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

Dixons Retail has entered the digital game download market with a new online service running across three websites. Customers can pay for PC games online, download them onto their computer and write reviews for them afterwards. The service is running across bespoke Dixons, Currys and PC World websites. Dixons Retail …

Windows Phone 7 versions of Angry Birds, Plants Vs Zombies, Doodle Jump and more due next month

Warner Interactive has announced its next title based on the popular boy wizard – LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. It’s due out this Q4 on every system you can imagine. Interesting the game has also been confirmed for Sony’s new NGP console, though whether that in any ways suggests the …

Some time over the next couple of weeks Gamestation will issue its one millionth Elite Reward Card – and that lucky customer is in for a big surprise. Said person will be given 1m XP points (worth 2,500), a personalised Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii modified by Aliens Stole My …

Some of the most popular casual games ever will be released on Windows Phone 7 over the next two months. This will kick off on May 25th with Hydro Thunder GP, the Xbox Live racer that re-imagines the classic powerboat game, followed by cutesy platformer Doodle Jump on June 1st. …

GameStop has reported a 9.5 per cent increase in profits to $2.28bn for the first quarter of 2011. Net earnings jumped 6.9 per cent to $80.4m. Total store sales climbed 5.3 per cent with pre-owned product sales jumping 9.5 per cent. Digital sales soared by 53 per cent year-on-year. HD …

Zynga has claimed its fourteenth acquisition in just twelve months, having now bought the San Franciscan outfit DNA Games. DNA Games describes itself as a technology-driven, casual gaming platform” hitherto funded by Battery Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures. Financial terms of Zynga’s buyout were not disclosed. Develop has the full …

Echoing off the record comments made to MCV, a Sony spokesperson has told Edge that the PS3 3.61 firmware is categorically not to blame for the LA Noire overheating issues. In fact, the spokesperson added that the problem has now spread to Xbox 360 consoles. "As with the release of …

Newly-purchased DNA Games 'will be a valuable asset in next-generation game development'

CVG has launched its first ever E3 Awards, by inviting consumers to vote for their Most Anticipated title of the show. A reader poll – which allows for multiple entries – will run prominently on the site every day in the lead-up to E3, and has already attracted over 19,000 …