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

Sony has announced that those who pre-order the PlayStation Vita at selected retailers will have the choice of two freebies. The pre-order process will begin in Europe on November 30th. Consumers can at the time of pre-order choose between a free pair of PlayStation Vita Blue headphones or a Vita …

Publisher Activision has backtracked on a statement that appeared to suggest that Call of Duty Elite may never get a dedicated release on PC. Though the PC version of the service has already been delayed, its official Twitter feed threw the community into panic last night with the following tweet: …

The GAME Group has admitted that the 2011 video games market has performed below its expectations”. The retailer had previously predicted a full year like-for-like sales decline of between -3 per cent and flat. It now expects a best-case scenario of -7 per cent which, as the retailer now routinely …

Manchester firm down to final three in the Enabling Creativity category at TechWorld 2011

UKIE had reported that further delays are holding back the introduction of PEGI as the standard age rating system in the UK. Only last week, the games industry trade body said it expected the system to be implemented early next year. Now it appears this isn’t the case, although a …

Molyneux, Rein, Braben, Patti, Kaplan and more raise a glass to Microsoftâ??s prolific box

Social network's Gareth Davis claims emergence of core games on the platform

Four million of you have already played it, but two years on from its initial launch PC hit Minecraft has finally been completed. All copies of the game sold to date have either been the alpha or beta version. However, creator Markus Persson has confirmed via Twitter that the game …

The Online Pass found within copies of Ubisoft’s grants access to the game’s online mode and use of an exclusive character. Eurogamer reports that upon activating the Uplay Passport code found within new copies of the game, access to the multiplayer modes is immediately granted. Those who buy the game …

Games vet Frazer Locke has been named trading director for Asda Direct. He replaces Fergal Gara who has left the firm to head up PlayStation UK. Locke is a games retail expert. He’s worked at Dixons, Comet and Toys R Us before joining Gamestation. He became head of online for …