Tag Archives: UK Games Industry

UK Charts: Duke Nukem Forever takes No.1

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After 14 years away, the King is back with Duke Nukem Forever taking top spot in the UK chart in its first week on sale.

As reported by the Tain2Game blog, Duke Nukem Forever finally went gold last month after all those years in development Hell. Interested Train2Game students can find out much more about the long game development process behind Duke Nukem Forever in the Train2Game blog report of a Q&A session with Gearbox Software boss Randy Pitchford.

The debut success of Duke Nukem Forever finally knocks long time No.1 LA. Noire from the top of the chart down to No.2, while another former No 1, as reported by the Train2Game blog, in the form of Zumba Fitness climbs one to No.3.

infamous 2 enters the chart at No. 4, and as reported by the Train2Game blog, it’s a game Train2Game students should take an interested in due to the user generated content tools available for creating levels.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, Dirt 3 and former No.1 Brink all drop places down to No.5, No.6 and No.7 respectively. New entry Red Faction: Armageddon  enters at No.8, with much more information about the game available in a Train2Game blog interview with Lead Level Designer Jameson Durall.

He also stressed the importance of modding and user generated content to those looking to get into the games industry.

The remainder of the top ten is made up of familiar titles with Call of Duty: Black Ops at No.9 and Portal 2 at No. 10.  FIFA 11 drops out the top ten to No. 11.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 11th June 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Duke Nukem Forever (2K Games)
2. LA Noire (Rockstar)
3. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
4. inFamous 2 (Sony)
5. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney Interactive)
6. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
7. Brink (Bethesada)
8. Red Faction: Armageddon (THQ)
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
10. Portal 2 (EA)

Releases this week include Child of Eden, Alice: Madness Retuns and Dungeon Siege III.

So Train2Game, is it a well deserved No.1 for Duke Nukem Forever? Is it just something that the game has been released? Have you tried the Infamous 2 level creator? And which game will be No.1 next week?

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

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

Barriers of entry into industry “being blown away” say Remedy (Good news for Train2Game students then!)

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Remedy logo

In a statement that Train2Game students may mind surprising coming from a big developer, Alan Wake producers Remedy believe casual and social games are very good for the games industry.

Last week, the Train2Game blog reported on Angry Birds reaching 200 million downloads; it’s just one sign of how huge this relatively new sector of the games industry has become.

And Remedy Executive Vice President Aki Järvilehto believes that this is a positive thing, which allows easier entry into the games industry – some Train2Game are likely to see themselves getting their first job in a mobile development role.

“I think the market is changing in a radical fashion. Barriers of entry are literally being blown away. New business models are booming and this is not about devaluation,” Järvilehto told Industry Gamers.

“Facebook is doing tremendous things to gaming and attracting completely new people to enjoy different more casual and social games. I can’t see how the fact that mainstream consumers are finally embracing our industry could be negative. After all isn’t that what we’ve been hoping for since forever?”

“Games and gaming as an experience is certainly changing – platforms are evolving and developers and consuming is evolving with it” Järvilehto concluded.

Facebook games have certainly become popular, with the Train2Game blog previously reporting on the success of titles such as Cityville.

Last month, the Train2Game blog even reported that the role of a Game Designer is even more important for a casual title; so working on one could provide a Train2Game student with large amounts of experience!

Meanwhile, earlier this month the Train2Game blog revealed how Remedy believe game developers learn from their mistakes.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Järvilehto’s comments? Do you agree with his views about casual games? Can you see yourself developing one in future?

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

[Source: Industry Gamers]

UK Charts: L.A. Noire breaks records to take No.1

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The Train2Game blog has dedicated many of its pages to the game’s impressive Art & Animation techniques, but sales show that L.A. Noire may be more than just a visually impressive game; it’s taken top spot in the UK Charts in a  record breaking debut week.

It’s become the fastest ever selling new video game IP in the UK; a promising sign to Train2Game students that you don’t have to be developing a sequel to a successful franchise for the game to be a hit.

58% of L.A. Noire sales were for the Xbox 360, showing that the 3 discs the Train2Game blog reported the game comes on wasn’t an issue for gamers.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean remains at No.2, while last week’s chart topper – as reported by the Train2Game blog – Brink, drops to No.3 in its second week on sale.  Zumba Fitness drops one spot to No.4, while PC exclusive title The Witcher 2: The Assassins of Kings takes No. 5 in its first week.

The high chart position of The Witcher 2 is arguably yet more evidence that the PC is far from dead, but rather provides an excellent opportunity for Train2Game students to develop games.

The rest of the top ten is filled by familiar titles; Crysis 2 moves up three to No. 6, Portal 2 drops three to No.7, FIFA 11 remains at No.8,  Mortal Kombat drops three to No.9, while Call of Duty: Black Ops slips five to No. 10.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 20th May 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. LA Noire (Rockstar)
2. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
3. Brink (Bethesda)
4. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
5. The Witcher 2 (Namco Bandai)
6. Crysis 2 (EA)
7. Portal 2 (Valve)
8. FIFA 11 (EA)
9. Mortal Kombat (Warner)
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)

Releases in the upcoming week include Dirt 3 and Dead or Alive: Dimensions for the 3DS.

