Rocket powerINDUSTRY SAYS FAREWELL TO FORMER UKIE CHAIR P12

PLUS CHRISTMAS ACCESSORY PICKS THE GAME CONCERT BOOM

ANDY PAYNE STEPS DOWN

THE BUSINESS OF VIDEO GAMES

ISSUE 849 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH 2015

by Alex Calvin FORGET Batman and Metal Gear Solid V, Rocket League has come out of nowhere to become the biggest game of the summer.

The PC and PSN digital game has been played by 6m people, developer Psyonix has announced. The car-football title was released as part of the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection for PS4 and via Steam in July.

Speaking to MCV, VP of marketing and communications Jeremy Dunham said that the fi rm is sharing sales fi gures so that other studios realise the power of unique ideas, and urges other companies to share digital data, too.

“Sharing how your game is performing is a good thing for the industry,” he said. “It gives people an idea of how it is being perceived in the marketplace.

“It’s good for the industry to let people know that these sorts of

6m sales of Rocket League proves there’s an audience for new ideas, says dev Psyonix

DIGITAL PS4 and PC smash hit Rocket League could be coming to the High Street.

Jeremy Dunham, VP of marketing and communications at developer Psyonix, said that he has already starting talking to potential partners, but added it is important to include something special for boxed shoppers.

“Physical retail is something we have considered and we would like to do some day,” he

said. “We’re still trying to figure out the best way to approach it – what would people want in that physical version? People want there to be something cool in order to get them to double dip or feel like they are getting more if they are playing for the first time. We want to put a lot of thought into whatever we do and give careful consideration. If we were to do it, we’d want to do it very well.”

ROCKET LEAGUE DEVS EYE PHYSICAL RELEASE games are selling well. It lets them know that when a new or unusual idea comes along, there’s an audience for it.

“For us, it’s a really great validation that there’s strength in something new and that you

don’t have to stick with the classics. You don’t

always have to do a shooter, or if you’re going to do a car game it doesn’t necessarily have to

be a racing game. “It’s a helpful tool

for the industry to get a better understanding

of just what’s going on and what people are thinking. That’s why we release sales fi gures, and it’s a bit of self-congratulation, because it feels crazy to say that we have over 6m players already.”

“That’s way above what we expected. We take every opportunity we can to let people know we hit big.”You can read more about Rocket League on page 6.

NEWS

04September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com

by Christopher Dring ANOTHER major European gaming expo will take place next year - this time based in Turkey.

Gaming Istanbul will be organised by GL Events and takes place at the Istanbul Congress Centre between February 4th and 7th. It is designed to cater for 100,000 visitors, both trade and consumer, and will feature B2B zones, eSports areas, indie showcases, alongside an overall exhibition.

The organisers hope to put Turkey on the map as a major territory for games.

“Istanbul has been known as the gateway to Eurasia for centuries, and Gaming Istanbul was designed with this ethos in mind,” said Gaming Istanbul project director Cevher Eryürek.

“For publishers, it will provide a platform for their products. For developers, tools providers, distributors and the wider industry, Gaming Istanbul is a springboard into Europe for Asian companies, and a bridge to the East for Europe and the Americas.”

Istanbul games convention wants100,000 visitors

by Christopher Dring THE Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) has thrown its support behind MCV’s Digital Counts campaign.

The trade body says it estimates that games’ digital market is bigger than both music and video, but is unable to say definitively due to the lack of tracked figures.

In a letter sent to MCV, chief executive Kim Bayley and the Board of ERA said:

“Our longstanding commitment to open data is reaffirmed every week with the publication of the GfK Chart-Track charts, based on

ANOTHER UK developer has emerged hoping to take horror games back to their creepy roots.

London-based Lilith is developing Allison Road, a game that bears more than a passing resemblance to recently canned Silent Hills demo, PT. The title features photorealistic visuals as players explore a haunted house and attempt to survive the horrors that lurk there.

The game joins other UK-made horror titles such as Creative Assembly’s Alien: Isolation and Supermassive Games’ Until Dawn.

“The horror genre has gone a bit far from what it used to be like,” says Lilith director Chris Keslar.

“I love old-school horror games, like the first Resident Evil or Silent Hill titles. There was nothing action-packed or super flashy about these games then, it was really about telling a deep and intricate story.

“Rather than simply trying to push the player from A to B, it was about

Entertainment Retailers Association: Games success story deserves to be told

New UK studio targets horror game renaissance

data provided by our members,” it read.

“We have been working behind the scenes to encourage more openness about digital data, and remain hopeful that this can be achieved.

“The digital games business has been a huge success. Our estimates suggest that it is bigger than digital music and digital video put together. It is as a result of the success of digital games that the games sector overall has overtaken video to become the biggest of the three entertainment categories in which our members operate.

“That success story deserves to be told.”

The horror genre has gone a bit far from what it used to be like.

Chris Keslar, Lilith

ERA backs Digital Counts campaign Firm says it’s ‘working’ to encourage openness

Lilith is turning to Kickstarter to fund horror title Allison Road

Gaming Istanbul organiser Eryürek says the event will be a bridge between East Europe and America

making the player ‘want’ to go from A to B. I was scared at times playing these type of titles, but at the same time I just couldn’t put the controller down because I wanted to know what happens to the characters.

“We are really trying to go ‘back to the roots’, and bring back slow-burning horror and deep narrative.”

Allison Road is due to arrive in 2016.

NEWS

05www.mcvuk.com September 25th 2015

by Matthew Jarvis

HALO 5: GUARDIANS won’t suff er the same troubled launch as its predecessor, Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

That’s the pledge from Kevin Franklin, design director for the game at 343 Industries, who told MCV the studio had learnt from its mistakes releasing the Halo compilation.

“The Master Chief Collection was a very big challenge and a real learning experience,” he said. “It was an incredible technical challenge to put diff erent Xbox and Xbox 360 tech into one game and we learnt a lot through the issues we had with matchmaking.”

The Master Chief Collection was plagued by connectivity and stability issues for over six months following its release last November. The studio started testing Halo 5’s multiplayer last December with a Beta that ran until January. The game isn’t due until October 27th.

“With Halo 5 we’re committed to building a completely rock-solid matchmaking and online experience,” Franklin said. “It’s something the team is working incredibly hard on to win that confi dence back if we lost any.

“It’s a big goal for us. No one at the studio wants to make a troubled multiplayer experience. We are very committed to making a good experience.“

Microsoft vows that Halo 5 multiplayer will be ‘rock solid’

If you visited MCV Towers at all this summer, there’s a good chance you would have heard the words ‘Rocket’ and

‘League’ echo around the fl oors.We’ve loved the car-football

title here, and the fact it has been played by 6m people suggests that we’re not the only ones.

That single sales fi gure tells us a lot. We know that over 1m was sold via Steam, which means the vast, vast majority of that game’s ‘sales’ were given away for free via PlayStation Plus.

MCV has been involved in several debates over the last year over whether giving a game away for free via PS Plus was a smart move – and here is the best evidence yet that it is. Would Rocket League have sold that many Steam copies had it not benefi tted from the hype and free marketing off ered to it by PS Plus? I doubt it.

It was also the latest piece of proof that gamers really are eager for something that isn’t just an FPS or an open-world action game. Rocket League shows that a game doesn’t have to have a $60m development budget and years of development to reach a huge audience.

The game’s developer Psyonix’s decision to share its player numbers has off ered the games business some invaluable insight. If only more companies were as open and willing to share.

The success of games like Rocket League has created a

race amongst the big publishers to fi nd the next big thing.

Players are voting with their wallets, and they’re openly telling publishers that although they love triple-A giants like Metal Gear Solid and Destiny, they’re just as happy splashing the cash on cheaper, smaller games like Rocket League or Minecraft or DayZ.

This is why Activision resurrected its Sierra brand and started publishing games from indies. It is why EA has teamed up with ColdWood Interactive on its platformer Unravel. And why Wargaming has opened its own publishing arm.

Ubisoft has even set up entire teams and divisions within its studios who are tasked purely with creating smaller, quirky games that they hope might just become the next online hit.

MCV featuring a company you may not have heard about on our front cover is becoming a frequent event. And it speaks to the fact that the ‘next big thing’ can just about come from anywhere.

And to the triple-A publishers which are used to spending their way to the top, that’s a frustrating fact.cdring@nbmedia.com

THE EDITOR

MCV featuring a company you haven’t heard of on our cover is becoming more frequent.

WHO WILL MAKE THE NEXT ROCKET LEAGUE?

Developer 343 is working hard to ensure Halo 5 works perfectly when it launches next month

PRE-ORDER TOP 10FIFA 16 (PS4) EA1

2 FIFA 16 (XO) EA

3 FIFA 16 Deluxe Edition (PS4) EA

4 FIFA 16 Deluxe Edition (XO) EA

5 NBA 2K16 (PS4) 2K Games

6 Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (PS4) Sony

7 Fallout 4 (PS4) Bethesda

8 Halo 5: Guardians (XO) Microsoft

9 NBA 2K16 (PS4) 2K Games

10 FIFA 16 (360) EA

SPONSORED BY

Upcoming shooter will not repeat last year’s Master Chief Collection’s online woes

ROCKET LEAGUE was released as a digital-only product over PlayStation 4 and PC, but Psyonix says that the title could come out in a box in the future.

“[Putting Rocket League in a box] is definitely something we have talked about,” says VP of marketing and comms Jeremy Dunham.

“We’ve talked about it with several different groups who are very interested in bringing the game to physical retail. We’re just exploring all avenues. If there’s something we can do with our game, if it’s a mode, a physical retail version of it, coming to a different platform, then we’ve talked about it.

“Physical retail is something we have definitely considered and we would like to do some day. When that day is we don’t know yet because we’re still trying to figure out the best way to approach it – what would people want in that physical version, because people would want there to be something cool in order to get them to double dip or feel like they are getting more if they are playing for the first time. We want to put a lot of thought into whatever we do and give careful consideration. If we were to do it we’d want to do it very, very well. ”

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION Psyonix didn’t think Rocket

League would be a hit. The San Diego-based

studio had limited expectations of the car-football game, and thought it would only sell a few hundred thousand units in its lifetime.

Within a month after launch, it was being played by 5m gamers. Since then, that figure has climbed to over 6m across PS4 and PC.

So it’s fair to say that Rocket League has utterly smashed Psyonix’s wildest dreams.

“Every prediction we had was nowhere near the level we are at now,” says VP of marketing and communications Jeremy Dunham.

“We have 6m players, and hundreds of thousands playing each day. Because we were doing PlayStation Plus, we knew we’d have quite a few more people playing than normal. Based on the rabid fandom that [Rocket League’s predecessor] Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars had, we knew we would do really well.

