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

Casual games group monthly competition offers up first round of awards

Publisher EA has once again defended its use of the Online Pass system in its console-based sports titles.It’s a tactic that has provoked some debate, but Moore believes the arguments have died down and that the benefits are clear. As we speak, because the FIFA 11’s only just come out, …

Microsoft has confirmed that the first DLC for Halo Reach will be released via Xbox Live on November 30th. Called The Noble Map Pack, it includes three new multiplayer environments and will cost 800 Microsoft Points (around 6.85). It will also offer a further 250 Achievement Points. Here’s Microsoft’s description …

UK entertainment retailer has predicted that Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops could become the biggest selling video game of all time after it hits global retail shelves on November 9th. We’re seeing some exceptional interest for this title across its different formats,” HMV’s senior buyer James Brooks told Eurogamer. …

UK games publisher Chillingo has announced that its latest iOS title, Cut The Rope, has sold one million copies in ten days since launch. The company is claiming that the physics-based puzzler is thus the fastest selling title yet on Apple’s App Store. Cut The Rope has topped App Store …

Founder of PlayJam Jasper Smith brings TV games into focus

Ahead of its release in Europe tomorrow, EA has told MCV that Medal of Honor is on track to shatter all previous sales records for the cult FPS war series. The publisher is, in particular, anxious for gamers to get to grips with the multiplayer side of the game, which …

Japanese social games firm DeNA has published documents giving more details about its acquisition of US mobile startup ngmoco. One English document that has been published on DeNA’s IR site outlines the terms of the deal. The maximum acquisition consideration is $403 million, of which up to $100 million will …

A by-product of FIFA’s growing commercial success has been a sustained and reasonably emphatic superiority over FIFA’s great rival franchise, PES – the one that used to be considered the connoisseurs’ choice. Speaking exclusively to MCV, EA Sports boss Peter Moore rejects the idea that there is now clear green …

Facebook’s virtual currency is now available in more countries worldwide following the introduction of 20 new payment methods. The online social network has partnered with monetisation service PlaySpan to allow users to buy Facebook Credits in different ways and in more currencies. In the coming months Facebook will accept bank …