MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Already established as the most important online trade resource, MCV has launched a new mobile-specific website. All readers have to do is bookmark mobile.mcvuk.com into their handsets. Stories are updated through the day and advertising-free. "Just like BBC Sport, we now provide news wherever you are and whenever you like," …
Read More »EA’s Take Two bid the most hostile in history
Leading financial observers are agreed: the video games industry has never seen an M&A move anywhere near as aggressive as Electronic Arts’ hostile bid for Take Two. The fascinating story of EA CEO John Riccitiello’s one man mission to secure the acquisition took a further turn this week, as it …
Read More »Guitar Hero: On Tour announced for DS
IGN has the scoop on the long rumoured but never confirmed DS version of Activision’s Guitar Hero – and reports that the game is due out later this year. The title, named Guitar Hero: On Tour, is being developed by Vicarious Visions, the studio behind certain versions of Activision’s Tony …
Read More »GameStop: Wii shortages to continue for at least six months
Following the publication of its latest financial statement , GameStop COO Dan DeMatteo has stated in an investor call that he anticipates supplies of Nintendo’s Wii won’t meet demand for the next two quarters at least”. He did, however, say that supplies of both Microsoft’s Xbox 360, which Microsoft recently …
Read More »LucasArts: Most games dont take advantage of next-gen hardware
US developer LucasArts has said that whilst many studios are pushing the visual envelope, few are genuinely taking advantage of the power offered by the Xbox 360 and PS3. Speaking to CVG, a spokesperson for the developer stated: "To put it simply, Fracture is one of the few games that …
Read More »Spectrobes 2 details revealed
Disney has unveiled details of the next game in the Spectrobes series, entitled Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals, which is due out for Nintendo DS The title picks up from the original game, continuing the story of Rallen and Jeena, interplanetary patrol officers who discover, excavate, awaken and train mysterious fossilised …
Read More »Analyst: GameStop made error in not buying Gamestation
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes GameStop made a big mistake by not buying Gamestation, according to videogaming247 . GameStop was expected to come in for the ex-Blockbuster owned chain, before GAME made a bid, and Pachter feels this has slowed GameStop’s move into Europe. GameStop always had the capacity …
Read More »First Sims 3 details emerge
Launching globally in 2009, The Sims 3 has shifted 98 million units worldwide since its beginnings in 2000. The new title will boast a seamless open-world environment, a huge number of storytelling options and a huge number of locations. EA is particularly pushing the new create-a-Sim interface, highly realistic personalities …
Read More »Vivendi titles facing uncertain future?
A report on Variety’s The Cut Scene Blog has suggested that there is unrest amongst Vivendi developers ahead of Activision merger – read the full story on Develop here.
Read More »How to market your game
HALO 3 Head of Gaming and Entertainment, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft UK, Stephen McGill, explains why the Halo 3 launch was such a success: There’s no doubt that our ground-breaking marketing campaign was a pivotal driver to the success of Halo 3. Expectations amongst consumers were extremely high, …
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