Have you played L.A. Noire yet? Does it deserve to be the record for the fastest selling new IP? Is its success good for the games industry? And what are your thoughts on PC exclusive The Witcher 2?

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

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

Train2Game radio interview with Train2Game Game Design student Jonathon Robinson

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Jonathan Robinson – AKA Ironcore01 on the Train2Game forum – is studying to become a Game Designer with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with him to find out why he chose to study with Train2Game, how he’s finding the course and what he wants to achieve in future.

Listen to the interview at www.audioboo.fm/train2game

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

UK developers ‘bedrock’ of games industry say SEGA

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SEGA say their UK based studios are the bedrock of the UK games industry, in the same 7 days as it was reported by Train2Game news that one of them – The Creative Assembly – are hiring for a new Alien game.

SEGA are also the parent company of Football Manager developers Sports Interactive. Train2Game students may see the support SEGA give to their studios as a positive thing for their future careers.

“Our UK internal studios are probably the bedrock of our business.”  SEGA Europe senior vice president – Production Gary Dunn told GamesIndustry.biz

“Certainly, when I was signing off our studio bonus scheme and I was signing of the incentives last week, for the second year both Sports Interactive and Creative Assembly are outperforming their business plans from a profitability perspective. These guys are on top of the game, it’s a real testimony to the games they make.”

SEGA West President Mike Hayes added that The Creative Assembly are one of the crown jewels of the company.

“It’s interesting: Creative Assembly are seen as the jewel in the crown of SEGA. That’s an interesting thing, I don’t think that would have been a thought about that fifteen years ago – but probably Creative Assembly has the consistent highest quality in terms of gaming for any studio, so SEGA’s very proud of both,”

As many Train2Game students may already know, The Creative Assembly are the studio behind the Total War series of PC games.

Train2Game students can get an in-depth look behind the scenes at The Creative Assembly in a report detailing the Shogun 2: Total War developer session at last years Eurogamer Expo.

As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Shogun 2: Total War is competing with James Bond: 007 Blood Stone and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West for the ‘Best Original Video Game Score’ at this weeks’ 56th Ivor Novello awards.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on SEGA’s comments? Does their praise of The Creative Assembly and Sports Interactive give you a positive feeling about the UK Games Industry? And do you have a favourite game by either developer?

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

[Source: GamesIndustry.biz] 

UK Charts: Brink takes No.1 as British developers reign supreme

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Brink Train2Game blog image

In news which could be positive for Train2Game students, UK developed Brink is the new No.1 of the UKIE/GFK Chart-Track All Formats chart, which this week features a strong showing from British game developers.

Why positive? Because successful multiplatform titles developed here in the UK – Splash Damage are based in Bromley – could potentially lead to more opportunities for Train2Game students to find work.

The PlayStation Network downtime has arguably influenced the choice of format, with almost 70% of Brink sales for the Xbox 360. (As reported by Train2Game news, the PlayStation Network is slowly coming back online.)

For a more in depth look at the development of Brink, see extracts of an interview posted on the Train2Game blog last week. The Train2Game blog has also taken a look behind the scenes with the Art & Animation department at Splash Damage.

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean is another new entry at No.2, with Oxfordshire developers Travellers Tales multiformat title selling well across all platforms.  The new entries of Brink and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean push last week’s No.1 – as reported by the Train2Game blog – Zumba Fitness down to No.3.

Portal 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops drop to No.4 and No.5 respectively, with Mortal Kombat falling three places to No.6, while Lego Star Wars III: The Clone wars at FIFA 11 move down two places each to No.7 and No. 8.

Former No.1 Crysis 2 moves up seven spots No. 9, while a third new entry in the form of MX vs. ATV Alive completes the top ten.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 14th May 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Brink (Bethesda)
2. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)
3. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
4. Portal 2 (EA)
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
6. Mortal Kombat (Warner)
7. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
8. FIFA 11 (EA)
9. Crysis 2 (EA)
10. MX vs ATV Alive (THQ)

New releases this coming week include L.A. Noire – which as the Train2Game blog reported could be revolutionary for the games industry – and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

So, is it a well deserved No.1 for Brink? Is a strong showing from British game developers good news for you? And will L.A. Noire stroll to top spot next 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 – Zumba Fitness retakes No.1 from Portal 2

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In what may be surprising to Train2Game students, Zumba Fitness has regained top spot in the UKIE/GFK Chart-track All Formats top 40 at the expense of Portal 2.

It’s 505 Games dance title’s third time at No.1, having taken the title twice during April as reported by the Train2Game blog.

Portal 2 may have held No.1 for two weeks, but for now it slips down to No.2, while Mortal Kombat also drops once to No.3. Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Black Ops continues to sell strongly moving up one spot to No.4 in this weeks’ chart.  The top five is completed by Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars which also raises one place from No.6.

