MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The damage done by the potential evaporation of HMV on the High Street will hit closer to home in the music and film markets than it will for games. Should the worst happen, the material impact for games could be shrugged off, albeit annoyingly, for many. But in DVD/Blu-ray and …
Read More »President Obama orders research into links between video games and violence
Video games have again become central to America’s heated debate on gun ownership that erupted in the aftermath of December’s Newtown school shootings. President Obama yesterday revealed a 23-step plan designed to address America’s gun violence problem. And one of those steps is an order for the Center for Disease …
Read More »Grange leaves Apple for tech PR agency role
Former Apple PR boss Nick Grange is heading up a new division at UK PR agency W. He is a familiar face to the games industry thanks to his long years of service at EA, Activision and Microsoft, having helped to establish the Xbox brand in the UK. He also …
Read More »Xbox Live to host British film premiere
New British comedy Pulp will skip cinemas and TV, instead airing for the first time on Xbox 360. Microsoft has signed a deal to host the UK film’s premiere via Xbox Live. It is the platform holder’s latest move to establish the console as an entertainment hub rather than a …
Read More »Electronics sales boost Argos Q4 takings
Home Retail Group has announced that total sales grew 1.6 per cent to 1.744m between September 2nd and January 5th. Internet sales for the year accounted for 42 per cent of total sales. "Argos had a good peak trading period building on its first half performance,” says Terry Duddy, Home …
Read More »One moaning git leads to Wii U TV ad ban
A single, solitary and most likely lonely person has led to the banning of a Nintendo Wii U TV ad. The ASA bizarrely chose to uphold the complaint that drew issue with the depiction of how the console switches from TV gameplay to GamePad gameplay as the short did not …
Read More »Angry Birds rules PC budget Christmas charts
Angry Birds Star Wars was the No.1 UK PC budget game over Christmas. Focus Multimedia – which claims to have held 25 per cent of the budget-priced PC market in December – told MCV last year it was confident Angry Birds would top the Christmas charts. It is the second …
Read More »Metal Gear Rising merchandise rights up for grabs
Konami has teamed up with US firm Creative Minx Marketing to handle licensing and retail programs for next month’s Metal Gear Rising. The marketing agency will be working directly with retailers across Europe and North America to build hype around the game’s release and explore opportunities for merchandise. We are …
Read More »Dixons celebrates a good Christmas
Dixons Retail, owner of PC World and Currys, has today reported strong sales for the 12 weeks up to January 5th, including the Christmas period. Like-for-like sales were up seven per cent, with UK and Ireland doing one better on eight per cent (based on stores open for the full …
Read More »Now HMV Ireland goes into receivership
HMV has closed its 16 Irish stores and has appointed receivers, putting 300 jobs at risk. However, whereas the administration process – such as that employed by the British arm of HMV – is designed to find a way of keeping a business operating, receivership will mean the end of …
Read More »