“Our projection of lifetime sales was a couple hundred thousand copies, and with that we’d make back our development budget. We actually sold well over 1m copies on Steam alone, and we have millions of PS4 owners playing the game.”

ESPORTS CRAZYWithin three days of coming out, Rocket League was recognised as a pro-gaming title by ESL. Then at the start of September, MLG announced the first Rocket League eSports tournament. And this is bolstering Psyonix’s plans for post-release content for the game.

“We’re trying to support this community of broadcasters and

players that are really into the game,” Dunham explains. “We’re new to that realm and we’re trying to get a good idea of what it is that the players want and what the viewers want. Right now we’re at that phase where we’re really still learning as we go along, finding out what’s best to give that audience and what people are looking for.”

He continues: “Our goal is to then feed the audience that wants to see and play Rocket League. Because you can only sell so many copies and keep going for so long

before you have that inevitable downward trend that always happens on a game release. We’re thinking about the life after the game, after that big buzz dies down and supporting the players who are really into the game.

“The best way to do that is by giving them a really healthy eSports environment where they can feel competitive, motivated to play and give them reasons to play. We have all sorts of plans for that long-term. We’re not looking at it as ‘well, Rocket League’s out now, we’re done. Let’s start our next game in a few months’. That’s

The Rocket League explosion

It burst onto the scene. Since its July launch, it’s been played by over six million people. It was certified as an official eSport by the ESL within three days of release. But what is next for Psyonix’s car-football title,

Rocket League? Alex Calvin catches up with the developer of the surprise hit of the summer

Every sales expectation we had for Rocket League was nowhere near the level we are at now.

Jeremy Dunham, Psyonix

not how we’re approaching it. We’re looking at Rocket League as a long-term proposition where we want to get existing gamers, and new fans over time, to have this culture centered around our title, where players of all levels can feel competitive. The next couple of months are when people are going to start seeing the more interesting ideas that we have for Rocket League that didn’t quite make it in at the start.”

But it isn’t just the games industry that is taken by the car football title. Hollywood, TV networks and toy firms are all lining up to talk to Psyonix

about what could be next for Rocket League.

“It’s surprising how many things that aren’t related to the game have come our way,” Dunham says.

“We’ve had discussions with various people about making movies based on Rocket League, or TV shows. We’ve had people come our way with possible toy deals and lots of cross-promotions outside of our game. Now we are getting to the point where the people who

06September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com

INTERVIEW PSYONIX

PSYONIX never meant to make Rocket League, or even its predecessor, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars.

“That game was a total accident,” VP of marketing and comms Jeremy Dunham says.

“The team was working on a car-combat game called Crash Course. It was a very simple game. I wasn’t on the team at the time. But they were trying to think of ways to make the game more interesting, then one day one of the designers dropped a football in to see what would happen because there had been a few other games that had car football mechanics, so we figured why not. What happened was that everyone started playing that game more than the one they were working on.

“It took over the entire office. Instead of testing and working on all the elements for this pre-existing car-combat, we were now as a team overtaken by playing what became Super-Powered Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars. They hit this crossroads where they realised they needed to stop doing that and get back to Crash Course to get it out on time, or scrap that idea and realise that this was the thing that they should be working on. Luckily the latter was the route they decided upon. It’s amazing how far it’s come since then.”

want to work and cross-promote with us are much more famous.”

He continues: “There’s nothing to announce, there’s nothing official, we haven’t signed on any dotted lines. A big reason for that is there are lot of questions about Rocket League’s fiction, the lore and how that would tie in to a TV show or film. It’s just at the discussion phase.”

DIGITAL COUNTS So far, Psyonix has been reasonably open about how well Rocket League has sold digitally.

“Sharing how your game is performing is a good thing for the games industry,” Dunham says. “It gives people an idea of how that game is being perceived in the marketplace.

“It’s good for the industry to let people know that these sorts of games are selling well, that this is what people are looking for and it’s also really good justification to let them know when a new idea comes along, or at least an unusual one, that there’s an audience for it. Here’s proof that there’s an audience

for it because look at how many people have purchased this crazy, wacky football meets driving game.

“For us, it’s a really strong validation that there’s real strength in something new and you don’t have to stick with the classics. You don’t always have to do a shooter, or if you’re going to do a car game it doesn’t necessarily have to be a racing game. You can do something like Bugbear did a long time ago with FlatOut, or Rocket League, like we’ve done.

“It’s a helpful tool for the industry to get a better understanding of just what’s going on and what people are thinking. That’s why we release sales figures, and it’s a bit of self-congratulation, because it feels crazy to say that we have over six million players already.”

He concludes: “For us, it’s way above what we expected. And it’s nice to say. We take every opportunity we can to let people know we hit big.”

HAPPY ACCIDENT

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 2015

PSYONIX INTERVIEW

07

CHEAT SHEET

08September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com

UP & DOWNMGSV DROPS

from the top spot to No.4

as sales dip 54 per cent week-

on-week

TITANFALLsales shoot up 265 per cent thanks to a retailer promotion

IS VR THE FUTURE THIS WEEK?

VR is going to be a hugely powerful weapon for game developers to create new and exciting experiences for consumers.

Shuhei Yoshida, Sony Worldwide Studios

YES

£10m

£15m

£10m

Market DataSoftware revenue rises 56 per cent as Destiny: The Taken King and Forza 6 arrive

Week EndingSeptember 5th

Week EndingSeptember 19th

Week EndingSeptember 12th

£20m

£11.7m33,279 units£7.5m

252,710units

£16.6m484,014

units

EVENT CALENDARSEPTEMBER 2015..................................................................................

EGXThe NEC, Birmingham, UKThursday September 24th – Sunday September 27th

The UK’s largest games event For the fi rst time, EGX is in Birmingham Organisers predict 80,000 attendees for the

three-day show

OCTOBER 2015..................................................................................

GAMES MEDIA AWARDS 2015Bloomsbury Ballroom, LondonWednesday, October 14th

Celebrates the achievements and stars of the UK games media

Three new awards added in this year

GAMES FUNDING FORUM 2015Rich Mix, London, UK Thursday, October 14th

Half-day conference and networking event for developers looking for funding advice

Speakers include Green Man Gaming’s Paul Sulyok, Mercia Technologies’ Mike Hayes, Ella Romanos of Strike Gamelabs and Jaspal Sohal from Creative England

CHEAT SHEET

09www.mcvuk.com September 25th 2015

PRESENTS

ANKA Headset - PDP Design and manufacture

the Offi cially licensed Microsoft – fully Wireless

Headset for Xbox ONE

europesales@pdp.comwww.pdp.com

5 SECOND FACTSYour shortcut to sounding clever in the pub, we take you around the industry in under 30 seconds

30mJuniper Research believes that 30m VR headsets will

be sold by 2020, with revnue exceeding $4bn (£2.6bn)

£50Amazon will launch a new £50

tablet, simply called Fire. It is due out on September 30th

3After raising $6,333,295

(£4m), Shenmue 3 developer Ys Net has opened a second

crowdfunding campaign

2016The PC edition of EA’s

upcoming racing title Need for Speed has been pushed back

to 2016

1mCapcom’s free-to-play title

Dragon’s Dogma Online has hit one million downloads since its

Japanese debut in August

THE NEWS IN 140 CHARACTERSThe Tweets you might have missed in the last seven days

DOWNTON ABBEY MOBILE GAME HITS STORES

Activision has released a brand new mobile title based on ITV’s period drama, Downton Abbey. The game is a hidden object title featuring the likenesses of the show’s stars.

GAMES MEDIA AWARDS 2015 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Last Friday, MCV revealed the fi nalists of this year’s Games Media Awards. New categories this year recognise video journalists, as well as mainstream writers. The winners will be announced at London’s Bloomsbury Ballroom on October 14th.

MORPHEUS REBRANDED AS PLAYSTATION VR

Sony has revealed at Tokyo Game Show that its VR hardware Project Morpheus will in fact be called PlayStation VR going forward.

@ultrabrilliant Cheeky wee nom for Other Places in yer GMAs. That’s me a YouTuber now. *uninstalls Word*.

Andy Kelly, PC GamerFriday, September 18th

@KyleOrl Oh, a Downton Abbey game? That could be interesting.“hidden object game”Welp, so much for that.

Kyle Orland, Ars TechnicaFriday, September 18th

@Auld_Da_Jim I love that the Journalist’s Journalist nominees are up against a fake man [The Miller Report’s Simon Miller] that we invented.

Jim Trinca, VideogamerFriday, September 18th

@xiotex I wonder which agency got paid millions to turn around to Sony and say “We have a great name - PlayStation VR”

Byron Atkinson Jones, Xiotex StudiosTuesday, September 15th

@Starfox118 Anyone surprised by the name PlayStation VR doesn’t understand branding... I think we’re all surprised it wasn’t called that from the start!

Vaughn Highfi eld, AlphrTuesday, September 15th

@jenjeahaly It’ll come as a surprise to no one but that Downton Abbey iOS game is pretty dire.

Jennifer Allen, 148AppsMonday, September 21st

GAMESAID THIS WEEK

....................................................PLAY YOUR PART BECOME A MEMBER AMBASSADOR TRUSTEEWWW.GAMESAID.ORG

ONE UP GAMING GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

..................

Games site One Up Gaming is planning on streaming for 60 hours, starting at 8pm on Friday, September 25th, in order to raise money for GamesAid. You can donate to the team here: www.justgiving.com/OUG/

GAMESAID CHEQUE GIVING..................

On Wednesday, September 30th, GamesAid will be announcing which organisations the charity will be donating funds to this year. This will be taking place at the Warner Bros Entertainment Studio, and is being sponsored by ESL UK.

WINDSOR HALF MARATHON..................

On Sunday, September 27th, a number of GamesAid runners will be taking part in the annual 13.1-mile run at Windsor Great Park. Keep an eye on the GamesAid website at www.gamesaid.org in the coming weeks to see who’s running and how to donate.

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com10

MARKET MOVES

ESL | The UK branch of the eSports League has hired SPIKE LAURIE.

Laurie joins as ESL UK’s co-managing director. Previously he worked at Warner Bros for three years, joining in 2012 as international digital games coordinator, before being promoted to international retention and engagement manager in 2013.

“It has proven to be a tough task to find the right person for the role,” said co-managing director JAMES DEAN.

“I worked with Spike during his time at Warner Bros. He has a fantastic vision for marketing and delivers superb user

experiences. The fit couldn’t be better for UK eSports and the growth of ESL’s UK office.”

Laurie added: “It’s a huge privilege to be joining ESL: the company that’s setting the global gold standard for eSports competition and entertainment. To make the most of this great opportunity, my focus will be on expanding the company’s already impressive impact in the fast growing UK market, and through strategic international executions.”

