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

Four more games companies have backed this year’s Games Media Awards in association with Grainger Games. These include Sega, cloud gaming service OnLive, digital distributor Green Man Gaming and media company The Games Tribe. They join a range of sponsors for the Games Media Awards 2011 in association with Grainger …

Casual games Zynga has announced it is currently working on a Facebook version of Words With Friends. The hugely popular Scrabble-esque is Zynga’s biggest mobile title. The firm bought the game’s original developer Newtoy back in December. Consumers can currently signing up for updates on the launch by "Liking" the …

By introducing real money auctions for virtual items in Diablo III Blizzard has upped its game in the fight against illegal ‘gold farmers’. For online games such as World of Warcraft where it can take months or even years to forge a strong character, time is money. Forget monthly subscriptions …

Canadian studio United Front Games has returned from the brink with the backing of new partner Square Enix, with the Tokyo publisher revealing it will revive the True Crime project. United Front spent some three years building True Crime: Hong Kong, but in February Activision rocked the studio by unexpectedly …

Sony has announced it has acquired Infamous and Sly Cooper studio Sucker Punch Productions for an undisclosed fee. The Washington-based developer – which has around 75 employees – attracted Sony with its successful range of PS3-exclusive titles, reports Reuters. Sony already owned the rights to most of the studio’s IP. …

Hugely popular mobile game currently being converted for social network

Sly Cooper creators become sixteenth Worldwide Studios member

Develop speaks to Rabcat to discuss its ten years in a rapidly changing business

Dare to be Digital 2011 team Digital Hazards talks exclusively to Develop about working on their entry title Shadow Light.

Throughout the month of August, any pre-order placed on the EB Games web site will attract free delivery. To receive the bonus, consumers must use the voucher code ‘PARTY’ when placing their pre-order. The offer is a part of EB’s ‘Online Pre-Order Party’, and a continued heavy push to drive …