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

US game sales are up eight per cent in November compared to the year before, NPD has revealed. The industry made $2.99 billion last month, up from $2.7bn the year before. This includes $1.08bn in hardware, $1.46bn in software and $413.3m in accessories. All up from the year before. The …

GAMES RETAIL has never been more challenging, but store managers are confident about their business as the New Year approaches. 85 per cent of retailers say they are positive about the health of their business moving into 2011. This is despite market shrinkage in 2010, several independent retailers closing their …

Wondering what games retail are worried about in the New Year? And what’s been the best thing about 2010 so far? MCV goes behind the tills in its annual retail survey. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR FOR GAMES RETAIL? BLACK OPS received the majority of votes this year …

CEO Tomoko Namba says many Japanese tech firms are interested in buyouts abroad

First details emerge ahead of official Spike Video Game Awards reveal this weekend

Studio subsidiary will likely enter administration, firm tells Develop

The next iteration in the hugely popular Uncharted series has been revealed, confirming recent rumours. Entertainment Weekly got a first look at Sony’s Naughty Dog-developed adventure Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, which is reportedly due on shelves late next year. The game is set in the Arabian Peninsula with Drake searching …

Strategic expansion of casual games business

Microsoft is giving away two downloadable games as part of an advertising deal with crisps brand Doritos. Avatar-based racer Doritos Crash Course is similar to Trials HD, while Harm’s Way is a more traditional car racing game. Both multiplayer titles can be downloaded for free on Xbox Live. The games …

Publisher offers no comment on possible buyout despite studio serenade