POCKET GAMER | Freelance journalist JAKE TUCKER has joined the mobile-focused website as

its VR editor.

Tucker will be taking on this role in a freelance capacity, and will continue to write for other publications. He is also console editor at BitTech.

In the past, Tucker has had freelance bylines on the likes of Vice Gaming, Midnight Resistance and Pocket Gamer itself. He is also the director of monthly games conference VideoBrains.

“I’m pleased to be joining Pocket Gamer,” Tucker said. “We’ve worked together in the past and I’m glad to be able to help them make this commitment to VR, in part because strapping a variety of headsets on and seeing the new technology first hand is exciting.”

BEE7 | Mobile studio Outfit7 and engagement fitm Bee7 has hired MIKA KUUSISTO

as its chief revenue officer. He will work across the two

brands to grow both businesses. His previous role was senior director of business development at engine firm Unity.

“Mika joins at a very important juncture for Outfit7 and Bee7 as we embark on an exciting new phase of growth,” Bee7 and Outfit7 CEO and founder SAMO LOGIN said. “His knowledge and understanding of the challenges that developers and publishers face to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving mobile market will be crucial moving forward.”

New senior co-MD joins UK eSports League Warner vet Laurie joins eSports fi rm New VR editor for Pocket Gamer Bee7 hires chief revenue offi cer

APPOINTMENTS

WE’RE BACK AT INDIGO2!

The Golden Joystick Awards celebrate the very best in the gaming industry and are the only annual awards voted for by gamers, garnering over nine million votes last year.

The VenueNow in its 33rd year, the awards ceremony will return to London’s IndigO2 with a three-course meal provided by the award-winning Gaucho restaurant.

Industry AfterpartyThe exclusive afterparty complete with live entertainment will be held at one of London’s hottest and most sought after party locations, the Brooklyn Bowl in the O2 Arena.

WhenFriday 30th October 2015

Table sales are now open for the greatest gaming event on the planet!

A table for 12 people is just £4,320 which includes:

– Champagne reception

– Three-course meal provided by the award-winning Gaucho restaurant

– Golden Joysticks Awards ceremony

– Entry to awards afterparty

The Golden Joystick Awards are BACK, will be broadcast live online, and this year presented by author and comedian DANNY WALLACE.

LIMITED NUMBER OF TABLES

DON’T MISS OUT!

To book tables or explore sponsorship opportunities please contact

Andrew Church on andrew.church@futurenet.com

33rd

Sponsored by:Media partners:

DR JO TWIST, UKIEAndy, what you’ve achieved as UKIE’s Chair has been outstanding and can’t ever be over-estimated. Your passion for change and for disrupting things has been nothing but a force for good. You’ve been a mentor and an absolute role model. I’m full of praise and admiration for your commitment to all you do, and long may it continue. Hopefully, this is just the start.

ROB COOPER, UBISOFTTo sum up his contribution: for me, Andy is exceptional, outstanding, and very, very special. On behalf of Ubisoft and all the team, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Andy for all you have done for us.

GEOFF HEATH, INVESTOR Andy has done the most amazing job at UKIE. It wouldn’t be what it is today without him.

DAN WOOD, UKIE I just want to say a massive thank you for everything you’ve done for UKIE. It wouldn’t be anywhere near the place it is today without your input, and a big personal thanks from me for all your advice and support and I look forward to working on lots of projects with you in the years to come.

DR MICK DONEGAN, SPECIALEFFECTYou’ve been SpecialEffect’s mentor, champion, close friend and inspiration ever since the charity began back in 2008. On behalf of every single person we’ve helped since then, thank you for your unfailing faith in us, and thank you in particular for instilling in us the belief that nothing is impossible.

STUART DINSEY, CURVE DIGITALYou’ve led us well, you’ve inspired us all, you’ve changed us for the better, we’re going to miss you.

TOM STONE, TT GAMESThank you for the incredible job you’ve done over the last ten years. You and UKIE have moved our industry forward, and we at TT Games want to thank you for that. Particularly for your wonderful energy, your engaging personality, sense of humour and, crucially, big and generous heart. We thank you for everything you’ve done for us.

JENNY RICHARDS-STEWART, WOMEN IN GAMESI’m sure everybody in the industry really wants to thank you for the effort you’ve put in over the last 11 years – it’s been amazing.

Thank you Andy!After more than a decade in the role, Andy Payne is stepping down as UKIE chairman. Here, UK games execs

share their thoughts on a man that helped shape an industry

12September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com

GOODBYE ANDY PAYNE

MILES JACOBSON, SPORTS INTERACTIVEThanks for everything you’ve done for us as an industry and me as a Board member.

IAN LIVINGSTONEAndy has done an incredible job as Chair, way beyond the call of duty. He has worked tirelessly for over ten years guiding successive ELSPA/UKIE CEOs and their teams through sometimes tough times, helping to make UKIE the respected and successful organisation that it is today.

ROY STACKHOUSE, ACTIVISIONAndy’s passion and commitment to the games sector, and those who work within it, are second to none. During his tenure as Chair, he has ensured UKIE stays relevant, is representative of the whole diverse sector and a driving force for positive change in the UK. I wish him well and hope that he continues to have a huge impact on the industry going forward.

ANDY WOOD, CUBIC MOTIONAndy Payne UKIE Rap

Andy Payne; Adorable,Bright, British, Italian, bob-sleigher, cyclist, Delivers, dependable, dancer, don’t suffer fools, Makes sense,Dress sense(?),Honesty, integrity, trustworthy,Just Flight, Just Giver, Mastertronic, music lover.Marathon runner, leader, hard-working man,Own man, man’s man, our man, he’s your man, got a plan,Batsman, bowler, complete all round good egg,Persistent, professional, patriot, publisher, public schoolboy; scholarship receiver,London-boy, collects weird toys, Beaming lived-in-loveable-scar-faced-boat-race,Sometimes known as P, Outspoken, got an OBE, Founded The Producers with me, Andy made John Otway a hit single with me, the ‘second one’ (not ‘Really Free’). *See ‘The Two Andys’.And he climbed the Himalayas with me. Where we shaved off our hair. He can sleep anywhere.He keeps up with the news, once laughed at my shoes, can snore like a gnu (we once shared a room) has pretty strong views ...and old-school tattoos.Shows no fear, likes the odd beer,Horse racer, mentor,Great fun, special one,Special Effect supporter.Wears shorts, Loves sports,Swears,

ChairsUKIE, unique,Kisses Kirsty, soulmate, best mate, my mate, your mate, everyone’s mate, never late, doesn’t wait, can’t delegate.West Ham/England fan/ great man,Loyal legend, broke the mould. Massive hole.

CAROLINE MILLER, INDIGO PEARLAndy Payne is a one of a kind proper old school geezer who has single-handedly made it ok for straight men to wear purple. Up the Irons.

SPENCER CROSSLEY, WARNER BROSYou can’t really explain in just a few lines what Andy has done for the industry. His list of achievements is considerable: re-galvanising the trade body, making UKIE a significant voice, through to the many successful initiatives which have established games as the most relevant and valuable sector in the entertainment marketplace.

PETE STONE, KONAMIWow, Andy – we’ve been dealing with each other for 30 years. Who would’ve thought the video games business could last that long? Thanks for making sure UKIE has remained relevant in these fast-changing times.

www.mcvuk.com

GOODBYE ANDY PAYNE

13

What major trends have you seen affect the games accessories sector since the beginning of the PS4 and Xbox One generation?Jonathan Rose, distribution manager, Lime Distribution: Accessories don’t seem to be so susceptible to the same uncertainty that is experienced with other products. Generally, we have been seeing a high increase in sales as more and more of the market realises the potential of being involved with the eSports scene.

Paul Carrington, sales director, Accessories 4 Technology: Consumers are now much more likely to purchase a licensed accessory or peripheral to support gameplay on their new console. We have also seen that, whilst the older-gen consoles have struggled in both hardware and software sales, accessory sales have remained buoyant.

What will the biggest challenges be for the accessories market over the next 12 to 18 months? Dave Nelson, UK sales manager, PDP: It’s a highly competitive market with many players. Products designed and manufactured from the ground up provide a huge advantage over the competition. Manufacturers can tailor ranges based around market dynamics and by listening to what consumers want. Carrington: It doesn’t take long for the accessory industry to realise what the winning products are in terms of sell-through and this is quickly followed by the

market becoming flooded with products from these successful categories. Innovation and point of difference is key to the direction of accessories. From a retail perspective, bundling accessories with hardware and key software releases is vital.

How has the eSports sector affected the accessories market?Rose: eSports has motivated manufacturers to invest and develop much higher-grade products in order to satisfy the demands of the hardcore and pro gamer audiences.

Nelson: Higher quality accessories have been around for some time for eSports – mostly around the PC. You certainly see wired controllers and headsets at tournaments. Certain controllers for Xbox One, for example,

feature customisable buttons which will give a competitive advantage, particularly in first-person shooters.

What accessories and categories do you expect to be the biggest sellers this Christmas?Nelson: Audio will again play a big part this Christmas. It is another saturated category for brands, with headsets and chat

communicators. We will see more chat communicators for both Xbox One and PS4, as well as headsets at a sub-£50 price point. 2016 will also be very strong for audio growth. We also predict continued success with controllers next year. Carrington: Without a doubt, headsets will still be the key product sector in terms of third-party brand sell-through.

Rose: There are some exciting Black Ops III and Halo 5 licensed products coming out in Q4 which we are anticipating excellent sales for, as well as ongoing SKUs. With the arrival of VR products and the realisation of these at retail over the next six months, we believe this segment will attract a lot of interest from consumers and retailers alike.

Winter watchlist2015’s Q4 looks to be one of the biggest in years for retailers, as a packed release schedule drives

up sales. But it’s not just about software: accessories are also set for a Christmas to remember. MCV asks experts in the sector what UK stores should keep an eye out for

eSports has provided retailers with an opportunity to offer high-end peripherals

Headsets will still be the key product sector in terms of third-party brand sell-through this Christmas.

Paul Carrington, A4T

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 2015

CHRISTMAS ACCESSORIES AND PERIPHERALS

15

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com16

XXX XXX

HALO 5: GUARDIANS CONTROLLER STAND

Approved by Halo developer 343 Industries, this handy stand for the Xbox One controller is designed to match the limited edition Master Chief pad.

SRP: £14.99Manufacturer: Controller GearDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

PROTECT PRO CONTROLLER ACCESSORY PACK

Comprising of a silicone jacket to improve comfort, grip and protection, plus antibacterial wipes, a USB charging cable and a cleaning cloth and spray, this kit is designed to keep consoles and controllers looked-after.