FIFA 11 drops to No.6 in its 32nd week on sale, and the same week in which the Train2Game blog revealed that its sequel will feature some of the biggest changes in the series.  Operation Flashpoint: Red River drops three to No.7 in its third week in the charts while Wii Fit Plus is a non-mover at No.8.

Pokémon Black – which as reported by the Train2Game blog took No.2 in its debut week – re-enters the top ten at No.9 while Just Dance 2 holds No. 10. Former No.1 Homefront leaves the top ten, and falls to No. 17.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 7th May 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
2. Portal 2 (EA)
3. Mortal Kombat (Warner)
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
5. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
6. FIFA 11 (EA)
7. Operation Flashpoint: Red River (Codemasters)
8. Wii FIt Plus (NIntendo)
9. Pokemon Black (Nintendo)
10. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)

Releases in the coming week include Brink and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Zumba re-taking No.1? Is it testament to a successful game or was it just a slow week for new releases? Will Brink take top spot next week?

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

UK Charts: Portal 2 still No.1

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Portal 2 stays top of the UKIE/GFK Chart-track All Formats top 40 in a week that sees little in the way of change.  The first person puzzler – which the Train2Game blog reported Valve as saying is their best ever single player game – stays No.1 for the second week in a row.

The continued success of Portal 2 means Mortal Kombat once again sits in second place, one place ahead of former chart topper –as reported by the Train2Game blog – Zumba Fitness which raises one spot to No.3. Codemasters Operation Flashpoint: Red River moves up to take No.4 in its second week on sale, overtaking Call of Duty: Black Ops which drops two places to No.5.

Outside the top five, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars moves down one to No.6, ahead of FIFA 11 which once again holds onto No.7, while Wii Fit Plus moves up one to No. 8. THQ FPS Homefront – which the Train2Game blog previously took an in depth look at – rises one position to No. 9, while Just Dance 2 completes the top ten.

Sega’s Virtua Tennis 4 is this week’s only new entry in 23rd position.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 30h April 2011 is therefore as follows:

1. Portal 2 (EA)
2. Mortal Kombat (Warner)
3. Zumba Fitness (505 Games)
4. Operation Flashpoint: Red River (Codemasters)
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
6. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
7. FIFA 11 (EA)
8. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
9. Homefront (THQ)
10. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)

The week ahead is a quiet one for new releases, with Plants vs. Zombies arrival on the Nintendo DS a handful of predominantly new titles  for portable consolesto hit the shelves.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Portal 2 holding No.1? Is it a testament to a great game, or just a lack of competition? Will Valve tale their third top spot of the year next week? Or can Mortal Kombat take the title?

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

Train2Game blog interview with industry veteran Jason Falcus

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“Iguana Entertainment  is an independent Game Developer formed in 2009 by industry veterans Darren and Jason Falcus.The company puts heavy focus on mobile gaming, with Train2Game student  Lauren Black  helping in their development on a work placement.”

In an interview with the Train2Game blog, Iguana Entertainment Development Director Jason Falcus discussed his experiencein the industry, the future of mobile development and provides some advice for Train2Game students. Read it below.

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

Peter Molyneux to receive prestigious BAFTA Fellowship

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Peter Molyneux BAFTA Train2Game blog image

He’s a veteran Game Designer that is well known by Train2Game forum users, and now he’s set to receive the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship Award. Peter Molyneux will be presented with the prize at the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards.

The Academy Fellowship is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in the art forms of the moving image. Last year the fellowship for the video games industry was awarded to Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto.

It’s set to be a good year for Peter Molyneux, with the legendary Games Designer also set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards.

On being invited to receive the Fellowship, Peter Molyneux said:

“I remember back in 1967 watching the first BAFTA awards on television with my family and seeing them being so excited about those accolades.

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would be possible for me to accept one of the greatest honours the entertainment industry has to offer.

My first thought on learning that I was awarded an Academy Fellowship was that to be in the company of some of the greatest talents the entertainment industry has ever seen is truly humbling and secondly that this is an award not just for myself, but for all the people I’ve ever worked with”.

Molyneux is the latest in a prestigious line of Fellowship award winners, which includes Will Wright and Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. Train2Game students may dream of following in their footsteps in the future.

Train2Game blog readers will know Molyneux not only as the man to arguably created the ‘God Genre’ with Populous,  but is also the brains behind titles including Theme Park, Dungeon Keeper and the Fable series.

You can see an in depth look at Fable III  on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

The GAME British Academy Video Games Awards will take place on Wednesday 16 March at the London Hilton on Park Lane, and Train2Game students can find out how to vote for their favourite to win the GAME Award of 2010 here.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Peter Molyneux being awarded a BAFTA Fellowship? Do you believe it’s good for the future of the games industry as a whole? And have you voted for your GAME Award of 2010 preference yet?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum. You can also Tweet us on the Train2Game Twitter account.

[Source: BAFTA]

Train2Game, in association with DR Studios and the University of Bedfordshire, will be holding a Game Jam at the end of March. For more information, see the official Train2Game Game Jam website or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.