Prepare yourselves - in addition to our big news today (which you can expect around 3pm!), we’ll also be showing LIVE gameplay of Two Point Hospital for the very first time!
So set your watches and join the Live Stream Dream Team (our own words) consisting of myself and Craig, as we play through an exclusive preview of the game!
Will we lay out their rooms the way you want? Will we hire janitors with potentially rude names? Will we let patients die for our own amusement?!
There’s only one way to find out! Tune in at 5.30pm BST TODAY http://Twitch.tv/SEGA
See you there!
Lauran
Two Point Radio: Update 7
Hello Scrubs! We totally see you there ;)
After a short break for E3 and some other events, we're back with Update 7 to our Two Point Radio Playlist! Can I get an AMEN UP IN HERE?! *ahem* Anyways, it's another cracking addition to our already killer playlist of bangers...
You can find the playlist here: https://spoti.fi/2Kp98gI
Gary Carr, Northern Man and Founder: Sinead O'Connor - Queen of Denmark.
This is a cover of a John Grant track, but Sinead makes it much angrier ;)
Ben Hymers, Lead Programmer: Wombats - Cheetah Tongue. I listened to this pretty much non-stop after going to the Isle of Wight Festival! Wombats were the surprise hit of the weekend for me :)
Mark Smart, Lead Artist: Descent Of The Stiperstones - Half Man Half Biscuit
A typical tale from HMHB. Rambling, Swarfega, dusty Hussars…..Crossroads (1970’s dodgy UK Soap Opera) all get a mention. Fun just spotting all the references. All this dressed up in Dylan influenced Hammond organ driven backing track.
The Last Serenade (Sailors and Fisherman) – Flogging Molly
From Life Is Good. Raucous and always good fun, but here a more gentler tune. Has the characteristic Irish lilt, little bit sad, little bit uplifting.
Rich Brooks, Progammer: Pace is the Trick - Our Love To Admire - Interpol
Everyone who knows my tastes always say I should love Interpol. But I just can't get into their music. I guess if I had to explain it, I'm not really a fan of ever repeating quavers for lead guitar parts. It somehow seems lazy creatively. But hey, that's just my opinion. I do however like this track!
We've Lost Our Way - Secret Sessions - My Vitriol
I used to love these guys. But listening to their music now, in the cold light of the 2010s, it's so messy and dirty. Some "Secret Sessions" have just appeared on Spotify, so I've been enjoying to horribly muddy / bassy mix.
Craig Laycock, Brand Manager: Placebo - Running Up That Hill, because I've only just discovered it, shocking everyone! (including Kate Bush who just fell of her stool backwards... so I hear)
Prem, Artist: Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency!
Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger.
Iron - Woodkid.
Mark Webley, Founder: Heaven or Las Vegas - Cocteau Twins
The Scarlet Thing in You - Peter Murphy
these are a couple of tracks that most remind me of making Theme Hospital and I've been listening to them again recently - The Cocteau Twins are timeless and insanely excellent, so great to listen to in whatever decade you accidentally find yourself in. And the Peter Murphy track was on an "EP" that Gary gave me.
Later on at Lionhead, Peter Murphy joined us as Finance Director - sadly it wasn't the former Bauhaus singer so, in a way, that was a disappointment.
Lauran, Community Manager: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Wild World
I love the orginal, but this version stinks of my youth and getting up to hijinx with my pals. I love it.
How We Operate #3: Chris Knott, Lead Animator
Hey Scrubs!
We took a little break from our usual blog programming for E3 and a few other exciting things we've had going on, but now we're back with a bang and taking on Two Point Hospital's animation powerhouse - Chris Knott!
The decision has been taken to keep Knotty's answers in caps, as it just sums him up so well ;)
How long have you been in the games industry? 21 YEARS
First game you worked on? URBAN CHAOS
Fave game to play at home? GTA
Fave little person game? TWO POINT HOSPITAL
When you’re not slogging away at Two Point Studio, where can you be found? OUTSIDE PINING TO BE LET BACK IN
What’s your party trick? DISAPPEARING
Now, the quickfire round! Answer these as quick as you can!