SRP: £12.99Manufacturer: 4GamersDistributor: Accessories 4 TechnologyContact: pcarrington@a4t.co.uk

AFTERGLOW PRISMATIC CONTROLLER FOR XBOX ONE

This Xbox One pad is built with dimmable Prismatic LED lighting, which allows gamers to set an illuminated colour. Other features include ALPS analog sticks, dual multi-function wheels with six programmable actions and app compatibility.

SRP: £49.99Manufacturer: PDPDistributor: ExertisContact: 01279 822 822

PRO4-100 WIRELESS STEREO GAMING HEADSET

Operating over a 2.4GHz wireless connection up to 10m away, this headset can last for up to six hours between charges. It comes equipped with 40mm speaker drivers, a fold-away microphone, padded ear cushions and a 3D sound mode to boost immersion.

SRP: £49.99Manufacturer: 4GamersDistributor: Accessories 4 TechnologyContact: pcarrington@a4t.co.uk

A40 TR MOD KIT GREEN

Astro Gaming’s A40 TR headset is designed to be adaptable to a range of game playing environments thanks to a separately-available line of mod kits. These mod kits include components such as noise-cancelling ear cushions, voice-isolating mics and speaker tags.

SRP: TBCManufacturer: Astro GamingDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

CHRISTMAS ACCESSORIES AND PERIPHERALS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH 2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CONOR TALLON ON 01992 535647 OR EMAIL CTALLON@NBMEDIA.COM

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www.mcvuk.com September 25th 201519

PLAY & CHARGE BATTERY PACKS - D/PACK

This handy add-on recharges an Xbox One wireless controller, without disrupting gameplay. Charge level is displayed by an LED indicator. Two rechargable batteries and two micro USB connections come included.

SRP: £14.99Manufacturer: StealthDistributor: Accessories 4 TechnologyContact: pcarrington@a4t.co.uk

ENERGIZER PLUG AND PLAY MAGNETIC CHARGING KIT

Offi cially licensed by Microsoft for the Xbox One, this pack includes a 2.8-metre cable that gamers can use to power their pads while playing or in-between sessions. Cable and controller hook up via an easy magnetic connection, which also provides quick release. An Energizer Recharge Battery is included.

SRP: £14.99Manufacturer: PDPDistributor: ExertisContact: 01279 822 822

FPS FREEK BLACK OPS III REVEAL EDITION

Made in partnership with Call of Duty studio Treyarch, this thumbstick accessory features the signature orange-on-black colour scheme and a bold, laser-etched logo of Black Ops III. The accessory is in limited supply, and built to withstand aggressive use by players.

SRP: £14.99Manufacturer: KontrolFreekDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

AG7 ‘TRUE’ WIRELESS HEADSET

The AG7 boasts ‘true’ wireless connectivity via USB transmitter, with a range of up to 100 feet. Battery life lasts up to 16 hours. Two audio modes: Bass Boost and Pure Audio, are included, as well as integrated volume, microphone muting and audio mode controls. A fl exible noise cancelling microphone adds chat support.

SRP: £99.99Manufacturer: PDPDistributor: CentreSoftContact: 0121 625 3891

GAME GRIPS FOR XBOX 360

Consisting of two silicone jackets and four thumb grips compatible with offi cial Xbox 360 pads, these products add protection and comfort. They’re easy to take on and off , and don’t impede access to any of the controls.

SRP: £9.99Manufacturer: StealthDistributor: Accessories 4 TechnologyContact: pcarrington@a4t.co.uk

CHRISTMAS ACCESSORIES AND PERIPHERALS

React Games has been incredibly busy since its inception in

November 2008.It started off by remaking EA’s

classic strategy game Archon for iPhone and PC. And that’s just one of 26 titles the firm has released.

It’s made LEGO Star Wars on Facebook, as well as How to Train Your Dragon tie-in title, Dragons Adventure for a variety of mobile platforms.

Its most recent title, Super Dungeon Bros, started out life as a project in a 10-day Ouya development competition. It’s a chaotic rock music-themed multiplayer game – and the studio’s president Brad Moss says that the firm’s independence has been intrinsic to the title’s development.

“Being indie involves having a lot of freedom, certainly in terms of art and vision of what you want to do,” Moss explains.

“No-one is telling you what to do or what demographic you need to hit. It’s all about the spontaneity and what comes out of the spontaneous ‘oh, let’s do this’ moments: the ‘let’s put wings on this fish’ or ‘let’s put dinosaur legs on this alligator’ discussions.” WHAT’S IN A NAME Indie or independent have become broad terms, encompassing everything from coders working in their bedrooms, to the likes of No Man Sky studio Hello Games. Even Moss isn’t sure what the term means these days.

“I don’t know if everyone understands what indie means – I’m not sure I know what the full definition is,” he says.

“People throw it around. It’s something of a buzzword, there’s a sense of ‘against the man’ development, right? That’s what the idea of indie is.

“As an indie in the games scene, we’ve independently funded good chunks of all that we’re doing. But we’ve had partnerships. In general indie is about a small group of people with small ideas that build up somewhere and then it gets bigger, instead of being created in a machine. I’m not even sure if that definition makes sense.”

Super Dungeon Bros’ headline feature is its multiplayer focus. Any combination of online and offline gamers can play together. Local multiplayer appears to be making a bit of a comeback via indie titles like Robo Pixel’s Gunnhiliation and Xyrtica by Geraldo Nascimento. “I don’t know if it was player driven or developer-driven, as it’s easier to put this whole thing on one screen,” Moss says of why multiplayer went so heavily online.

“We had a lot of conversations about whether we put all players

on one screen or do we let them all roam throughout the world. For a lot of different reasons we found it was better to have everyone stay on one screen, it makes it easier for the couch play, easier for the online play and easier for Bro-awareness, which is what the game is all about, understanding where the other characters are and the co-operation.” BROMANCE Despite funding the game itself and valuing its independence, React Games has turned to Watford-based publisher and production house Wired Productions to help release Super Dungeon Bros.

“Wired has been a tremendous partner,” Moss says. “We couldn’t be happier. Wired stood out as someone who really respected all of our opinions and our creative control on the game, but also being 100 per cent behind what the team is doing.

“And Wired is an expert in terms of what it’s doing in publishing the game and the marketing side of things. So we take a lot of feedback about what will work in various markets, things we didn’t even think about because we are deep in the code.

“There’s a few smaller things you can do to help round out some of the edges that we wouldn’t have seen because we have blind spots, we’re not dumb. We know that we have limitations and the more skilled people we get in a room talking about working on something, the better the end product is going to be.”

Brothers in arms

After years of developing PC and mobile titles, React Games is making its debut on home consoles with rockstar-themed multiplayer release Super Dungeon Bros. Alex Calvin catches up with president Brad Moss

about the state of multiplayer games

People throw the word indie around, it’s something of a buzzword.

Brad Moss, React Games

Super Dungeon Bros is hitting PS4, Xbox One and PC this year

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com22

INDIE INTERVIEW REACT GAMES

OUT NOW

OFFICIAL VIDEO GAME

“PES 2016 IS THE BEST THERE IS, AND THE BEST THERE’S BEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME.”GODISAGEEK 10/10

“PS4’S BEST FOOTY GAME YET…IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN”

OPM9/10

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“PROEVOLUTIONSOCCER 2016 IS THE GAME FOR TRUE FOOTBALL FANS.” “RETURN OF

Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and are used under license from Microsoft. “2”, “PlayStation”, “Ô and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Ø” is a trademark of the same company. “Blu-ray Disc™” and “Blu-ray™” are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc AssociationStreet, London, W1F 7LP. Published by Konami Digital Entertainment BV. Developed by Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. ll UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup names, logos and trophies are the property, registered trademarks and/or copyright of UEFA. All rights reserved. adidas, the 3-Bars logo, the 3-Stripe trade mark and Climacool are registered trade marks of the adidLigue de Football Professionnel ® Offi cially Licensed by Eredivisie C.V. and Stichting CAO voor Contractspelers © S.L.B. Producto Ofi cial. Offi cial Licensed Product of A.C. Milan Offi cial product manufactured and distributed by KDE under licence granted by Soccer s.a.s. di Brand Management S.r.l. Photo by Afl o All other copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used un

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n. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. DTS® is a registered trademark and DTS Digital Surround™ is a trademark of DTS, Inc. Pro Evolution Soccer® 2016 ©2015 Konami Digital Entertainment KONAMI is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. “Pro Evolution Soccer” is a registered trademark of Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. SCEE, 10 Great Marlborough das Group, used with permission. The use of images and names of the football players in this game is under license from FIFPro Commercial Enterprises BV. Copyright FFF © Offi cial Licensee of the FIGC The FIGC logo is a registered trade mark of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio Producto Ofi cial Licenciado RFEF Liga BBVA 15/16 Product under Offi cial License from the La Liga www.laliga.es © 2002 nder license. Made in Austria. All rights reserved.

Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies, and are used under license from Microsoft. “2”, “PlayStation”, “Ô and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Ø” is a trademark of the same company. “Blu-ray Disc™” and “Blu-ray™” are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. DTS® is a registered trademark and DTS Digital Surround™ is a trademark of DTS, Inc. Pro Evolution Soccer® 2016 ©2015 Konami Digital Entertainment KONAMI is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. “Pro Evolution Soccer” is a registered trademark of Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. SCEE, 10 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7LP. Published by Konami Digital Entertainment BV. Developed by Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. ll UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup names, logos and trophies are the property, registered trademarks and/or copyright of UEFA. All rights reserved. adidas, the 3-Bars logo, the 3-Stripe trade mark and Climacool are registered trade marks of the adidas Group, used with permission. The use of images and names of the football players in this game is under license from FIFPro Commercial Enterprises BV. Copyright FFF © Offi cial Licensee of the FIGC The FIGC logo is a registered trade mark of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio Producto Ofi cial Licenciado RFEF Liga BBVA 15/16 Product under Offi cial License from the La Liga www.laliga.es © 2002 Ligue de Football Professionnel ® Offi cially Licensed by Eredivisie C.V. and Stichting CAO voor Contractspelers © S.L.B. Producto Ofi cial. Offi cial Licensed Product of A.C. Milan Offi cial product manufactured and distributed by KDE under licence granted by Soccer s.a.s. di Brand Management S.r.l. Photo by Afl o All other copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used under license. Made in Austria. All rights reserved.

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Concert producer Thomas Böcker discusses the modern state of game music – and analyses what makes a soundtrack for the ages

“THERE are so many games today, especially with indie titles, that put a lot of focus on their music, that it’s hard to make one general judgement about game music today.

