Monthly Archives: February 2011

Feb 25 2011

FPS Trainer Hits Beta, Announces New Features/Content

The Team at Play2Improve has been hard at work on FPS Trainer since the innovative training and coaching service for First-Person-Shooter games was announced in late 2010.  The response to the initial press release was very positive.  So much so that the hosts of the original website, immediately collapsed under the tsunami of visitors.  As did the second, leaving FPS Trainer high and dry, with thousands of screaming fans trying to register and log in.

However, with new, infinitely powerful hosting, FPS Trainer is back and is now, officially, in BETA.  The service has already been updated, upgraded and improved since it was first announced.  However Play2Improve is offering a huge range of new features and content over the next several weeks, including…

  • Dedicated servers to help avoid connectivity problems and enable players to have a smoother game experience
  • A Play Now mode to allow players to jump straight into a game
  • A major graphical overhaul to add advanced lighting, animation and special effects (with the same low-spec minimum requirements)
  • Enhanced single-player training bots to help players practice their skills in a (relatively) safe environment
  • Advanced metrics to enable players to visually track their progress and increasing skills over time
  • New coaching assists to help with:
    • Accuracy by providing real-time feedback for each shot fired
    • A comprehensive post-match analysis mode to help players review exactly what happened in the previous game (starting with the kill-shot visualisation, or KillViz)
    • Plus lots more coaching features coming soon

Upcoming new features will include:

  • A full replay mode with more in-depth post-match analysis
  • A peer coaching framework, allowing advanced players to effectively coach novices and intermediates
  • Guest celebrity coaches from the professional gaming world
  • A smartphone app to enable players to receive more advanced real-time coaching feedback and advice as they play

Alongside the standard free version of the game, the release of the first premium content packs for FPS Trainer: FPS Trainer Tactical (for realistic team-based tactical shooters, such as Call of Duty and Counter-Strike) and FPS Trainer HD (a downloadable high definition version of the game) will shortly be announced.

In addition, the mouse and keyboard controls, will be joined by gamepad support, allowing console players to hone their skills and develop their moves in the biggest selling console titles too.

Play2Improve is heading out to San Francisco for the Game Developers Conference and will be on the Scottish Development International stand (#714) over the course of the event.  To meet up with them, contact the MD, Matt Seeney.

We’ll be catching up with Matt, the mysterious astz! and the rest of the team once they’re back from GDC.  In the meantime, head over to the website and register for the new and improved FPS Trainer service.

Feb 23 2011

Introducing Pocket Starship – And Rotor

It’s always a pleasure to hear from a new development studio.  Pocket Starship is a start-up, based in Edinburgh, which has just released Rotor, its first game for the Xbox Live Arcade Indie channel.

When pressed by Scottishgames for a bit of background, founders Nick and Richard told us: “We’re a small (but perfectly formed) outfit of two hardy souls. One of us is a proud member of the RTW diaspora, having worked on MyWorld for just over 3 years, and the other counts himself fortunate never to have been corrupted by the AAA games industry. In both cases, we’re delighted to now be working together with the sole and express aim of making the kind of games that we can point to and be proud of. We’ve known each other since our university days, but decided a few months ago that the time was right for another Scottish developer to raise its head above the parapet and hurl itself into the Indie maelstrom.”

Which is a sentiment we can all get on board with…

In the meantime, you can find Pocket Starship on the popular social channels including Facebook and Twitter.  You can visit the company’s own website, or simply head on over to the Xbox marketplace and buy Rotor.

 

Feb 21 2011

Dead Island – Created By Axis Animation

Last week’s viral video hit – in the games world at least – was the gripping trailer for Deep Silver’s forthcoming zombie survival game, Dead Island.

Over the weekend we received confirmation from our friends at Axis Animation in Glasgow that they are the company behind the animation.  Directed by Axis owner and director, Stuart Aitken, the trailer was created in collaboration with the brand team at Deep Silver.