If you could buy ANY kind of food RIGHT NOW what would it be? MEAT
Favourite movie quote? "THE GREATEST TRICK THE DEVIL PULLED WAS CONVINCING THE WORLD HE DIDN'T EXIST"
What’s your fave 90s tv show? ALAN PARTRIDGE
In your opinion, where’s the worst place you could get stuck? IN A HORSE
If you worked in a hospital, what would you do? MORTICIAN
Day or Night? NIGHT
Last film you watched? MON MON MON MONSTERS
Cats or Dogs? DOGS
Coffee or Tea? NEITHER
Who’s your fave member of Two Point and why? NONE OF THEM, THEY ARE ALL DREADFUL PEOPLE.
You’re going out to buy cheese, what cheese do you get? I DON'T LIKE CHEESE.
What’s the last thing you liked on social media? SOME PIXEL ART
You have to do a dance, what song will it be to? LIFELIKE AND KRIS MENACE - DISCOPOLIS
You’re running for PM, what will be your campaign slogan? VOTE FOR ME... OR KNOTT....
We’re taking James Watt off the fifty pound notes, who will you replace him with? Why? DANNY DYER, BECAUSE HES NO MUG.
Two Point Radio: Update #6
Happy Tunesday, Scrubs!
It's been a busy few weeks for us so forgive the slight delay in getting the most recent batch of absolute bangers to you!
You can find the playlist here: https://spoti.fi/2Kp98gI
Here's the songs that have been keeping Two Point Studios ticking over these past weeks:
Tom and Phil of Cedar Studios: and ‘Electric Indigo’ by ‘The Paper Kites’ , this whole album is gold dust and super relaxing. Playing anything from this album takes everything down a gear and that’s a good thing
Chris Knott, Lead Animator: N 2 Gether Now – Limp Bizkit and method man.... Method man is awesome...
Out of the Black – Royal Blood. I still find it incredible this music is made by just two people..
Ben Hymers, Lead Programmer: Carpenter Brut - Turbo Killer. Fast angry 80s electro is great to code to, when you just need to get your head down and crack on! Much like the C&C soundtrack from last week!
Frank Klepacki - Hell March
https://open.spotify.com/track/5AELt9X93xZraWqZrsS3B4?si=5X-Z3zr8SNKaLYR08aEeBA
This week I've really needed to get my head down and crack on with work, and I've found that the C&C and Red Alert soundtracks are EXCELLENT music for this! There are some great tunes from both games (plus some bizarre funk and electro tunes too), but from all of them I'll pick the timeless classic, Hell March.
Mark Smart, Lead Artist: Wilko Johnson – Beauty
From the new album that even he thought he’d never make. More Delta Blues Rock (Thames Delta Blues that is) He also crops in Game OF Thrones!
Half Man Half Biscuit – Knobheads On Quiz Shows
More HMHB sardonic whit. Can’t stop playing the latest album after seeing them recently…..very good they was too, enough material to choose from.
Rat Scabies – My Wrists Hurt
One of the founders of the Damned, releases first solo album P.H.D (Prison, Hospital, Debt) Chose this over Floydian Slip which has a great soundbite over it.
Rich Brooks, Progammer: Radiohead - Moon Shaped Pool - Burn The Witch
I chose this song because I'm an enormous Radiohead fanboy. But also, because I've been watching a lot of childrens' TV on account of me spending a lot of time with my 3 year old son. And the video for Burn The Witch made me laugh waaay more than it should have done. Watch it here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2oS2hoL0k.
I know, given that it's Radiohead, that there's a much deeper meaning hidden there. But I'm quite happy for it to go over my head. I enjoyed it!
Craig Laycock, Brand Manager: Learn to Fly – Foo Fighters
I’d love to know what it’s like to fly. Flapping about up there in the clouds with the birds. I often think about my flappy wings flapping away, the smile it would bring to my face.
Dreams – Cranberries
Everyone deserves to dream. I don’t mean your standard “close your eyes, go to sleep” dreams, of course. I mean the big dreams. For me, the big dream would be to flap about it a cloud like a bird.
I’m like a Bird – Nelly Furtado
Not sure why I like this one tbh
Prem, Artist: Feeling classical this week!
In the hall of the mountain king - Edvard Grieg
Gayane - Sabre Dance Aram Khachaturian.
