Game industry business news

Rare’s Viva Pinata is to be released for the Nintendo DS, according to reports emerging from this past weekend’s Comic-Con. Microsoft-owned Rare will be using the original concept for the game – not the upcoming party version made by Australia’s Kaos – for the Nintendo machine. It’s not the first …

LucasArts has revealed details of a new Lego game based on the Indiana Jones franchise. Joining the ranks of Lego Star Wars I and II and the recently announced Lego Batman, the title will be developed by Travellers Tales. Next-gen.biz reports that the game will be based on the lasso-sporting …

Grand Theft Auto publisher Rockstar is developing a new title that will be exclusive to PS3. SCEA’s Michael Shorrock revealed the news on the official US PlayStation blog on Friday. He wrote that Sony had ‘agreed to the PlayStation-exclusive rights of the next great franchise from the Rockstar studios’. ‘Everyone …

HMV has appointed Gerry Johnson as executive director with immediate effect. We are delighted to welcome Gerry Johnson as a new executive director,” said Carl Symon, chairman of HMV. Gerry has led the Waterstones team through the successful integration of Ottakars, and the continuing re- shaping of our books business. …

Original concept for Viva Pinata to see light of day on handheld

EA’s Chicago team will be producing a new game based on Marvel’s comicbook characters, reports MCV’s sister site Develop. The new super hero fighting game will be developed for PS3 and Xbox 360 and released next year. EA Chicago is best known for its Fight Night games and recent title …

MCV sister site Develop reports that after much speculation, David Jaffe has left Sony Computer Entertainment America’s Santa Monica Studios to form Eat, Sleep, Play with Incognito founder Scott Campbell – and has immediately secured exclusive development deal with SCEA. The pair, who previously worked together on the Twisted Metal …

Seemingly not content with bossing the UK charts, Nintendo is also performing well in both Germany and Spain – and it’s new DS title More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima that’s proving to be the star performer. The brain-twisting sequel tops the All Formats charts in both territories – whilst …

The PS2 accounted for 42 per cent of total console usage in June, according to the GamePlay Metrics service compiled by Nielsen, reported Games Industry . The next-gen consoles were far behind the PS2 in this respect. According to the report, the Xbox 360 accounted for eight per cent of …

For those that were unable to attend the Develop Awards event that took place in Brighton on Wednesday, a video of the ceremony is now available online. The video, which was produced by Gamer TV, can be found at www.esport.tv . 500 games development executives packed out the Metropole Hotel …