Tag Archives: Video Games

Train2Game News Xbox Game Streaming

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Arcadia is the name of Microsoft’s in-development streaming games tech.

That’s according to ZDNet, which says Arcadia is being developed by a new streaming team in Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group and is designed to replace the ‘Rio’ streaming tech demonstrated last year.

Arcadia, which is being built around Microsoft’s existing Azure cloud network, will not just stream games but also apps – the site even says that the company at one stage saw Arcadia as a way for Windows users to access Android content. This idea has now apparently been put on hold, although recent job ads for the Arcadia team do ask for candidates with experience with iOS and Android.

ZDNet doesn’t believe Arcadia will be demonstrated at the upcoming Windows 10 reveal next month, although Xbox boss Phil Spencer will be talking.

Sony became the first console platform holder to branch out into game streaming. It acquired streaming firm Gaikai in 2012 and this year launched its PS Now service in North America. Other streaming games firms, such as OnLive, have struggled to gain traction.

Train2Game News Race to Elite

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Frontier Developments plc today launched Elite: Dangerous, the fourth game in the groundbreaking, genre-defining Elite series.

Elite: Dangerous is the fourth in the Elite series of games, following on from the seminal 1984 Elite, developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, 1993’s Frontier: Elite 2, and 1995’s Frontier: First Encounters.

Elite: Dangerous was crowdfunded via Kickstarter and Frontier Developments’ own website, beginning in November 2012. Throughout 2014, backers have had access to the game’s Alpha, Beta and Gamma stages.

The story begins today with the Empire in disarray. The Emperor is sick and a bitter fight for succession has already begun. The Federation has a weak President, and some frontier States are looking to leave it.

Players are free to throw themselves into the story wholeheartedly, participate a little, or not at all. How players choose to respond will directly affect the outcome of the current events, and the unfolding story beyond.

Since 1984, players have aspired to be called Elite. In 1984 only the greatest combat pilots were known by the prestigious title.

Today in Elite: Dangerous, Elite status is awarded as recognition for total mastery in either combat, trading or exploration, with the best of the best aspiring to become Elite in all three.

For most, the journey to Elite will be a long one. For some, it will become a race.

Frontier Developments is offering a separate £1,000 cash prize to the first player who attains Elite status for each of combat, trading and exploration, and a further £10,000 prize for the first player to attain the coveted Triple Elite status for total mastery of all three. Player’s choosing to claim one of the £1,000 cash prizes will make them ineligible for the ‘triple’ prize, though one player could get more than one of the £1,000 prizes.

For further details and rules of the competition, visit the Elite: Dangerous forum thread on the competition here

Train2Game News Final Symphony

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Final SymphonyFollowing the unprecedented, sell-out success of its FINAL FANTASY video game concert series, Final Symphony, production company Merregnon Studios is pleased to announce that it is working with celebrated composer Nobuo Uematsu and the world-famous London Symphony Orchestra on a brand new digital album recording of the concert for release in early 2015.

Published by leading digital music distributor, X5 Music Group, Final Symphony the album represents a new benchmark in video game music production. Befitting both the composer and orchestra behind the album, Final Symphony will be completely recorded, mixed and mastered at London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios, with Nobuo Uematsu on hand to personally supervise the album’s production. Also featuring the talents of conductor Eckehard Stier and solo pianist Katharina Treutler, both of whom delighted audiences during the award-winning tour, Final Symphony is sure to enchant music fans when it launches globally next year.

In another exciting announcement that continues to reinforce video game music as one the most electrifying and fastest growing genres of classical music, UK radio station Classic FM, the biggest classical music radio station in the world, will exclusively broadcast part of the Final Symphony recording as a world-premiere before the album’s launch next year.

“It is always an honour to hear my work being performed live on stage, but in bringing Final Symphony to Abbey Road Studios I hope that many more people will now be able to enjoy the outstanding arrangements that Merregnon Studios has become famous for,” said Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu. “To work with the London Symphony Orchestra in a studio that has played host to many of my own personal, musical heroes will be a very special experience.”

