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

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 …

Distributor Sony DADC will increase its business-to-consumer services when it opens its new warehouse. The firm already supplies retailers with games, and plans to offer ‘enhanced B2C services’ when its Enfield facility is built this summer. Sony DADC is extending its product and services capability portfolio to support the evolution …

Consultancy firm Digital Goals is raising awareness of its services with a shiny new website. DigitalGoals.co.uk gives lifestyle brands more information on how the company can help them enter the games and accessories market. The company has already united Gem with the Ministry of Sound and Hedkandi. It was set …

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”. …

BASCA removes 'games score' category after two years; Still wants to engage with industry

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 …

Crowd-funded project raises more than three times its initial $900k target

Beamdog, the owner of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition developer Overhaul Games has launched a fierce attack on Nintendo. Speaking on Twitter, Beamdog founder and former BioWare man Trent Oster confirmed that Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition will not be coming to Wii U. What is more shocking was the ferocity of …

Indie start-up Total ArKade to focus on 'innovative gameplay', says Tony Takoushi