Swan lake -Tchaikovsky (ed's note, I've included the intro as the whole piece is about three hours long ;) Lauran)
Mark Webley, Founder: Johnny Marr... "Hi Hello" - this is absolutely brilliant and everyone should try a bit of Johnny Marr. Looking forward to a new album later this month (and seeing him in November!) - you'll almost definitely have more from the album from me very soon!
Lauran, Community Manager: I was lucky enough to catch Taylor Swift on her Stadium tour recently so OF COURSE I've chosen Taylor. Getaway Car is a tune!
Two Point Hospital Blog: 10 Minutes in Flottering
BLOG: 10 minutes in Flottering
By Craig @ SEGA
The double doors slide open before me. PSSSSHT. It’s like being on the Enterprise. I’m Kirk! I’m Doctor Kirk!
I slide past the beautifully-arranged plants and into the hospital in my Two Point County-issue medical socks, take in a huge breath and admire the new space before me.
“Ahhhh”, I think. “Flottering!”
Flottering can be best described as a picturesque slightly-inland, slightly-seaside village. Alexander the Great wept when he had no more lands to conquer, but if he’d known about Flottering he’d have been straight over with a giant smile on his face, for this is a wonderful land indeed.
There are some lovely houses around Flottering – some I would estimate sell for a cool mil.
And there are some lovely, incredibly naive patients to diagnose. What’s more, the Two Point Health Ministry has promised me something very special. If I can demonstrate my commitment to staff wellbeing here, I’ll be granted a proper training licence.
Finally, a qualification!
My goals are clear: achieve a level four hospital, hire 7 staff and keep their morale high. This won’t be easy; I’m a terrible manager (and I prefer fire extinguishers and reception desks to people), but I’m here to learn and I’ll do it with gusto.
Hire 1 sorted – Candica Radical. I like the cut of her jib. She’s an administrator with style, and a cool name, so I’m absolutely on board.
Before long, I have a GP’s office with hire number 2 on board. I have a calling card when it comes to laying out GP’s offices. They know me in Two Point County as Hospital Admin Twolamps. That’s because I always flank my GP’s desks with two lamps.
It’s an odd habit, but you can’t overstate the value of good lighting, and it picks out the details of the gold foil on the certificate on the wall beautifully.
But what’s this? While I’ve been spending time arranging my room, I’ve let a queue build up outside the doctor’s office and… oh my. Someone has VOMITED on the floor of my precious hospital. I recruit a janitor to deal with the problem – appropriately named Alice Puddle.
I monitor her performance. If she can deal well with this rancid human effluent, I’ll consider her for a pay rise. Of course, she takes to it like a duck to… uh, water… and clears up the vile chunks in a matter of seconds.
I add 2k to her salary right away and she’s delighted.
Pretty soon I have a nice little enterprise going. I have a reception, a GP’s office, a pharmacy, a waiting area, gift shop, a ward, and a bunch of entertainment for patients. That’s got me up to the required 7 staff and I’ve also currently got high morale in my hospital.
But now the real challenge begins. I’ll have to ensure that my staff STAY happy while I get my hospital up to Level 4.
If I succeed, there’s another world ahead of me. Another land to conquer. One where we may encounter sufferers of Jest Infection, a terrible ailment which converts the sufferer into a clown. You may have met one or two of them in the real world.
As for what I do next in Flottering: probably toilets and a staff room. “That can wait”, I mutter to myself as I slide up to a Sonic Mania coin-op in those medical socks.
“That can wait.”
Name the Clown Illness name CHOSEN!
Good Afternoon, Scrubs!
In case you missed our big news, at E3 we announced the winner of our Name the Clown Illness Competition! We had so many entries - over 800 different and in some cases utterly ridiculous names for our Clown illness.
Just to give you some insight - the winner was chosen by our community team sharing the 20 names they thought were the funniest. The founders of the company then chose their top 5, and those 5 were sent to the whole team and ranked out of 5 by each team member. The winner was the name with the highest score. Remember, comedy is subjective - so if you don't find it funny that doesn't mean that we didn't ;)
So, without further ado, the winner waaaaaas....
You can watch the announcement on the IGN stream here!: https://youtu.be/zIe1Pp4wgf8
And here's 3 of our runners-up!
