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

Distributors are clamping down on unscrupulous eBay toy dealers who buy rare figures in bulk and resell at extortionate prices. Known as ‘scalpers’, these traders buy a store’s entire Skylanders stock before selling it online. Certain retailers reportedly search their own stock for limited edition toys (like the ‘flocked’ Skylanders, …

The Microsoft Lift London studio head gets the rapid-fire question treatment

Apple’s App Store is on the verge of delivering its fifty billionth download. The moment itself will be revealed thanks to Apple’s countdown timer. The customer who downloads to the fifty billionth app will receive a decent reward, too – a $10,000 App Store gift card. The next 50 users …

Rejuvenated entertainment retailer Blockbuster is to embark on a promotional blitz this bank holiday weekend to properly mark its High Street comeback. Deals include the chance for shoppers to rent any new movie release for one night for 1.99. The chain has also confirmed that it will shortly begin stocking …

Both publisher Sega and developer Gearbox have rubbished a lawsuit filed against the pair regarding Aliens: Colonial Marines. On Wednesday MCV reported that a Californian lawsuit is taking both companies to task over the disparity between pre-release demos and marketing materials and the final release of Aliens: Colonial Marines. Sega …

fEpic Games' partnership with Mozilla brings Unreal tech demo to the web

Section 8 and Colonial Marines developer files for protection against creditors

LucasArts vet and games consultant joins search engine giant on unknown project

Aliens: Colonial Marines and Section 8 developer TimeGate Studios has filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Polygon reports that site has obtained court documents stating as much about the Texas-based studio from the Texas Southern Bankruptcy Court filed earlier this week. The petition, filed by TimeGate itself, lists …

A new NPD report has found that the number of players gaming online – along with the number of hours spent by those players online – has increased significantly. NPD Group’s Online Gaming 2013 report surveyed over 8,800 US gamers, and found that 72 per cent stated they played games …