Publishing

QA, localisation and testing firm Babel Media been acquired by Indian outsourcing firm Quatrro. The move sees Babel – which already boasts 500 staff across offices in Brighton, Los Angeles, Montreal and New Delhi – become part of a bigger operation that specialises in business process outsourcing. Algy Williams, co-founder …

Electronic Arts has unveiled new details about its flagship football title FIFA 09, which it claims has been designed to ‘take advantage of the hardware specifications of each available platform’. The publisher also claims that the title has over 250 additions and enhancements to the core gameplay seen in its …

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has talked of his fear that the cost of hardware in today’s market may be prohibitive” to new customers. Speaking to The Times, Kotick said that platform holders are going to have to think about reducing their prices” – later revealing that he estimated the adult …

Activision boss says lack of Government support means high cost of living, which impacts staff happiness

Bill Gates officially spent his last day at Microsoft on Friday, bidding farewell to the company he started in his garage in 1975. According to AFP, the Microsoft co-founder, 52, will now focus on running the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , aimed at fighting disease, reducing poverty, and improving …

34 year-old usability expert Michael Zummo to take up game director role

IGN has reported that the ‘second generation’ music title will hit Xbox 360 in September, with further SKUs on other platforms due later this year. The report confirms that downloadable content for the first Rock Band will be fully compatible with the sequel, while upgraded versions of the drum kit, …

Last chance to book a reduced price place at this year's big night for games developers

Those kind folk over at Sony have given MCV readers the chance to win a PSP and a copy of Buzz Master Quiz, with four runners up claiming a copy of the game. Who’s behind the voice of Buzz? a) Kylie Minogue b) Jason Donovan c) Mrs Mangel To take …

The summer of sports continues with today’s release of Sega’s Olympic Beijing 2008. The game, the only official licensed title for the Olympic event, follows a spate of games making the most of this years sport filled summer. A Sega spokesperson told MCV that all the environments, stadiums, arenas, athletes …