“For me, this album marks the ultimate video game music production,” commented Merregnon Studios’ Thomas Böcker, producer of Final Symphony. “It was an absolute musical privilege to work with the London Symphony Orchestra on Final Symphony last year – the orchestra’s first ever live performance of music from a video game – and to have them back in the same room as Nobuo Uematsu at Abbey Road Studios is like hitting the video game music jackpot. This album will showcase video game music at its very highest quality and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Final Symphony is an officially licensed series of concerts featuring symphonic music from the video games Final Fantasy VI, VII and X, with exclusive arrangements penned by Masashi Hamauzu, Jonne Valtonen and Roger Wanamo. First performed in May 2013, Final Symphony has enjoyed sell-out success in Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, featuring the virtuoso talents of some of the world’s leading orchestras and soloists.

The album also marks the second collaboration between Merregnon Studios and X5 Music Group, following the recent digital launch of Symphonic Fantasies Tokyo, a concert featuring music from Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana, Kingdom Hearts and Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross and is available to purchase now from all leading digital music retailers.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 15.12.14

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Fifa 15This is the penultimate chart of the year and with Christmas only ten days away it looks like things are staying where they are. There are absolutely no new games and FIFA 15 is still number one.

All formats

Week ending 13 December 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 1
2 – CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 2
3 – GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 3
4 – FAR CRY 4 UBISOFT 4
5 – LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 5
6 JUST DANCE 2015 UBISOFT 11
7 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 8
8 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 9
9 DESTINY ACTIVISION 16
10 ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY UBISOFT 7
11 THE CREW UBISOFT 6
12 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 19
13 DRIVECLUB SONY COMPUTER ENT. 10
14 HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION MICROSOFT 18
15 SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 14
16 THE EVIL WITHIN BETHESDA SOFTWORKS –
17 DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION EA GAMES 16
18 FORZA HORIZON 2 MICROSOFT 20
19 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS 15
20 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 12
< 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 Industry legend passes away

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Ralph BaerGames pioneer Ralph Baer, credited with inventing the first video games system has passed away.

The 92-year-old was the brains behind many of the devices that define what the medium has become today, most notably with his work on the very first games console.

Originally known as the Brown Box, Baer’s machine would later be licensed and sold as the Magnavox Odyssey, which launched in 1972, according to GamaSutra. The Odyssey sold hundreds and thousands of units and inspired many competitors, including Atari’s influential title Pong.

He also invented the interactive memory game Simon in 1979 and the first games console peripheral – the light gun – back in 1967. In total, Baer held patents for around 150 inventions.

Baer received a number of awards and honours throughout his career, including the National Medal of Technology, which was presented to him by President George W. Bush.

Born in Germany in 1922, Baer and his family fled to the Netherlands from the Nazis, eventually moving to the United States. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 09.12.14

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Fifa 15The latest game charts is a very quiet one this week with FIFA 15 retaking the number one spot for the first time in six weeks. The only new game to enter is Ubisofts, The Crew which has debuted at number six.

All formats

Week ending 6 December 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 2
2 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 1
3 – GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 3
4 – FAR CRY 4 UBISOFT 4
5 LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 19
6 THE CREW UBISOFT –
7 ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY UBISOFT 5
8 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 10
9 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 12
10 DRIVECLUB SONY COMPUTER ENT. 8
11 JUST DANCE 2015 UBISOFT –
12 MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 11
13 POKEMON OMEGA RUBY NINTENDO 6
14 SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 13
15 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 14
16 DESTINY ACTIVISION 17
17 POKEMON ALPHA SAPPHIRE NINTENDO 7
18 HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION MICROSOFT 10
19 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 20
20 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 9
< 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 Tales from the Borderlands Episode One Review

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Tales from the BorderlandsTelltale gave me the absolute pleasure to review Tales from the Borderlands for them and it was a fantastic first episode for the series.

As you may or may not know Telltale have made a name for themselves over the last couple of years by releasing episodic games based on The Walking Dead and the Fables graphic novel. These games had incredible stories with difficult, soul torturing decisions to be made which would affect your entire game.

Now with Tales from the Borderlands they have taken a slightly different approach. As the subject matter is a lot more light hearted the decisions you make aren’t quite as heart wrenching as previously seen from Telltale. The story and characters however more than make up for this.