“The big blockbuster titles now follow more of today’s Hollywood soundtrack traditions. This means it’s more about creating soundscapes and sound design than it was in older games, where it was more about finding memorable melodies.

“What makes something like Final Fantasy so special is the epic stories. Super Mario Bros is a fantastic game, and the music is really fun, but it doesn’t have the emotional power of Final Fantasy. Mario is jumping and then you finish the game, so there’s less to tell story-wise. But I don’t want to say the music is worse – it’s just a different approach.”

FUTURE CLASSICSFor game fans, Final Fantasy VII’s One Winged Angel, The Legend of Zelda’s Overworld

music and the Mario Ground Themeare as iconic as Ode to Joy, The Magic Flute and Also Sprach Zarathustraare for classical music devotees.

The backing tunes to franchises such as Mario, Final Fantasy and Sonic have endured throughout the decades, being joined by modern compositions from titles such as Halo, BioShock and Journey in players’ playlists.

As well as driving soundtrack sales, the growing interest in game music has incubated a growing number of live performances. Groups including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra have tackled game music at events including Distant Worlds, Final Symphony and The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, plus the upcoming Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions and Silent Hill Live gigs.

“Many orchestras are struggling today because they just can’t get the new generation of people coming to concerts,” comments Thomas Böcker, who produced the first-ever game music concert outside of Japan in 2003. “Not everybody who comes to video game concerts will listen to Beethoven – that’s not our goal. But it’s the best chance in many, many years to find a new audience.”

CLASSICAL CLASHVideo game music, like the titles from which it originates, has often been regarded – with no small amount of snobbery – as ‘lesser’ than its cinematic counterpart.

This is despite tracks from The Last of Us to PaRappa The Rapper receiving airplay on stations including Classic FM and BBC Radio 6. Long-time Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, Rare collaborator Grant Kirkhope and Elder Scrolls musician Jeremy Soule are even listed among Mozart, Beethoven and Elgar in Classic FM’s Hall of Fame.

The argument over the appreciation of game music sparked controversy earlier this year, when Jessica Curry’s score for Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture was removed from the Classical chart. The Official Charts Company argued that because the work was a soundtrack, it had no place in the rankings – despite music from the Harry Potter films remaining in place.

“I hope that it’s changing,” Böcker says of game music’s mistreatment. “Maybe because of the concert work.

“What we are creating are works that you can listen to in a concert and enjoy them, even if you’ve never heard of video games before.

Play on: How video game music is rocking the classical world

As demand for game soundtracks on CD and vinyl swells, live performances of iconic scores – from Final Fantasy to Pokémon – are also seeing attendance boom. Concert producer Thomas Böcker

tells Matthew Jarvis about bringing the virtual world to life

If publishers have a community then they have the power to do game music concerts.

Thomas Böcker

Performances of Final Fantasy music have packed out venues including the Royal Albert Hall

“Our goal has always been that one day there will be an orchestral concert where they perform Reichardt, Strauss or Stravinsky, as well as one piece by Mr Uematsu.”

CONCERT YOURSELFAudience numbers are booming for game concerts, as events pack out venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

Böcker encourages more publishers to consider allowing their titles’ music to be adapted.

“It’s a lot about community work,” he advises. “It’s obviously a marketing tool, but if they can create a community then they also have the power to do these kinds of concerts.”

VIDEO GAME MUSIC

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 201527

Resident Evil HD

January 20th, 2015

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinApril 2nd, 2015

God of War III: RemasteredJuly 17th, 2015

Rare Replay

August 4th, 2015

Gears of War: Ultimate EditionAugust 28th, 2015

Dishonored: Definitive EditionAugust 28th, 2015

HISTORY TRIP: A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THE LATEST AND UPCOMING REMASTERED GAMES

Dark Souls, Banjo-Kazooie, Zelda, Resident Evil, God of War, Devil May Cry,

Final Fantasy, Grim Fandango, Borderlands, Gears of War, Journey... 2015’s release schedule reads like a greatest hits of the games industry.

These aren’t really new releases, of course. They’re titles from the last three decades of gaming, remastered and revamped for the new generation of consoles: from 1983’s Jetpac, the first game from the company now known as Rare, which is included in Rare Replay, to 2014’s Dark Souls II, which waited just one year to reappear as Scholar of the First Sin.

“Given the sheer power of the new hardware, developers and publishers now have opportunities to create remastered titles that actually make a big difference versus PS3 and 360,” observes Antoine Molant, EMEA marketing director at Capcom.

“While there is a fine balance to strike between new games and remastered titles, we’ve seen increased demand and a very positive reception.”

Molant knows more than most about the popularity of bringing past games back for a modern audience; the HD remaster of classic horror entry Resident Evil sold over one million copies in under three months, and became Capcom’s fastest-

ever-selling digital title, following its release at the end of January.

Craig Duncan, studio head at Rare, which launched a remastered collection spanning its 30-year history in August, adds: “When you have great games and franchises that fans love it’s great to bring them back in a way that is easy and accessible, either for players that have played before to experience again or new players that maybe missed the original the first time round.”

DO IT AGAINRemastering a game is harder than it sounds: it’s not as simple as uploading better-looking graphics. Depending on how much time has passed since the initial release, complications can be presented by outdated technology and different development teams.

Rod Fergusson is studio head at The Coalition, the outlet tasked with taking over the Gears of War licence following Microsoft’s acquisition of the Epic Games IP. Its first release was a revamped version of the first entry in the series.

“I wanted to bring a core Gears of War experience to Xbox One for the original fans and demonstrate that the franchise they loved was back in a meaningful way and that we were worthy caretakers,” Fergusson recalls.

Some remastered titles have been criticised for providing little more than a facelift to aging games. Molant highlights some of the key boxes that must be ticked to justify a new release of an older game.

“We make sure of two things: real technological improvements – improved sound, framerate and so on – plus added extras and/or all the previously available DLC packed in

the offer,” he advises. “Add to this a very reasonable price point and you have a good formula for everyone.”

Fergusson offers the counterpoint that, despite the need to iterate, a remaster must still be recognisable to existing fans.

“You can be too new and leave behind the game you’re trying to remaster,” he warns. “In making Gears of War: Ultimate Edition we needed to walk a fine line between nostalgia and modernisation, having a game

that holds up to the standards of contemporary gaming today.”

FANATIC ATTRACTIONIn an age of countless sequels, one of the benefits of remastered games is that they reset the clock for new fans, allowing them to understand the story and evolution of franchises that have perhaps been seen as impenetrable in the past.

“Re-releasing an older title can have a big benefit on the sales of a brand new game, if done correctly, as it provides a type of ‘on ramp’ for new players to the franchise or players who felt they were left behind. It’s also a way to reignite the existing fan base to remind them what they loved about the franchise in the first place so they are even more excited about the next instalment,” says Fergusson.

Duncan agrees, positing that a lower price tag is an attractive way to bring new fans into the mix.

“Remasters are a great way to appeal to people that maybe missed the franchise the first time round,” he explains.

“We wanted the price to appeal and reward fans who had bought Rare games before and be attractive to new players that maybe only knew about a few Rare titles. We didn’t want price to even

The remaster planFrom ‘80s classics to titles mere months old, 2015 has been crammed with resurrected and revamped releases.

But is the industry’s obsession with remastering the past holding it back from future innovation? Matthew Jarvis asks Rare’s Craig Duncan, Capcom’s Antoine Molant and The Coalition’s Rod Fergusson

Re-releasing an older title can have a big benefit on the sales of a brand new game.

Rod Fergusson, The Coalition

28September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com

REMASTERED GAMES

Castle Crashers RemasteredSeptember 9th, 2015

Darksiders 2: Deathinitive EditionOctober 6th, 2015

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake CollectionOctober 9th, 2015

Resident Evil Zero

Spring 2016

Beyond: Two Souls

TBA

Final Fantasy VII RemakeTBA

Reviving old games like Banjo-Kazooie can encourage players to buy upcoming sequels say Rare’s Duncan (far left), The Coalition’s Fergusson (left, middle) and Capcom’s Molant (left)

As long as publishers choose their remastered projects carefully and produce them with excellent quality in mind, it will keep on being a great offer for players.

Antoine Molant, Capcom

be in the conversation apart from – wow, what great value.”

Enticing new players is of particular importance following the launch of PS4 and Xbox One, Fergusson adds, as many gamers find themselves switching sides in the so-called ‘console war’.

“If the brand new game is on a newer platform, re-releasing could help grow the install base of the new platform – creating even more potential new players,” he comments.

For already storied series, revamping old titles can help maintain momentum between brand new games and drive up sales of accompanying merchandise at retail. This was the case with Resident Evil HD, which was released one month before the episodic Resident Evil: Revelations 2.

Molant recounts: “In that particular case, creating a ‘Resident Evil winter’ was indeed beneficial for Revelations 2. New players got to enjoy – and old school fans got to

re-enjoy – RE: HD, which created a hunger effect for more RE content.”

PLACE FOR THE PASTRemastered games are continuing to fly off shelves, breaking records and, in the case of the recent Final Fantasy VII Remake, fulfilling fan requests decades in the making.

But will we eventually see customers grow tired of reliving the past?

“I don’t believe so,” retorts Fergusson. “Remastered titles are a way for your favourite games to move with you to a new a generation of console; they’re not replacing innovation, they’re simply preserving the game experiences we love.”

Duncan echoes Fergusson’s feelings, arguing that remaking old games doesn’t mean the industry isn’t moving forwards.

“I don’t believe having remasters has to be at the detriment of new games; when done right they can be complementary,” he states.

“Publishers, developers and platforms should do what is right for their fans and portfolios. What is great is that digital marketplaces allow the lifespan of games to increase and people to easily group franchises together.”

Molant concludes by cautioning against the feeling that any title is fair game for a resurrection.

“Exhaustion will come if games which consumers haven’t asked for keep coming on a regular basis,” he forewarns. “But we haven’t reached that point and I’m not sure we will.

“As early Xbox One and PS4 games are discounted in the future, gamers may opt to buy these as opposed to a remastered title at the same price point. As long as publishers choose their remastered projects carefully and produce them with excellent quality in mind, it will keep on being a great offer for players.

“Given the amount of amazing old games out there, the pool is unlikely to go dry for a while.”

www.mcvuk.com September 25thth 2015

REMASTERED GAMES

29

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com30

MARKETPLACE

How has business been recently? It’s still doing okay. GAME and the big stores get too many big deals. Triple-A titles come out and they get the rights to the collectors and limited editions. We have noticed a bit of a dip in sales recently. They get 99 per cent of the exclusive items these days.

Would you want more pre-orders and special editions for indie stores?Yes. But unfortunately there’s

nothing we can do about it. I’ve questioned the legality of GAME and other stores getting exclusive content and eff ectively monopolising the market, but it seems they are well within their rights to do it.