“Deep Silver were really keen to create something different, something that would really stand out and when they put forward the initial idea for the ‘reverse’ sequence I saw the seed of something great there,” said Aitken.

The trailer, accompanied by gentle accompanying music, runs backwards, showing the aftermath of a zombie attack on a family in a hotel room.  The qiality of the animation, as well as the content drew praise from all corners of the internet.  Boing Boing’s Cory Doctorow called it “…a fantastic piece of horror storytelling.” while Joystiq said the video is “…pretty much a jaw dropper.”  Wired agreed, telling readers “It may be the best videogame trailer I’ve ever seen.”

Deep Silver have been delighted with the trailer – and the reaction to it. Global Business Development Director and acting producer on the project Malte Wagener commented, “Axis exceeded all our high expectations and then some on this project and really hit this one out of the park.”

“We set out to create a rather unique trailer concept that would focus on delivering emotion and atmosphere while transporting the key elements and features of Dead Island. With the help of Axis and the great collaboration between our cinematic Director,  Anton Borkel and Axis’ own Stuart Aitken, we ended up creating something that was a breathtaking combination of pictures, story and music which formed an atmosphere of intensity that – for us – was beyond words.”

The Axis team brought in motion capture experts Audiomotion and fellow Scots Dimensional Imaging and Savalas to capture the character performances and for music composition and sound design respectively.

Based upon the response to last week’s release of the trailer, the Internet rumour mill has gone into overdrive.  Several sites have reported that the film rights to Dead Island have already been sold (quickly refuted by Deep Silver).  The ultimate tribute to the trailer’s popularity and impact, however, can be seen in the fact that the animation has already been recreated in Minecraft.

Once you’ve got the geeks on board, the rest of the world will follow…

Congratulations to Axis (and Savalas, Dimensional Imaging and Audiomotion) for an incredibly impressive piece of work.

Feb 16 2011

Introducing Games Analytics

Games Analytics is a start-up company, founded by Chris Wright and Tim Christian.  The company is a ‘data-mining and monetization company, headquartered in Edinburgh, serving the online video games industry’.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, the company has just opened a dedicated US office, appointing industry veteran and co-founder of Activision Alan Miller as director of North America.

When asked to describe the company, CEO, Chris Wright replied,“The games industry has fundamentally changed. Games are now a service, provided digitally, on demand. Experiences range from casual, social Facebook games, to complex online virtual worlds and MMOs. These games are paid for in a variety of ways, from traditional upfront payments, to subscriptions, micropayments for virtual goods and free-to-play. The key to all this is data; companies need to quickly understand and effectively respond to the massive amounts of player information they are gathering. The companies that get this right are the ones that will succeed in this new and exciting future.”

“GamesAnalytics is unique in that it combines sophisticated data mining technology from the retail and financial industries with a deep knowledge and understanding of the games industry. Our services unlock the true value of player data and maximize revenue for games companies by providing state-of-the-art real-time behaviour analytics and predictive modeling to deliver individually targeted in-game marketing. Our products, coupled with our experience and passion for the games industry will increase revenue, the number of paying players, ARPU, player satisfaction and retention.”

Game Analytics Chief Financial Officer, Tim Christian, outlined the company’s goals: “Our objective is to generate $1 billion dollars of incremental revenue for online game publishers and developers by 2015. Regardless of the revenue level of our clients’ games, use of our products will generate more money.”

Alan Miller, asked about his appointment, commented, “I’m tremendously excited to be working with GamesAnalytics. The company provides a big win-win solution for both game players and game publishers. Any game publisher serious about competing in the industry today must be able to rapidly analyse and understand its players’ behaviour and swiftly react to their needs. GamesAnalytics allows developers and publishers to quickly and easily unlock the true value of player data and maximise revenue. Our state-of-the-art turnkey real-time behavioural analytics and individually targeted in-game marketing increase online game revenue by substantially improving player satisfaction, as well as the number of paying players and average revenue per player.”

