Game industry business news

MP Keith Vaz, an outspoken critic of mature video games, has once again raised the issue in parliament, pressing deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman in yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions. In a survey published last week, 74 per cent of parents said that they were very concerned about the increasing level …

Xbox 360 platform holder Microsoft has cut the price of Gold membership to its Xbox Live service in both Europe and North America in what it is describing as a limited time” deal The North American price has dropped from $49.99 to $39.99 whilst the UK price has fallen 5 …

Nintendo has told MCV that it will "let the market decide" whether or not to phase out the DS Lite following DSi’s launch. In an exclusive guide to the new system, we asked Nintendo’s UK general manager David Yarnton if the company was looking to end DS Lite’s presence in …

BETTER SOUNDThe device has enhanced sound and volume quality for those using either headphones or playing with audio for all to hear. Users can also use the DSi as a music playback device – although it supports AAC files rather than MP3s. The DSi Sound software (for more details see …

INCLUDING THE Game Boy and its various iterations, from the 1989 Game Boy through the GBA right up to the DS Lite, the Nintendo DSi is the tenth upgrade for the format-holder’s line of domineering games handhelds. But that doesn’t mean this latest version, which hits the UK in April, …

While the firm is enjoying its first UK number one for two years, MCV can reveal that Sony’s PSP and PS3 formats have passed key sales milestones in the territory as well. The PlayStation 3 has now sold over two million units in the country with PSP now at three …

RETAIL BIZ: Capcom’s highly-anticipated horror title, Resident Evil 5, has topped ShopTo.net’s pre-order charts. The list places the PS3 edition ahead of its 360 rival, with Socom U.S. Navy Seals – Confrontation on PS3 coming in second place. For MCV’s other useful retail resources, check out our Retail Biz section …

Activision’s president and CEO of publishing Mike Griffith has stated that the global economic crisis, and more importantly resulting deflated company values, could pave the way for his firm making further acquisitions. Griffith told Bloomberg: The combination of Activision holding a fair amount of cash and presumably prices being depressed, …

RETAIL BIZ: This Friday’s games release slate is led by two highly anticipated games connected by their military themes… but divided by time. Sega’s Empire: Total War is already available, having released on Wednesday. The next iteration in the critically acclaimed Total War series is based around 18th Century conflicts, …

Eidos has reached an agreement with Square Enix which will result in the Britsoft firm’s complete share capital being purchased by the Japanese company in early May. Shareholders are expected to approve the deal at the Eidos EGM later this month. Following this, trading of Eidos shares will be suspended …