So what do you do as a storeto diff erentiate yourself from the competition? It’s more a customer service thing. We’ve never advertised, never taken an ad out in the paper, nothing.

It’s only been recently that we’ve got a Facebook page. We’ve relied purely on word of mouth. Everyone always comes back here. There are so many regular customers just because we’ll take time out to chat to them, not even about games. They seem to love that.

What has sold well lately? We’ve had loads of Call of Duty pre-orders since the Beta. We only sold two copies of The Taken King – people bought it digitally. Mad Max

Richard Cliff e of Folkestone-based Play-Away tells MCV about his frustrations with big retailers getting exclusive content, what game surprised him this summer and what he thinks will be the biggest release of the year

SHELF LIFE

TOP 10 PRE-ORDERS

PRE-ORDER CHARTS PRICE CHECK: READING

ONLINEIN

STORE

CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE

Activision, XO

FIFA 15EA, PS4

PES 2015Konami, PS4BATTLEFIELD

HARDLINEEA, XO

£49.99 £19.99 £30 N/A

£29.49 £25.99 £29.99 £39.99

£25 £19 £24 £13.99

£27.99 £24.99 £27.99 £14.99

£25 N/A £24 £27

UPLOADINGThe latest digital releases coming

to market

MINECRAFT: STORY MODE

Telltale’s Minecraft title hits PS4, Xbox One, PS3, 360 and PC next month

Ndemic Creations’ disease strategy game is out now for Xbox One

This PC-exclusive puzzle title from Devolver is coming to PS4

PLAGUE INC: EVOLVED THE TALOS PRINCIPLE

OUT: OCTOBER 13THOUT: NOW OUT: OCTOBER 13TH

1. FIFA 16EA, PS4

2. Fallout 4Bethesda ..................................................................PS4

3. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake CollectionSony ............................................................................PS4

4. FIFA 16EA ...................................................................................XO

5. Fallout 4 + Fallout 3Bethesda .....................................................................XO

6. Forza Motorsport 6 + Pre-order DLCMicrosoft .....................................................................XO

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIActivision Blizzard ...............................................PS4

8. FIFA 16 + Pre-order DLCEA ................................................................................PS4

9. Star Wars Battlefront + Pre-order DLCEA ................................................................................PS4

10. FIFA 16 Deluxe Edition + Pre-order DLCEA ...................................................................................XO

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 201531

MARKETPLACE

really surprised us. It sold really well, in spite of the fact it came out on the same day as MGSV. I thought it would get destroyed by MGS, but we’ve had people coming in just to get Mad Max. I assumed it was going to be a rubbish movie tie-in, but it’s been really good.

You mentioned your Call of Duty pre-orders have gone through the roof. Are you planning a launch event? We always do a midnight launch

for COD. We have to, just to stay current. If we didn’t do midnight launches we wouldn’t have half the customers we have, especially on new titles. They want a game straight away. So we have to do it.

What do you think the biggest selling game of the year?Star Wars: Battlefront or Fallout, I couldn’t pick. The interest in Fallout has been huge since the launch of Fallout Shelter. But Battlefront sales will be boosted by the fi lm.

WANT TO FEATURE YOUR OUTLET IN MCV?Contact acalvin@nbmedia.com or call 01992 515 303

Play-Away34 Guildhall St, Folkestone, CT20 1DZ

Phone: 01303 240044Facebook: /PlayawayLtd

INCOMING The coming weeks sees Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Rock Band, Transformers and Uncharted titles hitting store shelves

TITLE FORMAT GENRE PUBLISHER TELEPHONE DISTRIBUTOR

September 25th

Skylanders Superchargers PS4/XO/Wii U/PS3/360 Toys-to-life Activision Blizzard 01216 253 388 CentreSoft

September 29th

LEGO Dimensions PS4/XO/Wii U/PS3/360 Toys-to-life Warner Bros 01216 253 388 CentreSoft

October 2nd

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer 3DS Kids Nintendo 01753 48 3700 Open

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 PS4/XO/PS3/360 Skating Activision 01216 253 388 CentreSoft

October 6th

Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition PS4 Action Nordic Games sales@nordicgames.at Nordic Games

Rock Band 4 PS4/XO Music Mad Catz 01216 253 388 CentreSoft

October 9th

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance PS4 RPG NIS America 020 8664 3485 Open

Transformers: Devastation PS4/XO/PS3/360/PC Action Activision 01216 253 388 CentreSoft

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection PS4 Action Sony 01216 253 388 CentreSoft

October 16th

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden 3DS Fighting Bandai Namco 01215 069 590 Advantage

Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library & the Monster Seal Vita RPG NIS America 020 8664 3485 Open

Rodea: The Sky Soldier Wii U/3DS RPG NIS America 020 8664 3485 Open

Shovel Knight PS4/XO/Wii U/3DS Platformer Avanquest 01480 359 403 Open

Tales of Zestiria PS4/XO/PC RPG Bandai Namco 01215 069 590 Advantage

Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut PS4/XO Strategy Deep Silver 01256 385 200 Koch Media

WRC 5 PS4/XO/PS3/360/PC Racing Big Ben 01279 822 800 Exertis

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com32

LIME DISTRIBUTION

Astro has supported and been a part of the competitive circuit for Call of Duty for a number of years.

Walter Duccini, Astro Gaming

LIME certainly has a zest for accessories and peripherals.

The UK distributor boasts a roster of exclusive deals with major manufacturers, including SCUF Gaming, Skullcandy Gaming and Trigger Treadz, to name but three.

The fi rm has also embraced fast-growing sectors such as the competitive gaming market, off ering a number of high-end products aimed at eSports players and followers.

These range from traditionally popular peripherals such as headsets through to more specialised items like energy supplements and controller add-ons – for example, thumbsticks and grips.

Among Lime’s offering is Astro Gaming, which was recently awarded with the Call of Duty licence, allowing it to produce accessories based on Activision’s blockbuster shooter brand, including eSports-friendly headsets.

A40 HEADSET + MIXAMP PRO TR ASTRO EDITION

The A40 TR can be transformed from an open-back to a closed-back noise cancelling headset by swapping components like speaker tags, microphone and ear cushions. To suit livestreamers, the MixAmp Pro TR has been re-engineered with all digital components for lag- and interference-free operation.

SRP: £199.99Manufacturer: Astro GamingDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

Lime Distribution counts major accessory brands among its off ering. These include Astro Gaming, which now holds the Call of Duty licence. MCV catches up with the fi rm’s latest

COMPETE ENERGY BITES

Containing 135mg of caff eine and less than 45 calories, these energy bites provide the same pick-me-up eff ect as strong coff ee.

SRP: £1.99 to £4.99Manufacturer: Complete EnergyDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

FPSAIMASSIST FOR XB1 AND PS4

FPSAimAssist is a controller add-on designed to improve accuracy by off ering resistance to analog stick movement.

SRP: £4.99Manufacturer: FPSAimAssistDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

G FUEL TUB - 40 SERVINGS FLAVOUR: BLOOD ORANGE

Designed to provide consistent energy to gamers, G Fuel’s formula helps to improve ‘in the moment’ focus.

SRP: £29.99Manufacturer: Gamma LabsDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

LIME DISTRIBUTION

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 201533

Sponsored by

gamingmerchandise uk

LIME DISTRIBUTION

Chief among these is the Astro Gaming TR range of products, which are the offi cial equipment of Call of Duty: Black Ops III, set for release in early November. These are therefore used by top Call of Duty professional gaming teams like Optic Gaming and Team Envyus.

“We are very excited to be a part of the Black Ops III launch with the introduction of our new licensed TR products,” says Walter Duccini, director of international marketing for Astro Gaming.

“Astro has supported and been a part of the competitive circuit for Call of Duty for a number of years. We looked at this opportunity as an extremely natural way to further strengthen an existing relationship with the franchise, pro-level players and the core community behind it by introducing a new line of tournament-ready eSports-focused products that are still great for gaming at home.”

You can check out some more of Lime’s range below.

KONTROLFREEK FPS FREEK BLACK OPS 3 LAUNCH EDITION

These limited edition thumbsticks have a black design featuring the Black Ops S.O.G. skull and special Call of Duty packaging.

SRP: £14.99Manufacturer: KontrolFreekDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

CONSOLE TUNER TITAN ONE

This allows players to use a pad from another console (or keyboard and mouse) on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation TV and PC.

SRP: £64.99Manufacturer: Console TunerDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

ASTRO GAMING A40 + M80 XB1 HALO 5 EDITION

A lightweight over-the-ear headset, this A40 model is styled with a dark chrome look inspired by the next Halo title, Halo 5: Guardians.

SRP: £199.99Manufacturer: Astro GamingDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

A40 TR MOD KIT BLACK OPS III

Designed to complement the Astro Gaming A40 headset, the Call of Duty: Black Ops III Mod Kit features art taken directly from the game, developed in collaboration with Activision and developer Treyarch. All TR products are the offi cial equipment of Call of Duty: Black Ops III and are used by top Call of Duty pro teams such as Optic Gaming and Team Envyus. To add to its eSports suitability, the A40 TR headset can be set to its closed-back noise-cancelling form to eliminate the background noise of loud tournament venues.

SRP: TBCManufacturer: Astro GamingDistributor: Lime DistributionContact: 01622 845 161

34

HOT PRODUCTS

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com

Sponsored by

HOT PRODUCTS

STEELSERIES NIMBUS

AS Apple prepares to make a move on the living room console market, it has teamed up with peripherals specialist SteelSeries to create the fi rst-ever controller for Apple TV.

Echoing the design of the Xbox control scheme, which is also utilised by PC titles, the SteelSeries Nimbus features A, B, X and Y face buttons, two analog sticks, a D-pad and four back triggers. It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth.

The L1, L2, R1 and R2 triggers are pressure sensitive, allowing for a greater fi delity of control. A large menu button sits in the centre of the device to let players quickly access settings. Like the latest iPhone and iPad models, the controller can be recharged via a

Lightning USB cable connector, and should last for more than 40 hours on a single charge.

The Nimbus also has several features to set itself apart from its console siblings. These include a free companion app for iPhone and iPad, which lets players see the most popular games that support the controller. The app also keeps the pad’s software up-to-date, maintaining compatibility with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV and Mac computers.

iOS games already confi rmed to work with the pad include FIFA 15 Ultimate Team, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, LEGO Star Wars, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Call of Duty: Strike Team.

BE QUIET DARK POWER PRO 11

PC power accessory fi rm Be Quiet has expanded its range of gaming-friendly computer power supply units (PSUs).

