UK Charts: Black Ops back to No.1

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Not only is it still popular on the Train2Game forum, but Call of Duty: Black Ops has also regained No.1 in the UKIE/GFK Chart Track All Formats Top 40, and denies Marvel vs. Capcom 3 top spot in the process.

The UK’s top selling game of 2010 climbs back up to No.1 in its 15^th week in the UKIE Chart, with help likely coming from retail discounting lowering the price of Call of Duty: Black Ops to under £30. It marks the titles’ eighth week at No.1, matching that of its predecessor Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The 2009 title however, achieved the 8 No.1’s in as many consecutive weeks.

The revival of Call of Duty: Black Ops prevents Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds taking top spot in its first week on sale. You can read more about the latest title from Capcom on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

Former No.1 Dead Space 2 has dropped one position to No. 3, while last weeks’ chart topper Test Drive Unlimited 2 moves down to No.4. The top 5 is completed by FIFA 11, which slips two places from No. 3.

Just Dance 2 moves up one place to retake No.6, while another Ubisoft title -Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – drops two to No. 7. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem drops two to No.8, while two non-movers – Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Collection and LittleBigPlanet 2 complete the top ten.

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is the only new entry in the UKIE Top 40.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending February 19^th is as follows:

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
2. Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (Capcom)
3. Dead Space 2 (EA)
4. Test Drive Unlimited 2 (Atari)
5. FIFA 11 (EA)
6. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
7. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
8. Mario vs Donkey Kong: Mini-land Mayhem (Nintendo)
9. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Collection (Rockstar)
10. LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony)

There’s a busy week for release dates ahead, with Killzone 3, Bulletstorm and Kirby’s Epic Yarn – which was very successful in Japan – all hitting retail this week.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Call of Duty: Black Ops re-taking No.1? Do you think Marvel vs. Capcom 3 deserved to take the top spot? And with so many releases next week, are you willing to predict if any of them will take No. 1?

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.

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.

UK Charts: Dead Space 2 stays No. 1

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Dead Space 2 remains top of the UKIE/GFK Chart-Track All formats top 40 for the second week in a row.

As reported on the Train2Game blog, EA’s survival horror made its chart debut last Monday, and a second week of strong sales sees it remain Number 1. FIFA 11 is also still selling strongly and once again holds onto second place in what is its 19^th consecutive week in the UKIE chart. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood moves up the table once again to take Number 3.

Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops shows that there’s still life in the shooter yet – despite a complete lack of pricediscounting – by moving one place up to fifth. It’s Black Ops 13th week in the top ten. Meanwhile, LittleBigPlanet 2 drops down to No.5, two weeks after it claimed top spot when released.

There’s no change at 6 and 7 with Just Dance 2 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit both non-movers, while Art Academy for the Nintendo DS climbs one to No.8. The Sims 3 re-enters the top ten in ninth spot while Wii-Fit Plus drops to tenth.

Nintendo titles Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini Land Mayhem and Mario Sports Mix enter the UKIE/GFK-Chart Track All Formats Top 40 in 11^th and 12^th places, with the only other new entry being The Sims 3 expansion Outdoor Living Stuff.

The full UKIE/GFK Chart Track All formats top ten or the week ending February 5^th is therefore as follows:

1. Dead Space 2 (EA)
2. FIFA 11 (EA Sports)
3. Assassins Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
5. LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony)
6. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
7. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (EA)
8. Art Academy (Nintendo)
9. The Sims 3 (EA)
10. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)

So Train2Game, are you at all surprised to see Dead Space 2 hold onto No.1 for the second week in a row? With arguably no major releases this week, could EA’s shooter stay on top for a third consecutive week? Or can FIFA 11 re-take No. 1 in its 20^th week in the chart?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum. Alternatively, you can let us know what you think via the Train2Game Twitter.

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 this Train2Game blog post or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.

Livingstone-Hope Skills Review: UK can build a ‘golden age’ of games development

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Computer Science should be brought into the national curriculum in order to encourage the next generation of Game Developers. That’s according to the Livingstone-Hope skills review which was launched today and the Train2Game blog was in attendance at the event.

