MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Closed beta testing for the long-awaited Diablo III has begun, Blizzard has confirmed, as the game enters what it describes as the final stages of development”. The beta allows gamers to play through the entirety of Act I either independently or in co-op. Five hero classes are selectable. It is …
Read More »Star Wars Old Republic "will be the last large-scale subscription MMO"
EA’s Star Wars: The Old Republic will, whenever it eventually arrives, be the last large scale” MMO to monetise itself via monthly subscriptions. That’s the opinion of Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley. We see some very interesting trends in subscription gaming,” he told GamesIndustry. In our cancellation surveys for …
Read More »IGDA feels ‘misrepresented’ in Financial Review’s grim portrait
The recent shutting down of EA’s Visceral Studios in Melbourne has led to coverage of the industry which makes the situation look overly bleak, and may not represent a realistic state of the sector. Giselle Rosman, spokesperson for the Independent Game Developers’ Association (IGDA) Melbourne felt that the Financial Review’s …
Read More »INTERVIEW: Rob Bowling Part 1: ‘We compete with ourselves’
Activision Blizzard recently held a press event where MCV went hands-on with the superb multiplayer of CoD: Modern Warfare 3 and interviewed creative strategist Rob Bowling. Would you say Call of Duty is currently leading the pack in terms of post-launch support amongst AAA titles? It’s definitely something that we …
Read More »Australian digital content to require more scrutiny?
The Australian has reported that an inquiry into the future communications landscape is suggesting regulation of digital content in Australia. The independent Convergence Review is analysing film, television and radio policy as compared with new media including Facebook, YouTube etc, and by extension is covering downloadable apps, both on mobile …
Read More »Warner delays Batman Arkham City on PC
One of the most hyped games of next month has slipped until November – on PC at least. Warner Interactive has confirmed that the PC version of Batman: Arkham City will not be released alongside the console versions on October 18th. Instead, it will now be released some time in …
Read More »LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 gets release date
Warner Interactive has confirmed an official UK release date for LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. The game will be released on Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, 3DS and PC on November 18th. It will span the events of Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows. …
Read More »Release date for Battlefield 3 beta
EA has at last confirmed a release date for its multiplayer beta for Battlefield 3. It will go live and be accessible to all from Thursday September 29th, less than a month before the game’s global release. Consumers who have previously purchased specific Medal of Honor SKUs or have pre-ordered …
Read More »Now PSN digital titles rollout to all UK GAMEs and Gamestations
The GAME Group has confirmed that it has rolled out its PlayStation digital games offering to all 615 of its GAME and Gamestation stores in the UK. Earlier this month the chain confirmed that it had rolled out its Xbox Live catalogue nationwide. Over 40 PSN products are now available …
Read More »CryEngine 3 powering Homefront 2
The Homefront 2 project will be created with Crytek’s cutting-edge game platform CryEngine 3, the company has told Develop. Crytek also confirmed that its UK subsidiary studio, based in Nottingham, will lead the project. Crytek UK is rumoured to be working on TimeSplitters 4. With Homefront 2’s 2014 release date, …
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