Thank you so much to everyone who sent in names - we really got the giggles from some of the things we read :P
E3 Roundup!
Hello, beautiful Scrubs!
We’ve just got back from the frenetic games-fest that is E3, and have we got an update for you! Mark, Gary and myself spent a week with been back-to-back with media interviews and stage presentations - culminating in a stethoscope-based microphone mishap and a fantastic moment on stage with Day9 at the PC Gaming Show!
Reaction online has been superb, and we hope you guys enjoyed following along as much as we did chatting to press, showing them Two Point Hospital and bumping into random people on the street who recognised Doctor Gary!
Here's a bunch of behind-the-scenes photos from the show!
Two Point Hospital up in lights on the big screen at E3!
Demoing the game behind closed doors at the SEGA stand
Meeting Duncan Jones and Stu Finnegan (Director, Producer - Moon, Source Code, Mute, Warcraft).
Gary and Mark up on the IGN stage
Chatting Two Point Hospital in the GameSpot War Room
You can watch the PC Gaming Show here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaXUtUjba7A
Day9, Mark & Gary save the day
A final heart-to-heart back stage
Finally, enjoy a wonderfully sexy picture of Mark limbering up behind closed doors
Thanks for reading! More news soon!
Craig,
Brand Manager @ Two Point
How We Operate #2: Ben Hymers
A couple of weeks ago we launched our first How We Operate blog, which is a way for you to become more familiar with the team as we build up to launch!
This week it's Two Point Hospital's co-Founder and whizz kid programmer - Ben Hymers! Read on to learn a little more about Ben - from what he's worked on previously to his fave cheese, what he likes on social media to what games he plays... it's an insightful read! (though we noticed he didn't answer the party trick question, so you're all free to speculate on how weird or wonderful that may be ;) )
How long have you been in the games industry? Just coming up on 11 years
First game you worked on? First released game was Kinect Sports (I did table tennis), but a load of excellent unreleased prototypes before then!
Fave game to play at home? Too many to list :) Currently it's Factorio, as I'm a massive geek.
Fave little person game? Two Point Hospital of course. Or Theme Hospital if I'm not allowed to choose my own game!
When you’re not slogging away at Two Point Studio, where can you be found? At home looking after my baby daughter :)
Now, the quick fire round! Answer these as quick as you can!
If you could buy ANY kind of food RIGHT NOW what would it be? Burrito
Favourite movie quote? "This is from... Matilda"
What’s your fave 90's TV show? Crystal Maze
In your opinion, where’s the worst place you could get stuck? Stuck.... thinking of an answer to a questionnaire!
If you worked in a hospital, what would you do? Clearly in IT
Day or Night? Day!
Last film you watched? Coco
Cats or Dogs? Dogs!
Coffee or Tea? Tea
Who’s your fave member of Two Point and why? This is too harsh a question! I like everyone equally because they're all ridiculously good.
What’s the most delightful word you can think of? "Delightful". You put that in my head though.
You’re going out to buy cheese, what cheese do you get? A very strong vintage cheddar. Or goat's cheese if we're being fancy.
What’s the last thing you liked on social media? I think that picture of Gary on the loo? That's not that unusual really :)
You have to do a dance, what song will it be to? OH GOD, why? Who is making me do this? Probably the Macarena because then I won't have to improvise.
You’re running for PM, what will be your campaign slogan? "Probably better than your other options"
We’re taking James Watt off the fifty pound notes, who will you replace him with? Why? Stephen Hawking. Legend.
NAME AN ILLNESS COMPETITION!
Two Point Hospital is speeding towards being in your hands, Dear Scrubs, and we want you to feel like you've been a part of the whole hilarious process, so we have a task for you…
We have an illness in Two Point Hospital that turns patients into clowns. I know right, CLOWNS. Ridiculous. This particular illness doesn't yet have a name, which is where YOU come in - we want you to submit your name suggestions for the illness! Your prize? A chance for your illness name to be immortalised in Two Point Hospital. You will be adored by the Two Point community* and known by the Devs as the person who came up with something that really makes us lol. That's right - we're seeking actual audible laughter here. I must stress how important it is to make us laugh, dig deep for the funniest thing you can think of. If we don't chuckle it's unlikely that you're gonna make it through.
