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

Final chance to nominate a rising star to appear in next issue of Develop

Specialist publisher Rising Star has once again expanded its portfolio with a popular Asian brand, this time in the form of Pucca. Originally a Flash-based mini-series, Pucca is follows the adventures of a noodle seller’s daughter and a ninja. It has branched out into TV shows, merchandings, clothes and toys …

Boxed games empire boss canâ??t envisage revenue opportunities

Publisher EA has pledged a big drive toward emerging digital markets – a strategy in direct contrast to rival Activision, which just yesterday pledged to exact opposite. Speaking at the Credit Suisse 2010 Technology Conference, chief financial officer Eric Brown said that a principal growth driver has been downloads for …

Despite the likes of EA, Capcom and Ubisoft continue to enjoy growing success in sectors such as the App Store and Facebook, publishing giant Activision has said it has no intentions of entering either space. We don’t view the App Store as a really big opportunity for dedicated games,” chief …

Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 has enjoyed a powerful debut in Japan, racing to the top of the weekly software charts and significantly propelling PS3 console sales. When bundled versions of the game are included, GT5 sold a total of 431k units according to Media Create. In turn PS3 hardware sales …

The skateboarding genre will never again boast the power it enjoyed in the last decade, EA CEO John Riccitiello has claimed. When it comes to action sports, I think that’s going to be an ongoing exciting genre," Riccitiello told Kotaku. But at least for the level of excitement out there, …

So I’m sure everyone appreciates the fears mounting at every level over January’s VAT hike. Unfortunately, retailers can’t have their cake and eat it.As one of those very interview subjects (anonymously, mind) says on the cover – they can’t be crying foul over supposed silence around the VAT rise, when …

I don’t think anyone in the industry is kidding themselves as to the challenges retailers have faced in 2010. Every interview I’ve conducted of late starts with a dour acknowledgement of the pressures in the market. So I’m sure everyone appreciates the fears mounting at every level over January’s VAT …

Publishers must lower the cost of games, retailers have warned – or they will cut back buying new stock when VAT rises in 2011. Buyers and store bosses are fearful that they’ll have to swallow next year’s 2.5 per cent tax rise in order to remain competitive – and want …