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

Half-Life and Portal publisher Valve has updated its popular online shooter Team Fortress 2, and with the changes comes the arrival for the first time of an in-game virtual item economy. Until now the game has relied on stimulating new sales via the ongoing patching and updating of the title. …

Spacetime Engine can build online worlds shared between devices, says group

After a year without a NASCAR game on the shelves, Activision has announced it will release Nascar the Game 2011 next February. Developed by Eutechnyx, the game features a Sprint Cup Series Championship, real drivers with unique AI, 22 tracks, an interactive celebration mode and 16-player multiplayer. Games officially based …

IGDA Foundation event will see the two debate games over dinner

Sega expects to emerge from its period of new release slumber by scoring four chart hits ahead of Christmas. Things have been pretty quiet since the success of AVP, Sonic Racing and Napoleon in the spring, giving new Euro boss Jurgen Post a chance to settle in and size up …

Moshi Monster creator and Mind Candy CEO criticises the UKâ??s culture of failure

The Brit behind one of the largest kids games sites in the world says the industry is short on business heroes. Michael Acton Smith, CEO of Moshi Monsters creator Mind Candy, says too little is being done to inspire the gaming entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Virtual pet and online game Moshi …

Wave of reinforcements for the military shooter studio

Industry charity GamesAid has revealed the named of the eight charities that have made it to the final shortlist for support in 2011. A final round of voting will now take place to choose five of the organisations, each of whom will go on to be GamesAid’s official beneficiaries throughout …

Developer Zipper Interactive has confirmed that a patch has been released that introduces full Move compatibility to its PS3 exclusive shooter MAG. Bringing motion control to key core gamer titles is an important step in Move’s market development, and while MAG was not the biggest seller in Europe it’s still …