Tag Archives: UK Games Industry

Train2Game news: UK charts – FIFA 12 is third biggest ever launch

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Train2Game blog readers probably won’t be too surprised, but FIFA 12 has shot to No.1 in its debut week on sale, becoming the third biggest ever UK game launch ever.

It overtakes the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV and only the previous two Call of Duty titles have enjoyed bigger first week sales. FIFA 12 takes top spot from last weeks’ chart topper Gears of War 3.

Regular Train2Game blog readers will be used to seeing the FIFA name in the charts, with the previous title in the series, FIFA 11, still in the UK charts top ten as recently as last month.

The success of FIFA 12 sees F1 2011 from Codemasters slip one spot to No.3, ahead of non-mover and previous long time chart topper Zumba Fitness at No.4. Meanwhile, another former No.1 in the form of Dead Island drops to No.5 in its fourth week on sale.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution slides one to No.6, sitting one spot ahead of the PlayStation 3 exclusive new entry Ico & Shadow of the Colossus HD remake bundle.

UK developed Driver: San Francisco slips to No.8, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean remains at No.9, while Call of Duty: Black Ops once again re-enters the top ten.

X-Men: Destiny from Activision enters the charts at No.18 in its first week on sale.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 1st October 2011 is therefore as follows:

  1. FIFA 12 (EA)
  2. Gears of War 3 (Microsoft)
  3. F1 2011 (Codemasters)
  4. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
  5. Dead Island (Deep Silver)
  6. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix)
  7. Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection (Sony)
  8. Driver: San Francisco (Ubisoft)
  9. LEGO Pirates of the Carribean (Disney)
  10. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)

Releases this week include Dark Souls and RAGE. Train2Game students can find out more about RAGE from id Software in the Train2Game interview with Creative Director Tim Willits.

What are your thoughts on the success of FIFA 12? Will it remain a big seller for almost a year, like its predecessor?  Can Dark Souls or RAGE knock it from No.1?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

Train2Game news: Gears of War 3 is No.1

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Train2Game forum users, at least a significant proportion of them, were very excited about the release of Gears of War 3 and it seems that excitement was replicated throughout the country.

Gears of War 3 is the new UK No.1, becoming the fastest selling new game of the year in the process and Britain’s 12th biggest game launch of all time.

F1 2011 from Codemasters is another new entry at No.2, and Train2Game students can get an insight behind the scenes of its development in our in depth interview with Chief Game Designer Steve Hood.

The new entries push previous chart topper Dead Island down to No.3, while Zumba Fitness jumps up two places to No.4. Deus Ex: Human Revolution remains at No.5 for the third consecutive week.

Driver: San Francisco slips to No.6, with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Resistence 3 dropping five spots each to No.7 and No.8 respectively.  LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean and Rugby World Cup 2011 complete the top ten.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 24th September 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Gears of War 3 (Microsoft)
2. F1 2011 (Codemasters)
3. Dead Island (Deep Silver)
4. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
5. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix)
6. Driver: San Francisco (Ubisoft)
7. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (THQ)
8. Resistance 3 (Sony)
9. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
10. Rugby World Cup 2011 (505 Games)

New titles for release this week include FIFA 12.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Gears of War 3 topping the charts? Will it be the same again next week, or will FIFA 12 take the top of the table?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

Train2Game news: Homefront sequel in development at Crytek UK

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Train2Game students may be surprised to hear this, but not only is Homefront getting a sequel, it’s being developed by Crytek.

As reported by ther Train2Game blog, the THQ published Homefront topped the charts back in March despite lucklustre reviews from critics. It stayed there for a week before being dislodged by Crysis 2…from Crytek.

The yet to be named sequel will be produced using Crytek’s impressive CryEngine 3, and according to Develop, it’ll be developed by the studios UK based arm in Nottingham.

“Selecting Crytek to take Homefront forward underscores our strategy of working with the industry’s best talent,” said THQ EVP Danny Bilson

“Homefront’s unique setting and storyline captivated gamers the world over. With Crytek’s industry leading technology and legendary experience in the FPS genre, we’re supremely confident that the next Homefront will deliver that AAA-quality experience that players demand.” he concluded.

“We see Homefront as a really strong universe that has a lot of potential and that has been expertly created and marketed by THQ,” added CEO and President of Crytek Cevat Yerli

“We believe that bringing our level of quality, creativity and production values to the next Homefront title, creates an opportunity for both THQ and Crytek to deliver a truly blockbuster game”

“It’s really important to us that THQ has the faith in giving us a lot of creative freedom over one of its most important properties to allow us to bring the Homefront world to life in a new and innovative way.” he said

The newly announced Homefront title is scheduled for release in 2014 on ‘console and PC platforms’ The non-specific naming of any particular consoles could raise eyebrows amongst Train2Game students, could we be looking at a next-gen title already?

