MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry

Games that actively promote gender equality could be specifically labelled, if new plans from a Swedish trade body are pushed through. Gamasutra reports that Dataspelsbranschen has been awarded KR272,000 (24k) by the country’s government to explore ways in which games that promote gender equality can be positively rewarded. "I do …

MODO firm purchases creator of pen-based sketching application Mischief

The fallout of Assassin’s Creed” Unity’s launch backlash has resulted in publisher Ubisoft saying it will change the way it works with reviewers. What hasn’t been specified is how it will change it. Many reports are taking it as confirmation that it will no longer enforce post-release embargoes, a practise …

Sony has confirmed that PS4 was the best selling console in the US in October. That marks the tenth month in succession that PS4 has bettered Xbox One, and somewhat dampens Microsoft’s celebrations earlier this week when it announced that Xbox One has outsold PS4 for the last two weeks. …

XCOM: Enemy Within is now available as a standalone offering on mobile devices, publisher 2K and developer Firaxis have announced. The game is ported from the standalone Commander Edition of the title – which also contains the base game XCOM: Enemy Unknown – released for PS3 and Xbox 360. Enemy …

Nexon beat its own revenue and profit forecasts for its third quarter of 2014, thanks largely in part to the Korean-based firm’s native market. Games Industry reports Nexon saw a 14 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to $395m, along with net income of $94m – a 69 per cent …

A smaller, cheaper version of credit card-sized computer Raspberry Pi is now available for purchase, the hardware’s creators have announced. The non-profit organization’s blog reveals Raspberry Pi model A+ is 21mm shorter in length than the B+ edition of the device. It also consumes less power, carries better audio, and …

With Halo: The Master Chief Collection having arrived on Tuesday, replica specialist TriForce has announced a pair of high-end Halo products. The company is now taking pre-orders on two replica Halo plasma rifles – one in Elite blue and one in Brute red. Each polystone model, weighs 20lbs (or 15lbs …

Trade body calls for further investment in the games industry

As its Excalibur label celebrates its tenth anniversary, MCV catches up with Contact Sales’ MD Robert Stallibrass and marketing boss Richard Barclay about the sim market, owning its own IP and virtual reality… Excalibur is celebrating its tenth birthday. How has the simulation market changed in that time? Robert Stallibrass, …