The review highlights an educational ‘blind spot’ in traditional institutions but suggests if some changes are made the UK can build a ‘Golden Age’ of video games education.

The report’s authors – Ian Livingstone OBE and Alex Hope – suggest that if the UK’s video games industry overcomes existing barriers to growth and keeps up with its global competitors, it stands to generate £1 billion more sales by 2014.

However, the report shows that there is little awareness of the UK’s excellent achievements in the games industry. Only 3% of young people and 21% of art, ICT, maths and physics & science teachers interviewed know that top-selling video games such as ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘SingStar’ were developed in the UK.

The report also reveals that the education system is not equipping students with the skills needed by the games industry. Despite physics being vital to gaining employment in these industries, less than 5% of UK art, ICT, maths and physics & science teachers surveyed think that physics is one of the most important subjects to study for a career in video game development or visual effects.

The Livingstone-Hope skill review also suggests ICT education doesn’t equip students with the programming skills required to enter the games industry, and recommends it should become a compulsory part of education in schools.

Key recommendations of the 88 page report are:

Computer science must be part of the school national curriculum.
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) should include industry-accredited specialist courses in video games and visual effects in their list of ‘Strategically Important and Vulnerable’ subjects that merit targeted funding.
Young people must be given more opportunity to study art and technology together.

Ian Livingstone, Life President of Eidos, and author of the report said:

“Video games production plays to the UK’s twin strengths of creativity and high-technology and ticks all the boxes for the digital economy. But despite young people being passionate about video games, they are unaware that games such as ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘SingStar’ were developed in the UK and unaware of the career opportunities in the UK.

We need to transform young people’s passion to play video games into a desire to make them, whilst equipping them with the right skills for the industry. In the brave new online world, a second ‘golden age’ for the UK games industry beckons. It’s an opportunity which shouldn’t be missed.”

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the main points of the Livingstone Hope Skills review? Do you believe it really can lead to a new ‘Golden Age’ Are you surprised about the lack of knowledge about the games industry among the public and education sector?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum. Alternatively, you can also tell us what you think via Twitter.

UK Charts: Dead Space 2 takes top spot

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Dead Space 2 has entered the UKIE GFK Chart-Track All Formats chart at Number 1, becoming the second sequel to take top spot in as many weeks.

The dethroning of LittleBigPlanet 2 means there’s been a different Number One for every week in 2011 so far. It mark also marks a much more successful debut week for Dead Space 2, with a 70% increase in launch sales compared to the original games launch week in 2008.

Last weeks No. 1 LittleBigPlanet 2 drops to second place while former chart topper FIFA 11 rises one spot to No. 3. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood also moves up one to No.4 as Call of Duty: Black Ops drops down to No. 5. It’s been two weeks since Activision’s highly successful shooter last took top spot.

Just Dance 2 still remains in the top ten despite falling three places to No. 6 with Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit spending week 4 one place behind it after moving up three places from No. 10.

Wii Fit plus drops to No. 8 while Art Academy and Just Dance both re-enter the topt en.

Mass Effect 2 and Gran Turismo 5 both leave the UKIE GFK Chart-Track All Formats topten, dropping to No. 11 and No. 14 respectively.

The full UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats top ten for the week ending January 29th 2011 is as follows:

1. Dead Space 2 (EA)
2. LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony)
3. FIFA 11 (EA)
4. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
6. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
7. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (EA)
8. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo)
9. Art Academy (Nintendo)
10. Just Dance (Ubisoft)

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on this weeks’ UKIE GfK Chart-Track All Formats chart? Is it well deserved by Dead Space 2? With no major releases in the coming week, will Dead Space 2 hold on? And has the momentum of Call of Duty: Black Ops finally slowed down?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum. You can also let us know what you think on Twitter.

Zombie Cow on balancing creativity and commercial viability of indie games

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Many Train2Game students have pooled their resources and set up their own game development studios. These keen Train2Game students – who are already developing their own games – may find what one UK independent developer has told GamesIndustry.biz very interesting indeed.

