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

Eidos life president Ian Livingstone has made an appeal for developers to contribute towards an ambitious talent survey that hopes to show the UK Government the value of the national games industry as an employer. The survey has been conceived to help to inform an independent review into how to …

Nintendo president Saturo Iwata has stated that the 3DS will automatically download firmware updates – a method that the exec hopes will help combat Nintendo’s handheld piracy problems. Andriasang reports that the functionality will be included as part of the SpotPass feature set, which allows 3DS machines to autonomously connect …

Are you free on the evening of Monday, October 11th? Would you like to go, with a friend, or possibly a hot date, to the premiere of Despicable Me at the Leicester Square Empire, where you might, just might, rub shoulders with Steve Carell (the voice of Gru) plus a …

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 …