Games Analytics will be present at the 2011 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco at the end of February.  If you’d like to meet them there, drop them an e-mail.

Feb 16 2011

3MRT’s Inquizitor Hits Front Page Of App Store

3MRT’s Inquizitor range of apps, which teach stadard and GCSE subjects such as English, French, Biology, Maths and Physics hit the front page of the Apple App Store earlier this week, as one of the several ‘Apps of the week’, chosen by the App store staff.

Inquizitor uses games technology and game-like experience to help teach students – or players.  The apps launched towards the end of 2010 but it was only in early February that the games reached the front page of the iTunes App Store.

If anyone was in doubt about the impact this type of placement can have, Inquizitor removes it. The company has seen sales grow from ‘hundreds per week’ to ‘several thousand per day’.

Euan Mackenzie, the managing director of 3MRT told Scottishgames, “In the first 24 hours we’ve seen our linear growth in downloads and sales go exponential.  What delights us the most, and what is fantastic for the InQuizitor design team is that with 400,000+ apps, the Apple team liked InQuizitor enough to make it one of their 9 featured downloads for the week.”

Feb 15 2011

YoYo Games – New Game Releases (& Recruiting)

YoYo Games has not been resting on it’s laurels at the start of 2011.  Following a busy release schedule in 2010, the company has just announced two new games for the iPhone/iPad…

Prison Ball is a brand new twist on the classic ‘block breaker’ type game, set in the depths of a state penitentiary(?)  Offering 140 levels and multiple power-ups and Game Center support, the game will also be coming to other platforms including Android and PSP in the near future.

Karoshi on the other hand is a bleak meditation on the pointlessness of life as you guide your tiny Japanese salaryman to numerous grisly ends and help him to escape the grim mundanity of the everyday grind.  From the maker of They Need To Be Fed, Karoshi offers 50 levels of top-tastic entertainment.

Finally, YoYo is looking for an experienced Game Maker programmer to join their team in Dundee.

According to YoYo applicants should meet the following criteria…

Requirements

  • Must have a deep technical understanding of Game Maker, particularly GML script
  • Good communication skills
  • Fluent English speaking
  • Ability to work in a team environment
  • Aged 18 or over
  • Must be able to work in the UK
  • Must be able to relocate to Dundee, Scotland

Preferences

  • Basic knowledge of using art packages e.g. Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Paint.Net, GIMP, etc…
  • Good understanding of Game Design
  • Ability to use Audio packages e.g. SoundForge, Goldwave, etc…

If you’re interested, get in touch.

Feb 11 2011

It Was 20 Years Ago Today…

UPDATED – Now with extra added news coverage! (See below)

It’s actually twenty years ago come Monday, the 14th, but LEMMINGS, one of the first truly international superstar smashes of the home computer era is 20 years old.

Created, nurtured, ported and developed in Dundee by DMA Design back in 1991, the game has gone on to appear on many of the most popular home computers, consoles, handhelds and almost anything capable of playing a videogames apart from the Nintendo Game-and-watch.

Interactive Tayside has organised an evening to celebrate the game’s twentieth anniversary.  Taking place at Abertay University from 5pm-7pm, it’s free entry (plus drinkies and nibbles) and will feature Lemmings memorabilia, members of the original development team, anecdotes, episodes from the secret history of the game, a commemorative bucket of lemmings being poured from the roof of the university, followed by a cease-and-desist letter from Sony.

OK, the last two may not happen, but it is definitely a worthwhile evening out for anyone with an interest in the history of videogames.

If you’re interested in heading along, let the good people at Interactive Tayside know and we’ll see you there.

STV were there to speak to the original development team.

BBC Scotland popped along too.

[The image at the top of this article comes from the unofficial Lemmings t-shirt]
Feb 10 2011

Outplay – New Games Publisher Launches

Outplay Entertainment, a new videogames publisher focusing on social networks and smartphones launched today.  The company will be headquartered in Dundee, with details of premises expected within the next several weeks.  Outplay is already actively recruiting and is working with Glasgow gaming recruitment experts Specialmove to find talented, passionate and enthusiastic people to join them.

