Game industry business news

US: Special 301 review highlights Euro piracy problem

A new report entitled Special 301 Review, filed by the International Intellectual Property Alliance in conjunction with games publisher association the ESA, has highlighted the countries in which piracy remains a huge problem – and several European countries have made the list. Alongside ongoing piracy hotspots such as China and …

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Playlogic appoints new Business development Director

Dutch games publisher Playlogic has announced the appointment of Chandra Schanz as its new director of business development. Schanz’s 28-year career has included high-profile positions at organisations including UNICEF and UNESCO. Her first job in the games industry was at German firm Topware, whom she joined in 1997 as international …

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Dell opens online games portal

PC manufacturer Dell has opened up its own new digital content portal , offering a range of PC games from some of the industry’s top publishers. Titles currently available to download include EA’s Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, Spore, Eidos’ Tomb Raider: Underworld, Warner’s FEAR 2, Atari’s Alone in the …

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Dell sponsors UK eSports Association

UK competitive games body the United Kingdom eSports Association has struck a deal with PC manufacturer Dell that sees the company become the Hardware Sponsor for the UKeSA’s first national video games tournament. Season One of the 2009 UKeSA Dell Premiership kicked off yesterday. Coverage can be seen online at …

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Gameloft sells 200 millionth mobile game

Mobile games giant Gameloft has revealed that it has sold over 200 million mobile games since its started business in 2003, with its back catalogue now at 300 titles. In addition, the Apple App Store has became its single biggest sales channel for mobile games in 2008, overtaking all the …

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MCV AWARDS ’09: Nintendo signs as Retail Sponsor

This year’s MCV Industry Excellence Awards are fast shaping up, with the deadline for nominations now passed, the Finalists lists being decided – and Nintendo signing up as exclusive Retail Category Partner. The MCV Awards take place at The Brewery, London on April 23rd. Codemasters and Gem have previously announced …

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GTA IV DLC arrives on Xbox Live

One of the most significant chapters in the history of downloadable content has arrived this morning with the release of Grand Theft Auto IV expansion The Lost and The Damned on Xbox Live Marketplace. Costing 1600 Microsoft Points, the content offers gameplay equivalent to a third of that seen in …

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Woolworths to return to the High Street

Three former bosses of Woolworths are ‘relaunching’ the High Street legend under a new name. Former commercial director Tony Page and colleagues Andy Latham and Steve Jebson will open 50 shops based on the old Woolworths format – and are working on a name ‘as close to the original as …

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Restructuring underway at Rare

Microsoft has confirmed to Develop that its UK studio Rare is currently undergoing a ‘review’ that could lead to job losses at the world renowned studio. Coming as part of the organisational refocus already announced by Microsoft Game Studios in January, the move will see Rare focus on three new …

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EA to enter sportswear market

North American games publisher EA has struck a deal with Toy Island that will see the EA Sports brand used on a number of upcoming interactive training products. The products will include tech such as infrared, motion-sensing and equilibrium sensors to give a very Wii-like sports experience. Our goal is …

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