MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
World of Warcraft enjoyed a record peak of one million simultaneous users in China last month, according to publisher The9. The figure was the title’s highest ‘concurrency’ since its commercial launch back in June 2005, and came after the territory’s release of expansion pack The Burning Crusade, in September last …
Read More »Games to be taught in Scottish schools
Scottish schoolchildren are to be taught the basics of video game design as part of the country’s new national curriculum – dubbed the ‘Curriculum of Excellence’. According to the Press Association, the move is to designed to ‘create the next generation of young programmers’. Schools minister Maureen Watt unveiled the …
Read More »Full details of EAs hostile bid revealed
An EA filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission has unveiled the full details of EA’s ‘hostile’ bid for Rockstar parent Take Two . The bid is expected to take another turn this week, as Take Two addresses its shareholders at its Annual General Meeting in New York this Thursday. …
Read More »Relaunch for IO founders’ Reto-Moto
New online games firm to come from founders of Eidos' Danish team
Read More »Infogrames Gardner predicts stable fiscal year
CEO of Atari parent Infogrames David Gardner has said that the company is still on track for a ‘stable’ 2007–2008 FY fiscal performance – and that it doesn’t expect significant losses compared to its previous year. The firm’s Q4 results are due on May 14 th , but have taken …
Read More »UK March Charts – Analysis
ALL FORMATS TOP 50: MARCH 1. Mario & Sonic and the Olympic Games (Wii, DS) Sega 2. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (360, PS3) Ubisoft 3. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training (DS) Nintendo 4. Army of Two (360, PS3) EA 5. Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) SCE 6. Call of Duty 4: …
Read More »Most casual games are rubbish
Codemasters Online’s vice president David Solari has hit out at the number of developers rushing out casual games after signing a deal to bring a range of Mumbo Jumbo titles to retail. The deal kicks off with ten new games set for release on April 25th on the Funsta label …
Read More »PlayStation Store revamp set for April 15th
The revamp comes in response to a survey last year which showed that PlayStation Store users wanted a better interface and easier navigation. The new PlayStation Store also promises much greater scope for categorisation and a dynamic new user interface. SCE has also lined up a host of new content, …
Read More »Clancy brand going global after breaking 50m sales barrier
Ubisoft has plans to make its Tom Clancy franchise a true heavyweight in the wider entertainment world after the series reached a spectacular 52 million in lifetime unit sales. The newly-acquired IP, which cost Ubisoft €60m and allows the publisher to take full control of the property, will be expanded …
Read More »Sony: Web sales will rule by 2018
Sony Computer Entertainment UK MD Ray Maguire has predicted that 90 per cent of games sales will be taking place online in ten years’ time. Speaking at an ELSPA press conference with Dr Tanya Byron last week, Maguire read out his concerns with recommendations in the Byron Review – focusing …
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