methods and types of analysis should be used.

Finally, Berni Good of Cyberpsychologist Limited will discuss the future of gaming psychology in her session Using Psychology in an Applied Way in Game Development – and a Glimpse into the Future of Psychology in Gaming. Berni will talk about how psychology is used and applied in video game development and research, with examples of real life success stories.

At the end of the sessions, there will be a Q&A with all three speakers, chaired by Berni Good.

Evolve takes place on Tuesday 8 July, with the Develop in Brighton Conference continuing on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 July at Brighton’s Hilton Metropole.

To find out more about these sessions and to register visit www.developconference.com

Train2Game News Fission Mailed

Posted on by

Fission MailedREZtron Ltd., are thrilled to announce that it will be part of FISSION MAILED – The Art of Videogaming, Act 1 exhibition at The White Building in London’s creative district of Hackney.

In the last 12 months REZtron’s ‘retrotainment’ has been going from strength to strength catering for the Hospitality industry, Festivals, Corporate functions and Product launches. This will be its first entry in collaborating with the Art world.

FISSION MAILED is a one day interactive gaming art exhibition at The White Building exploring the evolution and creativity of video games and its parallel adoption as an artistic medium.

The pop-up exhibition showcases the interplay of graphics, technology and storytelling through some of the most iconic (and underrated) games ever produced such as Asteroids, Panzer Dragoon, Ikaruga, Rez, Shenmue and Cosmic Smash to name but a few. Alongside these there will also be classic multi-player games open to the public to try out such as Micro Machines, Bomberman, Sonic 2 and Street Fighter II. These will be displayed on projectors and iconic CRT TVs.

Juxtaposed with these iconic and popular games, a parallel history of gaming will unfold through the practices of artists and indie game developers who provide a more pluralistic and subversive approach to exposing the darker underbelly of the gaming industry both past, present and future. Work by some of the most progressive and responsive game developers will be showcased, including work by Anna Anthropy, Merritt Kopas, Ben Eposito and Sophie Houlden.

The first part of the FREE exhibition will take place on Sunday 29th June, 4pm til 10.30pm.Tickets can be booked through Eventbrite.

Train2Game News AdSpruce partners with BoosterMedia

Posted on by

BoostermediaMobile Video Advertising network and technology company AdSpruce has announced the launch of a new partnership with Amsterdam based HTML5 games network BoosterMedia. The new partnership will provide game developers with the opportunity to monetize and increase revenue from any HTML5 game on the mobile web.

The partnership provides a new and better way for games developers to get a return on their investment. Mobile video advertising has a proven higher eCPM rate and is a significant improvement on the current banner advertising model widely available in the casual games market.

Founded in 2009, BoosterMedia has become the world’s leading HTML5 games network, pioneering the development and distribution of games on the mobile web. The BoosterMedia game platform boasts an audience of over six million active gamers with 350+ titles currently available to play. Through BoosterMedia, developers are given direct access to millions of gamers in over 50 countries. These games are distributed in app stores and on the mobile web, not only giving developers freedom from Apple and Google but massively increasing the potential audience for any mobile game.

Laurens Rutten, founder and CEO of BoosterMedia comments: “Video advertising is already a proven model for the monetisation of desktop game sites. However, until now, we could not find a good solution to monetise the mobile web. We are therefore happy to work with AdSpruce and bring video advertising to our mobile game sites.”

By partnering with AdSpruce, BoosterMedia has gained access to the “Native Ad Serving Platform” a proprietary technology developed by AdSpruce that can dynamically insert, target, track and deliver a wide range of innovative mobile video advertising formats to the mobile web on over 15,000 different mobile devices. This technology gives game developers the first real opportunity to pursue ad-funded revenue models on the mobile web. The Native Ad Serving Platform allows game developers to monetize their games using a variety of premium video ad formats – from rich media video banners to interstitial video ads and “Watch-To-Access” ads that provide players with targeted, relevant video ads prior to the start of a game.

AdSpruce CEO Ian Mullins spoke in-depth regarding the partnership
“ BoosterMedia is the leading HTML5 games network globally, the clear leader in its field. AdSpruce has the best watch-to-play mobile video advertising technology, so this was a great match and everyone wins. As the casual games model rapidly evolves to ad-funded and freemium, games networks and developers need the best in-game advertising technology and that ’ s where AdSpruce adds real value.

“ We are delighted to be partnering with BoosterMedia, giving their global audience of gamers a better in-game experience and enabling the games eco-system to continue to thrive. In-game video advertising delivers higher eCPMs with minimum disruption to gamers – either for initial access or for access to additional levels and functionality.”