Its Dark Power Pro 11 line has been bolstered with the addition of 550-, 650- and 750-Watt capacity models, joining the existing 850-, 1,000- and 1,200-Watt products.

The PSUs are 80Plus Platinum certifi ed, meaning they are effi cient by up to 94 per cent, while the Power Pro 11 range has been optimised to reduce noise, utilising a six-pole motor and fan blades designed to improve air fl ow.

Other touted features include modular cable management, fan connectors controlled by a temperature sensor and the overclocking key, which allows gamers to squeeze more performance from the products by boosting them to an increased power level.

[INFO]

RRP: $49.95 (£32)Release Date: Q4 2015Distributor: ExertisContact: 01279 822 822

MCV takes a look at the best accessories heading to UK retail. This week, we examine the fi rst controller for the Apple TV and power up with Be Quiet’s latest PC products

[INFO]

RRP: £115 (550W), £130 (650W), £150 (750W)Release Date: Out NowDistributor: CasekingContact: 01782 444 488

TO LIST YOUR COMPANY HERE AND ONLINE EVERY WEEK PLEASE CONTACT CTALLON@NBMEDIA.COM OR CALL 01992 535647

DIEGO MANCA MURATel: +44 (0) 2032909246 (UK) +39 328 2730697 (Italy)www.diegomancamura.com

........................................................................................................

PRESSXTRA.NET(Part of the Indigo Pearl Group)Tel: 0208 964 4545http://PressXtra.net

........................................................................................................

PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LTDTel: 01628 509047www.pdp.com

........................................................................................................

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

GAMING ACCESSORIES & MERCHANDISE

CREATIVE & PROMOTIONAL STUDIO DIVATel: 0117 214 0404www.studiodiva.co.uk........................................................................................................

BRIDGE MEDIA GROUPTel: 020 3283 8466www.bridgemediagroup.com........................................................................................................

FLUIDTel: +44 (0)121 212 0121www.fl uidesign.co.uk........................................................................................................

GAME ROOMTel: +44 (0) 20 7729 3033www.gameroom-agency.com........................................................................................................

BY FRONTROOM

CLD DISTRIBUTIONTel: +32 81 83 02 02www.cld.be........................................................................................................

GAMING MERCHANDISE UK LIMITEDTel: 0207 167 6997www.gamingmechandiseuk.com

........................................................................................................

SOUNDING SWEET LTDTel: +44 (0) 1789 297453www.soundingsweet.com........................................................................................................

STUDIO CO2Tel: +44 (0)1483 414 415www.studioco2.com........................................................................................................

SUPERHEROTel: +4020 3031 6180www.superheroscreen.com........................................................................................................

THE AUDIO GUYS LIMITEDTel: +44 (0) 1934 710024www.theaudioguys.co.uk

........................................................................................................

ÜBERTel: +44 (0)114 278 7100www.uberagency.com

........................................................................................................

CLICK ENTERTAINMENT LIMITEDTel: +44 203 137 3781www.click-entertainment.com

........................................................................................................

Wholesaler and distributor of video games, consoles and accessories

DEAD GOOD MEDIATel: +44 (0)7780 600 728www.deadgoodmedia.com........................................................................................................

KENNEDY MONKTel: 020 7636 9142www.kennedymonk.com........................................................................................................ MANUFACTURING

OK MEDIA LTDTel: 02076886789www.okmedia.biz........................................................................................................

KEYWORDS STUDIOS GROUPTel: +353 1 902 2730www.keywordsstudios.com

........................................................................................................

U

LOCALISATION, QA & TESTING

LOCALSOFTTel: +34 952 028 080www.localsoftgames.com........................................................................................................

POLE TO WIN EUROPE LTDTel: +44 (0) 20 8607 7900www.poletowineurope.com

........................................................................................................

Localization Services

UNIVERSALLY SPEAKINGTel: +44 (0) 1480210621www.usspeaking.com

........................................................................................................

VMCTel: +44 (0)1753 849 700 (UK)www.vmc.com........................................................................................................

MONETISATION & PAYMENT

MILLENNIAL MEDIATel: +44 (0) 207 151 3320www.millennialmedia.com........................................................................................................

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND MANY MORE ONLINE NOW AT:

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDETO INTERACTIVEENTERTAINMENTAGENCIES AND SERVICE COMPANIES

AMIQUSTel: 01925 839700www.amiqus.com........................................................................................................

RECRUITMENT

MEDIA & MARKETING

LIS WELSH SEARCH & SELECTION LTDTel: +44 (0) 7968 114812www.liswelsh.com

........................................................................................................

SPECIALMOVE CONSULTANCY LTDTel: +44 (0) 141 530 4555www.specialmove.com

........................................................................................................

WAYFORWARD RECRUITMENT LIMITEDTel: 020 7734 4664 (London) 0117 966 6038 (Bristol)www.way-forward.com ........................................................................................................

CURSE, INC.Tel: +1 415 856 0056www.curseinc.com........................................................................................................

IGNTel: 0203 701 5682www.ign.com........................................................................................................

KEY CONTACTS:

Luiz Ferreira, Founder and Director

luiz@gamingmerchandiseuk.com

ADDRESS:International House124 Cromwell RoadKensingtonLondonSW7 4ET

GAMING MERCHANDISE UK Limited is a UK-based company that specialises in offi cially licensed gaming merchandise.

Working closely with leading developers, publishers, licensees and retailers it has set out to accelerate the growth of one of the most exciting categories within the entertainment space.

The company represents a wide range of top quality gaming brands and is able to supply a varied assortment of products to raise the profi le of gaming brands, create world-class initiatives to drive pre-order activity and bring top quality designed goods to market.

The fi rm also off ers a development and manufacturing service, which is open to everyone from one-man indie devs to the biggest franchises in the video games world.

COMPANY PROFILE / GAMING MERCHANDISE UK LTD

DIRECTORY

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com38

CREATIVE Fink ................................................................. info@finkcreative.com

DISC REPAIR Total Disc Repair ..................................+44 (0) 1202 489500

DISTRIBUTION Click Entertainment ............................ +44 (0) 203 137 3781

Creative Distribution ......................+44 (0) 20 8664 3456

Curveball Leisure ................................... +44 (0) 1792 652521

Enarxis Dynamic Media ............................. +302 1090 11900

Sony DADC ............................................ +44 (0) 207 462 6200

GAMING ACCESSORIES L3I............................................................................+ (0)1923 471 020

Venom ............................................................... +44 (0)1763 284181

MCV DIRECTORY KEY CONTACTS

RATES £70 per two column box (100mm x 75mm). To run weekly for a minimum of 1 year. Please phone for other size and/or position requirements.

TOTAL DISC REPAIR DISC REPAIR

Tel: +44 (0) 1202 489500 Web: www.totaldiscrepair.co.uk

DIRECTORY

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 201539

ENQUIRIES

CONOR TALLONTel: 01992 535647ctallon@nbmedia.com

SONY DADC DISTRIBUTION

Tel: +44 207 462 6200games@sonydadc.com

www.sonydadc.com

Empowering your creative business

Tel: +44 (0) 207 462 6200 Web: www.sonydadc.com

CLICK ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION

Tel: +44 (0)203 137 3781 email: sales@click-entertainment.com

FINK CREATIVE

Artworking Mastertronic Brand Identity Ukie Localisation Rising Star Games Advertising BBFC Website Design Deep Silver Exhibition Bethesda Illustration Appynation Digital Media IntentMedia Charity GamesAid Banners & Takeovers Konami Packaging Design Just Flight

Just Flight

Email: info@fi nkcreative.com Web: www.fi nkcreative.com

CREATIVE DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION

Tel: +44 (0) 208 6643456 Web: www.creativedistribution.co.uk

CURVEBALL LEISURE DISTRIBUTION

Tel: +44 (0) 1792 652521 Web: www.curveball-leisure.com

ENARXIS DYNAMIC MEDIA DISTRIBUTION

Tel: +302 1090 11900 Web: www.enarxis.eu

DIRECTORY

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com 40

L3I GAMING ACCESSORIES

Tel: + (0)1923 471 020 Web: www.logic3.com

VENOM GAMING ACCESSORIES

Web: www.venomuk.com

Phone: +44 (0)1763 284181

Email: darren.scott@venomuk.comtom.hodge@venomuk.com

Venom UK Gaming

@VenomGamingUK

w w w. v e n o m u k. c o m

Twin Docking Station

Twin Docking Station

Power Up!

Tel: +44 (0)1763 284181 Web: www.venomuk.com

WANT TO ADVERTISE IN OUR DIRECTORY?

ADVERTISE WITH US

CALL CONOR TALLON ON 01992 535647 OR EMAIL HIM AT CTALLON@NBMEDIA.COM

41www.mcvuk.com September 25th 2015

INSIDER’S GUIDE

Tell us about your company.Über is an integrated creative agency with a strong heritage in video games and entertainment. For video games specifically, we’ve produced TV commercials, full length trailers, key art, box art, press and outdoor advertisements, and online takeovers, and have worked with the likes of Activision, Sony, Sega, Square Enix and Warner Bros.

What successes have you seen recently?We continue to work with the good people of BAFTA, which is always exciting. Another string to our bow is retail, and we’ve had a lot of success this year with some big High Street brands. There are more similarities between gaming and retail than people might think. Everyone’s just trying to sell products at the end of the day.

What are you working on?We’ve been speaking to some mobile game developers for the first time this year. That’s a really exciting arena for us to be entering, and we’ve got another project in the pipeline for a fantastic and much-loved online gaming retailer that I can’t talk about too much right now.

What are the biggest trends affecting you right now?The disappearance of the mid-tier publishers, the likes of THQ and Midway, has taken a lot of work out of the market from

an agency perspective. We’re fortunate that we’ve got expertise in other sectors to fall back on, but it’s been tough for some.

What are you looking forwards to over the next 12 months?It feels like the new-gen consoles have really come into their own in 2015 and there are exciting times ahead.

How did you choose your company name?In German, our name means over, above, more than. We also thought it sounded cool and unique – until a certain bloody taxi firm came along.

Greg Mathews, client services director at Über, talks about the company’s 2015 success in retail and mobile

Specialism: Creative and marketingLocation: 28 - 31 Gilbert,South Street, Park Hill,Sheffield,S2 5QY

Contact: W: uberagency.comE: hello@uberagency.comP: 0114 278 7100

INSIDER’S GUIDEÜBER WHO?

PLEASE CONTACT MJARVIS@NBMEDIA.COM OR CALL 01992 515 303

WANT TO FEATURE YOUR COMPANY IN INSIDER’S GUIDE?

The disappearance of mid-tier publishers has taken a lot of work out of the market.