As an added incentive, your name will also feature in the game credits! So don’t ignore your chance to ascend to superstardom.
The competition starts today, Wednesday 30th May, and will run for just under one week closing at Midnight CET on Tuesday 5th June. We will then take a couple of days to choose a winner - and trust me when I say that these guys are well versed in puns and hilarity, so you'll need to really put your comedy skills to the test to make these guys chortle. Once we've chosen our winner, they will be announced ON STAGE by Gary and Mark of Two Point Studios during IGN's E3 show (time and date TBC), and your name will become the official in game name for the clown illness.
You must submit your ideas via email - TwoPointHospital@Sega.co.uk - we’ll then collate all of your answers over the 1 week the competition runs for. Then I'll sit down with Team Two Point and together we will choose our favourite. We may even film the process for Hospital Pass (oh - that reminds me… have you signed up for Hospital Pass? If not, you totally should - head over to twopointhospital.com and sign up there ;) )
In 40 years time your grandkids will be sitting on your knee and they'll ask you to tell the tale of how you came up with that hilarious illness name for that incredibly successful video game, named Two Point Hospital, and you'll be able to proudly tell them all about it… we can't wait to read the names you come up with!
MAKE HASTE, SCRUBS! You have nearly a week to submit your best comedy illness name!
Full terms and conditions can be found here: http://www.sega.co.uk/content/two-point-hospital-competition-terms-and-conditions
Looking forward to hearing from you all!
Lauran
*I cannot guarantee that you will be adored by the Two Point community, but it is possible.
Two Point Radio: Update #5
Greetings, Scrubs!
We hope the bank holiday weekend has treated you well - if you're stopping in from America or England - or that your weekend was excellent even if it was your average 2 day break ;) We're back again with Update #5 of Two Point Radio for your listening (and reading) pleasure!
You can follow the playlist here: https://spoti.fi/2L6teZR
Jayne, Office Manager: Paloma Faith - Make Your Own Kind of Music. Loving listening to this cover of an old 1960's song. Very uplifting and makes me smile 😄
Mark, Founder: this week I've been playing Suede's more recent album "Night Thoughts" - particularly loving "No Tomorrow" if you want a track. There's a new album later this year which I am looking forward to - Suede did split up a while back, but this is as good as it ever was.
Rich, Coder: I'm just coming to terms with the fact that Embrace is now Dad Rock. I'm a Dad. I love it! This track is classic Embrace...I Run - Embrace - Embrace
Gary, Founder: I have a theme this week!
Song X (Neil Young) and Song 2 (Blur)
Prem, Artist: Ghost love score by Nightwish
For the best part skip to 5:20 in and enjoy the epicness.
Scarface (Push it to the limit) by Paul Engermann
Old but gold.
Symphony no.9 in E Minor, Op95 by Antonin Dvorak
Something for variety.
Ben, Founder: The Kinks - Lola. I like playing guitar and singing to my daughter, and this song came up on one of my playlists and seemed like a great choice to learn, since I can't manage anything complicated if I'm singing too! It helps that it's AWESOME and funny, and by one of my favourite bands ever.
Mark, Lead Artists:Half Man Half Biscuit - Every Time A Bell Rings
Track from the four lads that shook the Wirral’s latest album. The difficult 14th Album. Underappreciated genius as ever.
Julian Cope – Psychedelic Odin
Old track form St Julian. He’s true eccentric, goes his own way, Mad as box of frogs? Perhaps, but also a vey a great talent, clever and above all never dull.
Wonk Unit – Me and Curtis
Return on the Wonkers. 21st Century Punk from a band that should be a lot bigger than they are. Everything that Green Day aren’t. Take that how you wish (though I don’t mind Green Day)
Chris, Lead Animator: Killswitch Engage - In due time.
Lamb of God - Redneck.
Freak Kitchen - Freak of the Week.
Happy Happy music :D
Jo, Producer: The Cat Empire - The Wine Song - Possibly my favourite band (just looked up genre at they are.. ska, jazz, reggae, alternative, rock.. a winning combo!)
Craig, Brand Manager: Metalica - One
Come for the melodic intro, stay for the insane rhythms. It's like three great songs glued together. I once got cramp trying to play this on Guitar Hero, which is all you need to know really.