The partnership comes at a time when many of the larger mobile game developers (such as Zynga) are creating new games and porting existing titles to HTML5 amid concerns of rising acquisition costs for app installs and questionable churn rates. Together, AdSpruce and Boostermedia have opened up a clear opportunity for forward thinking developers to create profitable games and apps on the mobile web.

Train2Game News Firefly Runner now on Windows 8

Posted on by

Firefly runnerUK based video games developer, Red Kite Games has launched Firefly Runner, an action packed, free-running child friendly adventure for Windows Phone and Windows 8 with proceeds going to charity.

Released last week on iOS, Android and Kindle, Firefly Runner can now be downloaded from both the Windows Phone Store and the Windows Store for a one off purchase of 79p with a free trial of the game also being available. Red Kite Games will donate 15% of the revenues generated by Firefly Runner jointly to the charities GamesAid and SpecialEffect thus helping both charities in their work for good causes centred around children and young people.

In the game, players can help Switch the courageous firefly, run, fly, shoot and rescue his captured firefly friends on the stunningly beautiful, yet treacherous, Firefly Island. Players can challenge their reflexes by running, flying and firing their deadly slingshot to take out Switch’s insect foes including grumpy hornets, burping slugs and scuttling spiders. Keep Switch alive and you’ll reach gigantic scores; unlock all the achievements and become the ultimate firefly.

The launch of Firefly Runner has been helped by a series of pro-bono collaborations from games companies including AppyNation, ACE, Carbon Digital, Game Republic, Johnny Atom Productions, Pitstop Productions, PressSpace, Sheridans and Universally Speaking all of whom have donated their services free of charge.

Firefly Runner is now available from the App Store, Amazon Marketplace, Google Play, Windows Phone Store and Windows Store.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 16.06.14

Posted on by

Watch DogsFollowing my report last week on the charts picking up we have one of the quietest weeks I’ve seen. Watch Dogs retain the top spot and 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil has risen to number two thanks to the start of the world cup. At the other end of the chart Terraria has risen to number twenty with Enemy Front entering the chart at number nineteen.

All formats
Week ending 14 June 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – WATCH DOGS UBISOFT 1
2 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL EA SPORTS 6
3 WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW ORDER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS 4
4 MARIO KART 8 NINTENDO 2
5 – FIFA 14 EA SPORTS 5
6 TITANFALL EA GAMES 9
7 – MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION 3 EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 7
8 – CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ACTIVISION 8
9 MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT SQUARE ENIX 3
10 – MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 10
11 – GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 11
12 – BATTLEFIELD 4 EA GAMES 12
13 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 17
14 THE LEGO MOVIE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 13
15 – TOMODACHI LIFE NINTENDO 15
16 – LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 16
17 PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE EA GAMES 18
18 LEGO THE HOBBIT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 19
19 ENEMY FRONT CI GAMES –
20 TERRARIA XBOX 360 CLASSICS –
< 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 Radius announce playable games

Posted on by

RadiusThe organisers of the Radius Festival have today announced the list of games to be showcased at the inaugural Radius Exhibition next week, 19 – 21st of June.

After a great start to the Radius video games Festival with Loading Bar’s E3 media briefing party, attended by over 200 people, the exhibition moves to White Space Venue, near Leicester Square.

The exhibition will host around 20 different playable titles each day, from developers all over the world,  including Tango Fiesta, 0rbitalis, Tap Happy Sabbotage, Timmy Bibble’s Friendship Club, Beyond Gravity, Mighty Tactical Shooter, In Space We Brawl, A Light in Chorus, Fossil Echo, The Kraken Sleepeth, The Marvellous Miss Take, Volume, and many others.

For the full list check out www.radiusfestival.com

“The creative variety and diversity of the games is amazing”, says co-founder and organiser Georg Backer, “and highlights that Radius is for everyone, from the one person developer to the established studio and to gamers and general public who are curious about games.”

“Radius is a celebration of game design and of the vibrancy of this wonderful industry,” adds co-organiser Keith Stuart. “We set it up in the wake of the major event E3 video games exhibition in Los Angeles, to give gamers a chance to experience and celebrate games amid a period of excitement and hype for the games business.”

The exhibition is free for everyone to attend and runs from June 19th to June 21st. There is £15 Supporter Ticket which includes a free drink and download tokens for two PC indie games: 0rbitalis and Richard & Alice.

During the evenings, there’ll also be the “Radius Show”, a live-streamed Internet show presented by games industry veterans and broadcast on Twitch, featuring developer interviews, guest stars and many surprises. Tickets for the evening show cost £25 and include a free drink plus free digital editions of 0rbitalis, Richard & Alice and Tango Fiesta. The show will be live streamed via www.twitch.tv/radiusfestival

Tickets for both the Exhibition and the Evening live show are now available at www.radiusfestival.eventbrite.co.uk