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

The UK’s leading magazine publishers are upping the ante on Apple devices. Future Publishing has launched more than 15 apps for iPhone and iPad in the last three months based on brands such as Total Film, Classic Rock and SFX, and the firm is keen to get its games portfolio …

Platform holder Microsoft has announced a new – and hopefully definitive – release date for Gears of War 3 on Xbox 360. The game will now be released worldwide on Tuesday September 20th 2011. The only exception to this is Japan where the game will be released on September 22nd. …

Global games retailer GameStop has announced the appointment of Steve Nix as its new general manager of digital distribution. Nix joins after four years at developer id Software where he served as digital distribution manager. "Several technology and consumer initiatives have entered the market, each of them strengthening our core …

Publisher Deep Silver has expressed its delight at the frenzy of activity that greeted the release of its new trailer for Dead Island last week. In the time that has followed the game’s Facebook page has attracted over 100,000 fans while the trailer itself has had over 2.7m hits on …

The US Federal Trade Commission is looking into reports of children blowing their parents’ credit cards on mobile social games. The FTC says it’s aware of complaints that in-app payments can allow children to spend money within mobile social games without their parents’ permission, and is looking into the issue. …

'We will closely monitor this industry practice' says FTC

Lessons learnt after humble beginnings, says Home exec

Global brand consultancy firm Interbrand has found that Apple successfully placed its leading products such as the iPad, Mac and iPod into 30 per cent of the top grossing films in the US in 2010. Movies to feature the brand included Toy Story 3, Kick Ass and The Other Guys. …

Future Publishing is seriously considering making a bid for the BBC Magazine portfolio, which includes the likes of Radio Times and Top Gear. That’s according to The Guardian, which claims that the Bath-based company "has been actively involved in the sales process surrounding BBC Magazines" though understands that the final …

Social and mobile games studio looking to expand