THIS MONTH’S DIRECTORY SPOTLIGHT:

To be included in the Develop Directory (which appears every month in Develop and now every week in MCV) contact cnangle@nbmedia.com

WWW.DEVELOP-ONLINE.NET

Develop is the only dedicated publication for the UK and European games development community. It reaches over 300,000 subscribers every month.

DIRECTORY

FOR GREAT ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT CHARLOTTE NANGLECNANGLE@NBMEDIA.COM

MHT TV GAME ................................................................. gerry@mhtgame.com

Sponsored by

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com42

LIKE many of its Middle Eastern neighbours, Jordan has a thriving mobile games business. But it’s also seeing success on more traditional games platforms.

Jordan’s mobile games industry is expected to expand by almost a third (29 per cent) this year, according to casual games firm, Big Fish Games.

The country’s mobile development sector was established in late 2003 by the first mobile studio in Jordan, Maysalward. In 2013, the company expanded its services to include indie game publishing, highlighting the growing interest in smaller-budget titles in the region.

The Middle East is the fastest-growing region for mobile games developmnet in the world, Big Fish Games adds. Jordan is the predominant driver behind this, producing half of the mobile titles in the territory.

Although Jordan suffers from expensive internet costs and the challenge of attracting a wider

global audience, there are many initiatives designed to help games studios flourish. These include the Jordan Gaming Task Force, which works with developers across the country, as well as support from the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, which donated $750,000 to the industry in 2014.

Mobile games development is a common sight across the Middle Eastern games industry. However, Jordan stands out from its regional counterparts in its move back into the traditional home console market. Last year marked the

first-ever game created for a console platform by a Jordanian game company, Crazy Piranha.

Jordan also stands out from the wider games business in its treatment of female developers

and industry members. Major studio Na3m Games reports that women comprise a third of its workforce, in contrast to a global average of 22 per cent, according a 2014 report by the International Game Developers Association.

Jordan produces half of the mobile

titles in the Middle Eastern territory.

FACTFILE JORDAN

FACTFILE: JORDANPopulation: 8,000,000Capital City: AmmanCurrency: DinarGDP (Per Capita): $5,589

KEY RETAILERSVirgin Megastore, Geekay Games TOP DISTRIBUTORSPluto Games

TOP DEVELOPERSCrazy Piranha, Na3m Games, Maysalward, Bee Labs, Tamatem

PUBLISHERS IN THE REGIONMicrosoft, Sony, Maysalward

INTERNATIONAL

MEANWHILE IN... THE US

FORGET that white Destiny PS4, the latest colour scheme for Sony’s console is gold.

The platform holder has teamed up with American fast food chain Taco Bell to give away 6,000 of the exclusively-coloured machines from September 24th until November 4th.

One of the luxuriant limited edition consoles will be handed out every 10 minutes.

To enter, all customers need to do is purchase one of the outlet’s Big Box meals. They will then receive a promotional code which will

subsequently reveal whether they have struck it lucky.

In line with the main machine’s hue, the bundle will come with a gold

controller, a year’s subscription to PlayStation Plus and a copy of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection.

Sony is off ering customers of local fast food chain Taco Bell the chance to win a gold PlayStation 4 until early November

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 2015

JORDAN FACTFILE

43

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com44

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

WORLDWIDE

CLICK ENTERTAINMENT LIMITEDEmail: info@click-entertainment.comWeb: www.click-entertainment.comPhone: +44 (0)203 137 3781

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CONTACT CTALLON@NBMEDIA.COM

MCV WORLDWIDE

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTORSIF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR NEW PARTNERS OVERSEAS, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER

SWEDEN

GAME OUTLET EUROPE ABPO Box 5083, S-650 05 Karlstad, SwedenSales dept: ali.manzuri@gameoutlet.seSales dept: andreas.lindberg@gameoutlet.sePurchase dept: hamed.manzuri@gameoutlet.sePurchase dept: david.nilsson@gameoutlet.seWeb: www.gameoutlet.se

AUSTRALIAAFA Interactive, Bluemouth Interactive, Five Star Games, Mindscape, Namco Bandai Partners, Turn Left DistributionBENELUXCLD Distribution, Koch Media, Gameworld Distribution B.V.CANADAE One, Importel, Just4Games, Solutions 2 Go, VidéoglobeCYPRUSAccess, Gibareio, Zilos, Nortec MultimediaCZECH REPUBLICCenega, Conquest, Comgad, Playman, ABC DataDENMARKBergsala, Elpa, Impulse, Koch Media, Nordisk Film Interactive, Nordic Game Supply, PAN VisionFRANCEBig Ben, Innelec, Koch Media, SDO, SodifaGREECEZegatron, CD Media, Namco Bandai Partners, IGE, Nortec, Enarxis, BeaconHUNGARYCNG.hu/Cenega Hungary, CTC Trading, Magnew, PlayON, StadlbauerICELANDSena, Myndform, Samfilm, OrmssonINDONESIAMaxsoft, Uptron, Technosolution IRELANDMSE Group, BaumexJAPANAjioka, Happinet, JesnetNORWAYBergsala, Game Outlet, Koch Media, Nordic Game Supply, Nordisk Film, Pan VisionPOLANDCD Projekt, Cenega, Galapagos, LEMPORTUGALEcoplay, Infocapital, Koch Media, Namco BandaiROMANIABest DistributionSERBIAComTrade, Computerland/Iris Mega, Extreme CCSPAINDigital Bros, Koch Media, Namco Bandai Partners, NobilisSWEDENBergsala, Koch Media, Namco Bandai, Nordic Game Supply, PAN Vision, Wendros, Ztorm (digital)UAERed Entertainment Distribution, Pluto Games (LS2 Pluto), Viva Entertainment, Gameplay Entertainment, Geekay Distribution

UAE

ALESAYI UNITED COMPANYVideo Games Distributor in the Middle East, P.O BOX 16999 Jebel Ali Free Zone Dubai U.A.E.Tel: 00971 4 883 5960Fax: 00971 4 883 5175Email: marketing@alesayi.ae U.A.E. Website: www.alesayi.ae Group Website: www.alesayi.com

NORDIC

WENDROS AB SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK & FINLANDJakobsdalsvägen 1712653 HägerstenSwedenPhone: +46 8 51942500Fax: +46 8 7466790Email:HM@wendros.seLM@wendros.seWeb: www.wendros.se

CYPRUS

G3 GREAT GAMES LTD4 Gregoriou Papafl essa Street, Offi ce 101, Engomi, Nicosia 2414, Cyprus.Tel: +357 22 666612 Web: www.greatgames.com.cy

BRAZIL

Sony Music Entertainment Brasil# 1 Physical Distributor in BrazilRua Lauro Muller n°. 116 – 40°. AndarSalas 4001 a 4003 BotafogoRio de Janeiro RJCEP. 22.290-160Tel. +55 21 2128-0771Fax: +55 21 2128-0747Email : rodrigo.altieri@sonymusic.comWebsite: www.sonymusic.com.br | www.day1e.com.br

IRAN

DC GAMES GROUPNo.9, Hemmatian St.,Takestan St., SattarkhanTehran, IranTel: +98-912-1014090 +98-21-44228670Email: Bahizad@Doostan-Co.comWeb: www.Doostan-Co.com

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BELGIUM

CLD DISTRIBUTIONRue du Grand Champs 14 , B 5380 Fernelmont BelgiumTel: +32 81 83 02 02Fax: +32 81 83 02 09Email: infos@cld.beWeb: www.cld.be home of www.dragonwar.eu & www.mawashi.eu

www.mcvuk.com September 25th 201545

METRO ON THE MOVE

GAME’s Metrocentre store in Gateshead decided to up and move last week, relocating to the Platinum Mall and revamping its in-store off ering along the way.

As well as teaming up with Ubisoft to play host to a mysterious Assassin’s Creed cubicle and its hooded inhabitant, the store welcomed appearances from a succession of Batman and Star Wars characters.

There were also dedicated eSports and trade-in areas, plus a number of off ers and competitions over the store’s fi rst weekend.

OFF THE RECORD This week, GAME revamps its newly-located Metrocentre store and the games industry reacts to the BBC’s divisive documentary on the making of Grand Theft Auto

BOLLOCKS OR BRILLIANT?

Months of speculation, legal clashes and gripping industry drama – and that was before it even aired. Yes, the BBC’s retelling of how Grand Theft Auto fi nally came to BBC Two last week.

Starring Daniel Radcliff e and Bill Paxton, feature-long show ‘The Gamechangers’ sparked hot discussion among the games industry, including a Twitter scolding from Rockstar itself, which refused to authorise the programme.

What did you think? Get in touch via Twitter @MCVonline.

OFF THE RECORD

OFF THE RECORD

September 25th 2015 www.mcvuk.com46

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Editorial: 01992 515303 | Advertising: 01992 535647 | Fax: 01992 535648

Charlotte Knight GAME

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Niall Lawlor GameStop

Phil Browes HMV

Craig Watson Dixons Retail

Jennifer JohnsonShop Direct

Don McCabe CHIPS

Gurdeep Hunjan Sainsbury’s

Simon Urquhart Microsoft

Robert Lindsay Games Centre

Stephen Staley Gameseek

Robert Hennessy John Lewis

Paul Sulyok Green Man Gaming

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CONTACTS

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Copyright 2015

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Mark@mwduncan

I try to avoid them, but resistance is futile. If something is popular, I might as well accept the fact it’ll be spoiled.

Jay@LastDonuts

True leaks are spoilers in my opinion since we usually hear nothing else for a long time after that. Give me the big shiny reveal.

GAMING LEAKS – BIG SPOILERS, OR

AWESOME TEASES? #GMGASKS

Alexisms@Alexpletives

I avoid everything for games I’m interested in even the trailers. I want every new section to be a nice surprise.

Scrooge McDuck@ScroogeMcDuck0

People who spoil to others just for fun or stupidity should be hung behind a car until the gas runs out.

Rachel James@moosemousse

I hate leaks, like the time that the Mass Effect 3 script was leaked and they redid the whole thing.

Chris Tk@lvl39nerd

Moderated in a huge forum as Harry Potter 7 leaked. Not a fan, never was, never will be. Especially games like MGS and AC...

Kalgar@Kalgar

Spoilers can get in the sea. I know more about MGSV’s plot than I should at this point, haven’t had much time to play D:

K.Sdlr@Shintek

I try to avoid spoilers. Don’t really like to know the game inside-out before even installing. Characters, plot, etc.

Sarah Elyse@theElyessi

If I want a game, I avoid all trailers and spoilers. I do this mostly with Assassin’s Creed or Final Fantasy.

NPW@JBJblaze

because they generally don’t spoil anything, or

Spoilers spoil much more.