You play this game as two different main characters, one a disgruntled Hyperion business man and the other a Con woman. Both characters are highly entertaining in there own ways and both have a great side character to go with them.

I would highly recommend this amusingly, entertaining first episode whether you have played a Borderlands game before or not. Obviously you will enjoy it more if you have played Borderlands 1 and 2 but it is not necessary as there is a quick catch up at the beginning of the game.

I am incredibly interested and excited to see where this new Tales from the Borderlands is going to go and how it will evolve. I can see good times ahead!

Train2Game News My blog is your blog

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Train2GameIt is coming up to the Christmas holidays and I am giving you the chance to voice your opinions on what you like to be heard on the Train2Game blog!

Some of you may remember that last year we had some students do some fantastic blogs that went out over the Christmas period and they were so popular we are going to do it again! You get to have your opinions heard and get your name out there in the gaming world.

You can write your blog on anything games related you like from reviews to opinions to advertisements for your upcoming games and studios, the choice is yours!

If you are interested in writing a blog to be seen on Train2Game News all you need to do is email me at Mark@train2game.com with the blog and a related image.

Get creative and have fun!

Train2Game News UK Top 20 Games – 01.12.14

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Call of Duty Advanced WarfighterThe charts are out and Christmas sales are certainly taking a hold with Call of Duty Advanced Warfare returning to number one and Fifa 15 in number two. Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire enter the charts at number six and seven respectively with Driveclub just behind that at number eight. LittleBigPlanet 3 just managed to make it to the top twenty hitting number eighteen with its debut.

All formats

Week ending 29 November 2014

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ACTIVISION 3
2 FIFA 15 EA SPORTS 4
3 GRAND THEFT AUTO V ROCKSTAR 1
4 FAR CRY 4 UBISOFT 2
5 ASSASSIN’S CREED: UNITY UBISOFT 6
6 POKEMON OMEGA RUBY NINTENDO –
7 POKEMON ALPHA SAPPHIRE NINTENDO –
8 DRIVECLUB SONY COMPUTER ENT. –
9 ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG UBISOFT 18
10 MINECRAFT: XBOX EDITION MICROSOFT 14
11 – MIDDLE EARTH: SHADOW OF MORDOR WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 11
12 MINECRAFT: PLAYSTATION EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT. 9
13 SUPER SMASH BROS. NINTENDO 17
14 DISNEY INFINITY 2.0 DISNEY INFINITY 15
15 SKYLANDERS TRAP TEAM SKYLANDERS 16
16 DRAGON AGE: INQUISITION EA GAMES 5
17 DESTINY ACTIVISION 13
18 LITTLEBIGPLANET 3 SONY COMPUTER ENT. –
19 LEGO BATMAN 3: BEYOND GOTHAM WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 8
20 WWE 2K15 2K SPORTS 7
< 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 Games On Song

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Games on SongToday, the UK games industry charity GamesAid http://www.gamesaid.org/ is inviting Black Friday shoppers to add the Games on Song Christmas charity single to their virtual baskets, to once again help raise vital money for children.

The UK alone is predicted to spend over £1.205bn this weekend, apparently saving £233m on their purchases.

Out NOW, the Games On Song Christmas charity Single is available to download on iTunes http://tinyurl.com/oep3bzl for just £1.29 / $1.99. Not only the best purchase of the whole weekend, but the one that will keep on giving, as all the profits from every sale goes directly towards helping children’s charities across the UK, helping them to have a very merry Christmas!

The Games On Song choir is made up of members from the videogame industry including Sony, EA, GAME, Ubisoft, Mastertronic, OnLive, SEGA, Green Man Gaming, Bethesda, Riot Games, Marvellous AQL, Ukie, and many, many more.

“As an industry, we know the power of the consumer, and that they are passionate about the positive impact video games can have. “We hope they will help us spread the word as they shop this weekend and buy lots of singles!” said Emily Britt, Chair of GamesAid. “Those members who donated their time and voices to this single hope to bring a smile to Black Friday shoppers, and to the children who will benefit from every sale.”