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

'First-party' XBLA publishing offer goes to the winner

We R Interactive also appoints NCsoft founder Geoff Heath as company advisor

For all the downbeat headlines, store closures and plummeting consumer spending, not every area of games retail is suffering. Yes, sales of new and used games have dropped significantly year-over-year. And yes, many firms operating in digital are on the rise. But there is one area of the boxed games …

Former Zoe Mode man appointed at Tenshi Consulting

In the space of three years, Ubisoft has acquired five online game development studios and seen digital sales soar. In the first half of its 2011/2012 financial year, Ubisoft’s online revenues rose 85 per cent year-on-year to €30m, representing 12 per cent of its overall sales. Digital accounted for just …

GAME is set to sell the OnLive microconsole in-store in time for Christmas. Others retailers should begin selling the device in 2012. It’s part of a partnership between the US cloud gaming firm and the retailer. OnLive’s microconsole will also arrive in GAME stores first. Other retailers will be able …

Digital Minds’ Angry Chickens has become the best-selling iPhone game this week, according to the latest charts from Apple. The title beat rival Angry Birds Seasons which had to settle for No.3. Angry Chickens made it to No.2 behind WhatsApp Messenger. Chess was the best-selling iPad app this week ahead …

The studio behind the hit Cooking Mama series says 3DS will pick up momentum now kids games are coming. The firm blames the portable’s early struggles on a lack of software for the younger demographic. But now it says the games are coming – including its own title Cooking Mama …

A Californian court has blocked Ubisoft’s request for a temporary restraining order on Get Up and Dance. OG International’s dance title was allowed to go on sale as usual in the US. Its UK release was unaffected. Ubisoft claimed Get Up and Dance uses avatars and instructors that look ‘nearly …

Zumba Fitness 2 will receive a big post-release push to ensure the title sells strongly in the New Year. The Wii fitness game from 505 has already received a splash of marketing activity. An X Factor TV ad in late October announced the sequel’s release, while TV spots have been …