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

The Xbox Live Marketplace was inoperable for a brief period last night, though Microsoft has insisted that the problems were not due to any kind of hack or intrusion. Following the mystery disappearance of both the Xbox 360 and online version of Marketplace, MS issued the following press statement: "Users …

Foundation 9 studio scores big handheld project

Ubisoft is showing retail how it’s done by opening its own High Street outlet. The firm has sublet a store on Dean Street in Soho to support upcoming Kinect game Child of Eden. It will boast two floors, with a ‘chill out area’ and three game trial rooms, as well …

Rockstar has done it again, with new IP L.A. Noire providing a major boost to UK games retail. 24m was taken by UK games stores last week – the highest figure since the first week of the year. MCV estimates that over 10m was generated by L.A. Noire alone, and …

Sony’s Networked Products and Services division, the home of its PlayStation business, has recorded an operating profit of YEN 35.6bn (267m) for the fiscal year ending March 31st. In the same period last year the Division reported a YEN 83.3bn loss. Sales grew slightly to YEN 1,572bn (12bn). PS3 hardware …

An analysis of Vicon House of Moves' use of Unreal Engine

The contest rules have changed from requiring developers to use only The MoMinis Studio to allowing the use of whatever tool they prefer. The caveat is that games created in the contest must be able to operate on the same devices and platforms that The MoMinis Studio supports such as …

Ubisoft will make a big push to establish its online gaming credentials at E3 next month, MCV understands. The company will use the LA showcase to reveal new details on the newly-announced Ghost Recon Online, as well as TrackMania2 Canyon and From Dust – games designed to kick start Ubisoft’s ambitious …

Competition will now include games developed by any tool in the industry

Character animation tech leaves Beta, paid service begins