Are you excited by the announcment? Can Crytek make Homefront into an outstanding game? And what are your thoughts on the 2014 release schedule?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game course update from QA Tester student Daniel Parkes

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Train2Game student Daniel Parkes recently began a blog called How Train2Game changed my life. Now Daniel has posted a new blog updating us on his Train2Game QA Tester course progress in achieved 80% in his latest TMA.

Daniel also writes about his visit to GAMEfest in Birmingham at the weekend and some of the discussions he had with game developers. A SEGA game developer told Daniel that many of his colleagues started their careers at video game QA Testers, and it’s certainly a common way into the games industry.

Indeed, during Train2Game‘s time at Gamescom many games industry personnel including UFC Undisputed 3 Producer Neven Dravinski, and WWE’12 Lead Gameplay Designer Brian Williams told us that QA is an excellent way to get into the games industry.

You can see the full update from Train2Game student Daniel Parkes on his blog.

Train2Game news: Driver can’t overtake Deus Ex: Human Revolution for No.1

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution stays top of the UK charts despite sales almost halving those of its impressive debut week. As reported by the Train2Game blog, the Square Enix title took No.1 last week, knocking off long time chart topper Zumba Fitness in the process.

As a result Driver: San Francisco, which like Deus Ex is the return of a popular franchise has to settle for No.2 in its first week. As reported by the Train2Game blog earlier this year, Reflections promised a ‘more accessible’ Driver title.  The success of Deus Ex and Driver sees Zumba Fitness drop to No.3

Rugby World Cup drops one to No.4 in its second week on sale, while LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean also drops one to No.5.

Madden NFL 12, the American football title from EA Sports enters the chart at No.6, one place ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops which drops to No.7 in its 43rd week on sale. Cars 2 and FIFA 11 drop two spots each to No.8 and No.9 respectively while The Sims 3 moves up from No.12 to complete the top ten.

Bodycount, the new shooter from Codemasters barely makes the top 40 and debuts at a lowly No. 36.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 3rd September 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix)
2. Driver: San Francisco (Ubisoft)
3. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
4. Rugby World Cup 2011 (505 Games)
5. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
6. Madden NFL 12 (EA)
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
8. Cars 2 (Disney)
9. FIFA 11 (EA)
10. The Sims 3 (EA)

Releases this week include Resistance 3 and the much hyped Dead Island.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the charts? Is it a well deserved No.2 for Driver? Why has Bodycount failed to make an impact in its first week?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

UK Charts: Deus Ex Human Revolution topples Zumba Fitness

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Train2Game students will probably be relieved that for the first time in a very long time, Zumba Fitness isn’t top of the charts. The slow summer released schedule is at an end and Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the new UK No.1.

The Xbox 360 is the most popular format for Dues Ex: Human Revolution, with 57% of sales on the system.  Interestingly, Human Revolution debuts at No.1 while selling just 26,000 fewer copies than Deus Ex: Invisible War did in its entire selling life.

Long time chart topper – as often reported by the Train2Game blog – Zumba Fitness drops to No.2 with a 10% drop in sales, while Rugby World Cup 2011 debuts at No.3. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean drops to No.4, with a resurgent Call of Duty: Black Ops re-entering the top ten to take No.5.

Familiar names make up the following positions with, Cars 2, FIFA 11, Dirt 3 and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, occupying No. 6 to No.9. Discounts see Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood complete the top ten.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 27th August 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Square Enix)
2. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
3. Rugby World Cup 2011 (505 Games)
4. LEGO: Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney Interactive)
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
6. Cars 2 (Disney Interactive)
7. FIFA 11 (EA)
8. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
9. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner)
10. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)

Releases this week included Driver San Francisco, Bodycount and Madden NFL 12.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Deus Ex: Human Revolution debuting at No.1? Will it stay there for awhile? Or will No.1 change often as various titles are released over the coming months?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]

Train2Game Facebook page hits 4000 fans

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The official Train2Game Facebook page now has over 4000 fans, with this impressive milestone achieved over the weekend of 14 August.

The Train2Game Facebook page offers the 4000 fans regular updates about Train2Game, features interviews with students, work placements and offers a place for Train2Game students to see and discuss games industry news.

It features content from the Train2Game blog, the official Train2Game website and respected games industry websites around the web.

The 4000 Fan of the Train2Game Facebook fan page also offers a great hub of information for those wishing to enter the games industry.

In addition to the Train2Game forum, the Train2Game blog and the Train2Game Twitter, the Train2Game Facebook page will continue to offer the best content to Train2Game students, as it grows ever more popular.

Train2Game would like to thank every single FAN for their support.