Dan Marshall of Zombie Cow spoke about how indie developers need to find a good balance between making a game not only creative, but commercially viable enough for the game developers to make an income from it.

“You’ve got to walk a tightrope between what you want to do and what you have to,” Marshall said in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz . “You’ve got to make stuff that people want, and you’ve got to make stuff that you want to make.”

Speaking about Zombie Cows recently cancelled sequel to indie hit Time Gentlemen, Please! He said

“It’d be lovely to make another adventure game, but that’s probably not going to bring in enough cash to keep me doing what I’m doing.”

“If you look at the big games from the last couple of years or so, it’s been Super Meat Boy and Limbo and Braid and that sort of stuff. Should I be making things along those lines, because there’s obviously a market for those? Then suddenly you start to sound very boring, but it’s the reality of it.”

It sounds like a question many Train2Game student developers may have to ask themselves. There are plenty of great ideas out there, but when it comes down to it an independent game needs to be successful enough to bring the game development team an income.

Marshall also explains how not enjoying producing the game was on of the reasons development on the title was stopped:

“I wasn’t enjoying making Revenge of The Balloon-Headed Mexican and that’s one of the main reasons that it ground to a halt. If I wasn’t inspired by it, how could I expect anyone else to be? It would have been a really good game, I just don’t think it would have as good as Time Gentlemen, Please! and that’s the core of why it was cancelled.

“You’ve got to make stuff that you want to make because you’re the one sitting there typing for 12 hours a day making it, but you’ve got to make something that other people want as well in some capacity.”

That last point is some good advice for Train2Game students. They need to ask themselves if they don’t enjoy their game, is it possible for the consumer to do so?

Of course that isn’t to say a creative and innovative independent game can’t be successful! Just look at Train2Game favourite Minecraft ,which recently passed over 1 million sales. You can read much more about Minecraft and the reasons behind its success on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts about needing to find a balance between being commericial and being creative? Do you think its something you’ll need to apply to your games? Or in future are you willing to take a risk developing a game that’s very creative, but isn’t guaranteed to sell very well?

As usual you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GamesIndustry.biz – log in required]

Train2Game launches computer game QA course!

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Train2Game has officially launched the brand new Train2Game Quality Assurance course. The course, created by games developer DR Studios, is the fourth Train2Game course, and is available from 7th February 2011.

The QA course will teach students the many complex steps involved in the QA process, and its symbiotic relationship with the game development challenge as a whole. Methodologies, tools, processes and structures all form integral components within the course. The QA course is conceived and taught by industry experienced QA veterans who continue to push the boundaries of computer game development in today’s market.

Unique to the games industry, the QA course represents a ground breaking-induction model that has been specifically developed to support games development and the QA process of any technology oriented business. This course will provide students with not only specific games-related skills but also techniques that are transferable to other industries and business sectors.

Modules within the course range from basic QA through localisation, working with hardware manufacturers, focus group tests, planning test sessions and managing QA teams. Successful completion of this course will equip students with the knowledge and skills that today’s games industry demands from its QA specialists.

Students study at home and can progress at their own pace during the course, so there is no need to give up current work commitments. They have’ hands-on’ practical time with industry tutors and a full support service is available seven days a week by phone or email. On completion, students will be awarded a Train2Game Quality Assurance Diploma.

Course Director, Tony Bickley of DR Studios, added, “There are many passionate gamers out there who would like to turn their enthusiasm into a living, and our new QA course is a great way of providing them with the skills and knowledge required to work in this exciting industry.”

As usual, you can leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

42% of all Kinect games sold made in UK

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Developing motion controlled games may not be something Train2Game students have thought much about, but new figures say UK developers produce a significant number of these titles.

Figures from GFK Chart Track reveal that 42% of all Kinect games sold in the UK were also developed in Britain. The best selling game for Kinect so far is Kinect Sports, developed by Warwickshire based studio Rare. The game accounts for 28% of all KiNECT sales over the last ten weeks.

UK Game Developers now also hold a significant share of the PlayStation Move games sold, with 30% of software sales coming from software produced by studios here.

The FIGURES come from UKIE’s Motion Controller Report which looks at sales of Kinect, PlayStation Move and Wii Motion Plus games since October 2010.

