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

Handheld raises its game with strong sales rush ahead of holiday season

Vostu pays up and agrees to alter its games

More than 10 billion apps have been downloaded through Google’s Android marketplace to date. This is only expected to grow as Android users are now installing a combined one billion users per month, according to Gamasutra. By comparison it took the Android Market 22 months to reach its first one …

Yoshifusa Hayama joins growing London studio Bossa

Social games giant Zynga has ended its legal action on Brazilian games firm Vostu for alleged copyright infringement. Zynga took legal action on Vostu in June for ‘infringement of its creative works’ including titles such as Zynga’s popular Facebook game CityVille. Now Vostu has agreed to pay a fee to …

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes the 3DS is about to cross the 3m sales mark in Japan and will reach a 4m milestone by April. Speaking to Nikkei, as translated by Andriasang, Iwata said the 3DS has regained its vigour” thanks to the price drop and major new releases such …

Skateboarding star Tony Hawk says he will be announcing an upcoming release on the day of the Spike Video Game Awards. The extreme sports legend said on Twitter: I’ll be announcing the upcoming release of something new on Saturday; the same day as the Spike Video Game Awards. Coincidence? I …

Nintendo has released the newest firmware for 3DS, which adds new StreetPass content, DLC support and 3D video recording. 3DS owners can now download the system update via their handheld and make short 3D videos. There are even options to produce time lapse footage or stop motion videos. Publishers will …

Fans hope for custom edition of iconic building block set

Gamers will be able to download a five-game pack for charity this month – and pay what they like for it. Known as the Little Big Bunch, the collection of games comes from leading independent studios in the UK such as Mode 7, Just Add Water and Curve Studios. The …