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

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 …

Automatic fix to be issued soon; â??No action from users neededâ??, firm says

Valve has alerted the media it will not be showing any new projects at E3 meaning that any hopes of a debut for Half-Life 3 have been scuppered. In September last year, the studio said it had three pretty big surprises in the next 12 months at least." The firm …

TV chef and social crusader Jamie Oliver is to lend his name and likeness to Playfish Facebook game Restaurant City. The deal with the EA-owned developer will "offer players fun ways to engage with Jamie Oliver’s brand and share in his excitement and passion for inspiring people to cook using …

iPhone studio buys Netherlands group Rough Cookie, report claims