The company has been founded by brothersDouglas and Richard Hare, who left Scotland in the mid-1990s to work with Virgin Interactive, before leaving to found development powerhouses The Collective and Foundation 9 Entertainment.

The company has received a great deal of backing and support from the various organisations within Scotland including Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International.  Even the Scottish Government is getting in on the act, with First Minister Alex Salmond announcing the company’s formation at today’s First Minister’s Questions session at Holyrood.

The company has received backing from Pentech ventures, a venture capital fund, with many years experience in the Scottish digital media market, as well as the Scottish Investment Bank’s co-investment fund, giving the company significant resources to grow and meet the challenges of the new global gaming market.

Douglas Hare, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“The global games market is changing in a very fundamental but extremely positive way.  Over a very short period of time the number of people playing games has exploded and many of those players are demanding that gaming fits into the rest of their lives, whether that means on their mobile devices or as part of their favourite social network.”
“Gaming is reaching players all over the world, regardless of the hardware they use, or when and where they want to play. Outplay was founded to cater to this rapidly expanding global audience by taking lessons learned by the games industry over the last three decades and applying them to these new connected, interactive experiences as more and more people around the world discover the joys of gaming.” 

Richard Hare, President of the new company, agreed, “There are significant advantages to creating and publishing on social network and mobile platforms.  Shorter, more focused development cycles help constrain the upfront investment required.  The ability to then rapidly update the games based on measurable consumer response helps us attract and retain players by enhancing and updating the games’ features.  By investing in the right skills and focusing our publishing efforts on these new platforms and opportunities, Outplay is poised to become a significant player in the global games market.

The response to the launch of the new company has been extremely positive and widespread across the Scottish media and the games industry press.

Outplay should have a number of new announcements in the near future, covering new premises staff and projects.  We will, of course, keep you posted.

We’d also like to add our congratulations and best wishes to Outplay as well and look forward to finding out more about the company’s plans for the future.

Feb 3 2011

Game To Learn – Scotland’s Largest Games Based Learning Event – March 17th-19th

Readers of this blog, as clever and pretty as they undoubtedly are, may not have come across the Consolarium before.  Describing itself as the ‘Scottish Centre For Games & Learning’, the Consolarium uses commercially available games – hardware and titles – within classrooms.  Side stepping the serious games sector and instead looking at how to use games children are familiar with, in an educational context.  It’s really rather cool.

The Consolarium is itself, part of a larger organisation, Learning & Teaching Scotland, which looks at the use of technology, ICT and digital media in Scottish education.

It’s a fascinating topic and one which deserves far more widespread recognition for the hard work it has done in getting digital media – and games in particular – into classrooms, when much of the country has considered gaming at best a bad habit and at worst, degenerate and  causing rickets.

Now there’s a way to find out more about the Consolarium and LTS.  Game To Learn is Scotland’s largest game-based-learning conference, a new, free, event, taking place in Dundee on March 17th – 19th.

The three days offer a diverse range of activities.  On Thursday 17th, there is a 24 hour ‘codebash’, in which teams will be challenged to create an educational game.  Teams of two (developer and specialist) will be randomly chosen, with prizes awarded on the Friday for the most inspiring examples.  If you are interested in participating (or know someone who might be), e-mail codebash@rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk with your name, subject area and the institution/organisation you’re attached to.

Friday’s conference is hosted by Dundee College and is aimed at staff from schoools, colleges and universities.  Alongside a full-to-bursting conference programme, the output from the Codebash will be presented and rewarded.

Saturday’s conference is hosted at Abertay University focuses on games within schools.  Presentations and case studies in the morning will show how games and game technology has been used within schools in the recent past.  The afternoon will have a series of workshops which attendees can choose from, highlighting various issues in implementing game-based learning.

You can find out more about Game To Learn on the conference’s web site.