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

High Street retailer Blockbuster has struck a deal with media giant IGN to promote its new customer reward scheme VIP Gamer. An IGN Recommends microsite will showcase the retailer’s latest game competitions and deals to an audience of more than three million. Blockbuster VIP Gamer was unveiled earlier this week. …

Dixons Retail says its like-for-like sales fell three per cent for the 52 weeks ending April 28th, while overall sales remained flat. The group – which owns PC World, Currys, Dixons and other retail chains worldwide – ‘enjoyed good performances in the UK and Ireland and Northern Europe, trading ahead …

Company to integrate Kinect gestures, report suggests

Sci-fi action fans can now pick up Sony’s Starhawk for PS3. The multiplayer-centric shooter is the spiritual successor to 2007 PlayStation hit Warhawk. Players take on the role of a hired gunman and battle for control of planets. The new Build and Battle system allows them to turn the tables …

The money generated from overall game sales in the US during April has been estimated at a whopping $1bn. This figure from The NPD Group includes sales of hardware, accessories, new and used physical games at retail, rentals, digital downloads, add-on content, subscriptions, mobile games and social network titles. It’s …

Jagex will finally show off Transformers Universe to the UK public later this month. MCM Expo will be the first UK event to host the MMO based on the popular Hasbro toys. Attendees will be able to meet members of the Transformers Universe development team and learn more about the …

The new Marvel film is taking the box office by storm, and Ubisoft is giving gamers the chance to wield their favourite heroes’ superpowers. Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth is currently in development for Wii U and Kinect and is due for release this Autumn. However, it will not be …

System 3 boss and industry veteran Mark Cale explains why PS Vita has the potential to be an iPad-beater and what Sony could do to help the handheld prosper in a tough market. PlayStation Vita launched just two months ago but today you’d never know it. Sony has some of …

Square Enix has taken the Game Development Contest India 2012 on the road. The Japanese publisher recently revealed details of the contest, which aims to unearth India’s top game development talent across mobile and other casual platforms. The contest’s official website and Facebook page are now live. The Game Development …

Microsoft may be readying open web browsing for the Xbox 360. Sources have shared with The Verge that a modified version of Internet Explorer 9 is currently in testing on the console. The new Xbox browser will supposedly let users surf all parts of the web from the comfort of …