Signals company blog

Something worth waiting for...

Alastair Paines — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:59:03 GMT

Portal 2 has a release date! :)

The sequel to one of my favourite games of all time (and one of the most imaginative in terms of gameplay and puzzles) will be out in February of next year! But it gets better!

Steven Merchant (of The Office and Extras fame) will be playing the voice of one of the main characters!

Check out more here and here

The name is 3, E3

Sven Woodstock — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:24:12 GMT

If you are wondering about the title well don't as all will be explained.
The reason for the title is the amazing E3 convention that has been held this year, if you have been following you will know of some of the amazing stuff that will becoming lets start on a quick roll of names:

Killzone 3
Nintendo 3DS
Golden Eye
Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time (in 3D)
Little big planet 2
Portal 2
Dead Space 2
Mortal Kombat
Kung Fu Live
.......................

The list just goes on and on with amazing new stuff.

Not to just list games this convention also talks about some of the technology that will be coming out in the future like the new Nintendo 3DS this is a 3D DS, this breaks the market with a great 3D portable device that will be brining back old greats like Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time and new games like Kingdom Hearts.

Microsoft have released the real name of their gadget for the XBOX360 the new Kinetic this will allow players to play games by using body movement and speech this is a real good one to look out for as it will allow players to drive / fight or even command units by using speach or movements making games that little bit better just how far can games/technology go.

Sony have reveal no new technology that hasn't already been talked about, BUT not to put them down they have given hands on demos and trailers to new upcoming games and they all look amazing from graphics to gameplay this years PS3 line up looks like it is going to make alot of peoples wallets hurt.

For more information and videos go here:

http://e3.gamespot.com/

This is the link I have been using to keep up to date.

Google Sketch Up

Richard Lawrence — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 09:46:12 GMT

Having used some premium 3d software in my time, Maya, Lightwave, 3d Studio Max I was somewhat sceptical of using Google Sketchup 7 Pro, i thought it would be incredibly basic.

Instead, I was really impressed - good modelling tools, good control, manipulation tools, good texture mapping, and best of all quick and easy access to free models.

It can import my 3ds files and export again in 3ds, ready to re-import into the leading online 3d engine - Unity 3d.

I'm looking forward to playing some more.

http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/

An old but new age

Sven Woodstock — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:42:06 GMT

I have been playing an amazing RPG called Dragon Age: Origins and I have finally almost finished it, this may sound like old news to anyone who has already completed it but this is the 4th time I have almost completed it I had to buy a new PS3 system as my old one died and didn't have a big enough USB to keep the save.

BUT

I have almost completed it again this includes all the content (Blood Dragon Armor, Wardens Keep, The Stone Prisoner, Return to Ostagar and Feastday Gifts / Pranks)

This has taken so much time but has been well worth the effort as it is a Bioware the game has an amazing story and the game play returns you back to the great days of Baldurs Gate. This game really builds a great new image for RGP's after the failing attempt of Final Fantasy 13 (Yes I have completed it) this game brings you back to the amazing story telling combined with the ability to adventure, the visual effects are great from the ability to freeze and shatter your enemies to burning the ground with fireballs this game also allows great finishing animations on bosses and everyday enemies that’s right not even the little men are left out from your groups unbreakable will.

This game uses a great system that allows magic and physical fighting to work together, you can freeze a character/enemy and then attach with another spell like earthquake or use a warrior to shield bash the target and they might shatter, this system allows for many different combinations to overcome the hordes that you fight giving you a more satisfying play through.

This is my first step into Dragon Age the next is Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening.

I would like to add when I get a new rig or maybe laptop I will be doing this on the PC and I have been told the graphics makes this game amazing.

If you don’t like Baldurs Gate style of game try playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion this is an amazing graphic / story / game play game also you have so many things you can do and your character can be turned into anything you want with no issues like in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind as you don't need a set amount of skill in an area to join a guild.

Have fun and keep playing I will try to update when I start Awakening.

How many times have we seen this?

Alastair Paines — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:31:09 GMT

Newswipe is a wonderful program that really gets underneath the issues that modern media outlets force us to believe are the most important issues of the day. This compilation show (which contains strong language!) starts out with a wonderfully acurate breakdown of the modern news report.

Brilliant, and true!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27WoEF6dGEU&feature=fvst

Google - taking on the ISPs

Alastair Paines — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:04:34 GMT

You know we'll all have one soon...

http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html

Apple pulls the plug on developers

Scott Airth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:22:36 GMT

Hot on the heels of Apple announcing that it's pulling about 5,000 apps which either contain or hint at adult material it has caused a bit of a furore in the developer community. Is it right that Apple can just pull a revenue stream at short notice? To be fair it is their store and they make the rules, the problem is their dictator like control they have and lack of solid information detailing what developers are and are not allowed to have in their app. It all comes down to a yes or a no if your app is approved and you'll get no reason why if it is rejected.

So Apple, if you are removing all applications which can display such content why don't you remove Safari as well? After all that can display content just fine, from any source... At least give developers a clear guide on what they can and cannot do

It’s going to Rain this weekend…

Alastair Paines — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:53:06 GMT

I seem to be on a gaming streak at the moment. Heavy Rain, the much lauded ‘next step’ in computer gaming, is released this Friday.

I will report back after the weekend to let you know if this really is the big leap in interaction and storytelling we all hope it is!

Watch this space…

Using Unity 3D, the 'Feist' of many...

Andrew Lloyd — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:25:50 GMT

Over the past few weeks, I have been working in the (now) free-to-use game engine 'Unity3D'. There is always a lot of speculation when delving into the use of 3D game engines and their usage for 3D applications, and the first of many initial thoughts that sprang to my mind before I dove in head-first were mainly that of confusion and/or distress. I had no idea of what to expect from this software, let alone how hard it would be to get used to...

However, once I had re-acquainted myself with my love for game-designing, and read a few (very helpful) Unity online tutorials in order to get my head around the interface, I can say, whole-heartedly, that it is most definitely NOT as horrifying as I first imagined.

Unity gives designers and developers the power to create almost anything they wish, and the interface and real-time feedback it provides allows for even more control over what is created. The possibilities for game, e-learning and any other 3D environment applications is endless, not to mention the interface customization included with the engine, thus allowing for an even broader spectrum of creative solutions.

In fact, I would even go as far to say that it is one of THE MOST ENJOYABLE GAME DESIGN EXPERIENCE I have had to date, and that I wish more online games and 3D environments were created using this engine!

Yeah that’s right… I went there…

That being said, I am now determined to find anything I can on the development of Unity games, environments and even e-learning courses that are being made with this glorious and powerful toolset…

My first of many posts of any note-worthy Unity developments comes in the form of a little game called ‘Feist’ - http://www.playfeist.net/

An original game concept (albeit a tad on the ‘Little Big Planet’ side) with a unique style and aesthetic that is sure to make a sizeable difference to the gaming community.

Watch this space, and I will keep you posted with any new updates on all that is interesting with Unity3D...

Mass Effect Me!

Alastair Paines — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:50:50 GMT

Don’t bother pointing out how far behind I am with this but…

I started Mass Effect (yes, the first one!!) on the XBOX360 at the weekend and I am totally blown away! What a game!! I’d heard it was good, but this is AMAZING! And it’s 3 years old!!

I have heard even better things about the sequel, hence why I’m playing the first one as quickly as I can. My plan was to run through it as fast as I can and then buy the sequel ASAP, but last night I was so distracted by the plight of a group of plucky colonists that I couldn’t turn down the request for help!

So much for finishing it quickly…