“The array of strong products that our home-grown, UK talent is producing is something we can all be proud of.” said UKIE Chairman Michael Rawlinson

“This just shows how our UK developer base remains one of the best in the world, and can continue to step up to the plate as the market develops and platforms evolve.”

UKIE also point out that the current best selling game in the UK – as reported by the Train2Game blog – is LittleBigPlanet 2 from Guildford based studio Media Molecule.

Train2Game blog readers will know that the Kinect has sold extremely well.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on these sales figures? Had you considered developing motion controller based games before? Will you think about it now?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: CVG]

Always look on the bright side of life

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Train2Game Blogger Team

One publisher thought he'd be better as a monkey...

You’re no doubt studying the Train2Game Games Designer, Games Developer or Games & Animator course because you have a creative vision. You have an idea for an awesome game that you want to develop, publish and show the world.

It might be difficult to ‘sell’ your idea to a publisher, but that hasn’t stopped developers in the past, including those of Bejeweled – one of the most popular games of all time. The casual title has sold over 50 million copies since it was launched by PopCap ten years ago. The game has won countless awards and is available on PCs, iPhones and Facebook with 200 million games being played everyday.

However, things weren’t always so rosy as PopCap’s Dave Bishop told an audience at The Develop Conference yesterday. The industry veteran revealed that when the first build of the game was completed in 2000, a variety of publishers turned down the opportunity to buy Bejeweled for just $60,000. Given the success of the title in the decade since then, a few of them probably that regret that decision!

Bejeweled isn’t the only game that had trouble finding a publisher: Hello Games programmer Sean Murray also spoke at Develop yesterday and revealed that they struggled to find a publisher for Joe Danger. The game was eventually released through the PlayStation network selling 50,000 copies in its first week and was well received by critics. It therefore seems reasonable that Murray extracted some revenge on these unnamed publishers, and some of the reasons they had for declining Joe Danger had the Develop attendees laughing:

“Name me one popular game with motorbikes?”

”Collecting giant coins feels unrealistic to me”

”I can see this working as a Facebook app”

”We want games that are less about fun right now”

”We love the theme, but with a different game”

”We believe the iPhone will be largely unsupported”

”Can Joe be a monkey? We like Monkeys”

They verge on the ridiculous don’t they? A popular game with motorbikes, how about Road Rash or Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & Damned!? Collecting giant coins seems to have worked for Mario over the years and whoever thought games weren’t supposed to be fun eh?

So, what message can Train2Game students take from the ballads of Bejeweled and Joe Danger? Well first of all it’s that you should never give up, as Bejeweled shows that even one of the most successful games of all time struggled to begin with. Secondly, these games show that you can’t always rely on a publisher to give you the support you think your game deserves. However, thanks to the wonders of the internet it’s now easier than ever to get your independent production out there with Steam, the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live all providing outlets for indie developers.

So, what do you think about the comments made at Develop yesterday? Do you think you’ll try to rely on a publisher, or will you take the self publishing route? As usual, leave your comments here or on the Train2Game forum.

Crackdown 2 tops UK chart

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Train2Game Blogger Team

Ruffian Games’ Crackdown 2 has topped the GFK UK games chart in its debut week. Microsoft’s sandbox shooter sequal is the 15th Number 1 of the year and beats the number 2 debut position of it’s predecessor.

Warner Brothers Lego Harry Potter: Years 1 -4 drops down to Number 2 while Red Dead Redemption slips to third spot.

The ELSPA GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten in full is:

01. Crackdown 2 (Microsoft)
02. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Warner)
03. Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar)
04. Dance On Broadway (Ubisoft)
05. 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa (EA)
06. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Nintendo)
07. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 (EA)
08. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision)
09. Just Dance (Ubisoft)
10. UFC 2010: Undisputed (THQ)

Have any of you Train2Game Games Designers, Games Developers or Games Artist & Animators had a chance to play Crackdown 2. Do you believe it deserves its position at the top? As usual, let us know here or on the Train2Game forum.

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Tag Archives: UK Games Industry