MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Future Publishing has blamed ‘tough conditions at the newstands’ for an unspectacular, if resilient, trading update for the three months to December 31st, 2008. The US and UK company revealed that Games – its single biggest portfolio, comprising 32 per cent of its business in FY08 – had a challenging …
Read More »Philips announces 6,000 job losses
TV and electricals manufacturer Philips has become the latest tech firm to announce large-scale job cuts with news the company is to cut its global workforce by 6,000 people by the end of the year. The announcement follows Philips’ loss of 1.4bn for the final quarter of 2008 – the …
Read More »UK CHARTS: Wii Fit proves its stamina
The nation may be strapped for cash, but it also needs to get into shape – at least that’s what the ELSPA Gfk-ChartTrack All Formats Top 40 suggests, with Nintendo’s Wii Fit clinging on to top spot for the second week on the trot following a hike in sales of …
Read More »New Mortal Kombat confirmed
Midway has confirmed the next instalment in the Mortal Kombat series is already under development, after shipping 1.8 million copies of last year’s Motal Kombat Vs. DC Universe. Last year’s title was available on PS3 and Xbox 360, and featured popular characters from DC Universe, including Batman and Superman. It …
Read More »PopCap: "Nintendo hasn’t stolen our thunder"
PopCap’s creative director and co-creator of the mammoth casual gaming success Bejeweled, Jason Kapalka, has insisted that firms such as Nintendo are not ‘stealing its thunder’ despite the fact that the huge sales numbers for many casual titles continue to go unrecognised. Kapalka was responding to a recent report on …
Read More »AUSTRALIA: Konami solidifies distribution ties
Konami has told MCV of the turbulence in the Australian games distribution sector and challenging economic times” following the recent news that distributor Red Ant has been placed into administration . The publisher, one of many to enjoy partnerships with Red Ant, has reaffirmed its ties with Atari’s distribution arm. …
Read More »Tiga secures funding for GDC09 attendees
£56k earmarked to help UK games firms show their wares
Read More »Broadband tax to reimburse publishers?
The UK’s communications minister is set to propose that the Government impose a universal levy on broadband bills to compensate entertainment companies for their losses from illegal downloads. Lord Carter is to unveil his new report setting out his vision for Digital Britain next week, according to The Telegraph. The …
Read More »WHSmith sees like-for-like decline
UK stationer, newsagent and entertainment retailer WHSmith has said that like-for-like sales at its High Street stores fell seven per cent for the 20 weeks ending January 17th compared to the same period one year ago. Overall like-for-like sales, which include the businesses’ online arm, fell by five per cent. …
Read More »Games overtake films in global entertainment market
Statistics from market research company Media Control Gfk International suggest that gaming has overtaken DVD and Blu-ray in terms of worldwide market value, Edge Online reports. The firm claims that games accounted for 53 per cent of 2008’s global packaged media commodities market, which in total valued $61bn. Global video …
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