Publishing

Publishers are honing their digital strategy as downloads become more popular.MCV speaks to Ubisoft’s digital VP Chris Early about what the worldsof retail and downloads can learn from each other… Does digital need traditional retail brands like Assassin’s Creed, Call of Duty and FIFA to grow? Digital’s biggest challenge is …

Publisher Bethesda has released the first video for its upcoming action game Dishonored. The first person title offers an intriguing blend of steam punk aesthetics, with BioShock-like writing and gameplay that is reminiscent of titles such as Thief. This is not so surprising, either, when the game’s staff is taken …

Organisers for the Ivor Novello Awards have abandoned its excellence in games audio prize The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), which operates the event, said that after much consideration it has been decided not to present the Best Original Video Games Score category at the 2012 ceremony”. …

Former Sega design chief Simon Woodroffe has joined Microsoft-owned UK developer Rare as its new creative director. Woodroffe is a 20+ years veteran of the games industry whose credits include seminal titles such as Simon the Sorcerer and Call of Cthulhu. His more recent employers include Midway, where he worked …

Franois Bayrou is a man, a politician. And clearly one who recognises the power of the Gaming Vote. As spotted by The Telegraph, there’s a hidden treat to be found on his website as he builds toward his French presidential campaign. Want to take a look? OK, head over to …

A new content streaming device called Nasne is on the way from Sony. The small black box comes with 500GB of internal storage and, in Japan at least, both digital and satellite tuners. It will offer streaming and storage interoperability with other Sony devices such as PS3, PlayStation Vita, VAIO …

Veteran publisher System 3 is bringing new racer Absolute Supercars to retail with the help of Bruno Senna. The F1 driver and nephew of the late Ayrton Senna has helped hone the car handling in Absolute Supercars, which is due to arrive on PS3 at the end of May. The …

Simon Woodroffe to lead up design at Microsoft studio

Users who have been banned from EA’s Origin network will now be able to access the single player content of any games on their account. That’s after EA decided to review the terms and conditions of its Origin user agreement. Previously any ban from origin resulted in account holders being …

Veteran developer believes realisation of sci-fi tech possible in three to five years