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

The Anime and Videogames Convention (AVCon) is set to have its biggest year yet this weekend at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This year is AVCon’s retro-themed 10th year, and it’s hoping to pull 10’000 people through its doors, growing from 8’000 in 2010. Running over Saturday and Sunday, attendees can …

The biggest ever Develop Awards saw 17 different companies score major games industry accolades this evening. But the biggest winner overall was the New Wave of indie developers reshaping our exciting, fast-moving industry. Over 550 of the global games development elite were on hand to see the hottest studios in …

THQ Asia Pacific is looking to hire a senior product manager for core games, working out of its Melbourne office. The applicant will be responsible for managing THQ’s key core franchises and titles (and associated products) across Australia and New Zealand. Key requirements are a passion for videogames, previous experience …

Angry Birds creator Rovio (left) takes Grand Prix, Livingstone (far left) named Development Legend

Publisher Ubisoft’s Q1 2011 sales have hit 90.7m, a drop of 36.3 per cent compared to the year before. But this is significantly up on the company’s expectations of just 79.2m. Last year the publisher generated 141.8m, but this was boosted by the release of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten …

Tonight is the biggest night for games developers: over 550 industry execs will cram into the Brighton Hilton’s Ballroom to see who has won the Develop Industry Excellence Awards. But if you’re not there, don’t worry – we’ve got the event covered for you through comprehensive live coverage. The ceremony …

London toy megastore Hamleys is promoting toys based on Mind Candy’s smash kids’ game Moshi Monsters throughout the summer. A special themed window display featuring Moshi merchandise will go up throughout the school holiday period. Floor and escalator vinyls will also direct attention to the toys. Hamleys will stock the …

Future Publishing has confirmed to staff which titles are to be sold or closed as part of the recent job losses revealed by MCV last week – and the company’s video games teams have survived unscathed. The Guardian reports, however, that eight titles are less fortunate, with DVD & Blu-Ray …

Develop Conference: Respected concept artist hints at release schedule for anticipated sci-fi title

Cult Japanese games developer Grasshopper Manufacture’s next game is called Lollipop Chainsaw, according to Japanese games paper Famitsu. The name alone conjures up images that are very much fitting with the studio’s characteristically leftfield output which has to date included Michigan: Report from Hell, Killer 7, Contact, No More Heroes …