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

Platform holder Microsoft has finally announced a firm date for the European launch of its Windows Phone 7 platform – October 21st. The news comes from an ongoing press conference, into which none other Apple-evangelist Stephen Fry has just been welcomed. Cast aside those doubts you had about Microsoft being …

Nintendo wants Wii Party to join its best-selling brethren Sports, Fit and Play as one of the format’s biggest successes. The platform holder claims its newest title, released last Friday, has all the traits of a successful game. The title allows up to four players to compete in mini-games across …

Special packs of eggs will be a key promotional tool for Warner Bros’ upcoming Super Scribblenauts. Yep, eggs. The publisher has teamed up with Stonegate Eggs to create special branded cartons of Intelligent Eating Eggs, bearing artwork from the upcoming Nintendo DS sequel. This means lead character Maxwell and his …

The new Your Shape will be supported by a 1.2m campaign when the Kinect game launches next month. Advertisements for Your Shape: Fitness Evolved will run from November to January online, on TV and in print, in a bid to attract a mainstream audience. The title will be backed by advertorials …

Grainger Games will open up to five more stores this year after unveiling its 40th outlet three months early. The retailer has launched 17 stores in the past six months, and the firm’s sales director Phil Moore says Grainger’s operations team has the capability to open three shops a week. …

Developer Visceral Games has announced that North American customers who pre-order Dead Space 2 will be entitled to download digital-only prequel Dead Space Ignition for free.Announced in July and set for release on October 13th, Ignition will otherwise cost $5 on PSN or 400 MSP on Xbox Live. EA will …

Phil Spencer confident of motion control for all

With less than a month to go until Call of Duty: Black Ops is released worldwide on November 9th, Activision has confirmed that brand new trailer will be aired on British TV tomorrow night. It will be screened in the half time break of the England vs Montenegro European Championship …

Rovio talks about its secret formula for an iPhone hit

The recent chart collaboration between now reunited Take That stars Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow has been named as the 26th track to feature on Nordic Games’ upcoming We Sing Robbie Williams. Shame hit the headlines after becoming the first song to feature the once warring pop icons in 15 …