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

In news that could well agitate devoted Xbox followers as much as it excites commercial partners, Microsoft has unveiled a brand new interactive advertising platform for Kinect. Called NUads (Natural User-Interface Ads), it will allow brands to get gamers engaging with their ads either on the Xbox 360 dashboard or …

Publisher NCsoft has revealed that City of Heroes, its successful PC superhero MMO, is to become a free-to-play title. It’s also getting a new name – City of Heroes: Freedom. The move mirrors that made by both rival title Champions Online and also by other MMOs such as The Lord …

We profile Rovio Mobile, Codemasters Birmingham, Playfish, Eurocom, Naturalmotion Games, Ubisoft Paris, Digital Goldfish and Criterion

Avalanche believes The Big Appleâ??s best developers cost less to hire

Gaikai has joined forces with the world’s largest retailer to bring its games streaming service to Walmart.com. The new Game Center section of Walmart’s website now allows users to play PC titles using Gaikai’s service for free, according to VentureBeat. If they like the game, they can then purchase it …

New tool 'allows devs to distribute apps on iOS, Android and Blackberry'

Apple could be in complete control of the video games market in a decade’s time, according to a new prediction from former Sony Studios boss and PlayStation guru Phil Harrison. "At this trajectory, if you extrapolate the market-share gains that they are making, forward for ten years – if they …

Just minutes after news broke of an arrest in Essex believed to be linked with hacker group LulzSec, the group has denied that the man in question has any link to the collective. "Seems the glorious leader of LulzSec got arrested, it’s all over now," it said via Twitter. "Wait… …

Unconfirmed accounts suggest Tomek Gop is out of the games business

Lobbying for this year’s Games Media Awards in association with Grainger Games is well underway, with journalists, broadcasters, PRs, readers and viewers nominating their favourite mags, websites and more for one of the sector’s top accolades. But there is still time to ensure that your voice is heard – you …