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

Grainger Games has announced two key appointments as it once again grows its store count. The independent chain opened a new store this week in Stockport. It now has a total of 35 outlets spread across the North of England. Coinciding with this milestone is a new addition to the …

Multiple temporary HMV outlets will be established in the coming months across the UK. The retailer plans to open up to 20 stores specifically to deal with the busy holiday shopping season – more than twice the number it opened last year. While locations have yet to be finalised, MCV …

Developer Gearbox has insisted that its still mysterious licensed FPS Aliens: Colonial Marines is indeed in the works and still has the full backing of publisher Sega. Since missing its 2009 release window we’ve heard little about the title, other than the odd statement of assurance from Gearbox boss Randy …

Having gone live only last week, ambitious online games retailer Gametail is once again in the headlines thanks to an eye-catching deal it is currently offering on Microsoft’s Halo: Reach. The site has the game up for pre-order for just 31.95. And as the comparison table it has published shows, …

Having revealed on Friday that it has come to the rescue of long-struggling shooting sequel Duke Nukem Forever, it has now been confirmed that developer Gearbox has been given complete control of the Duke Nukem IP. Gearbox was handpicked as the new home for Duke Nukem because of their continued …

Video games publisher EA says that Manchester United and England football star Wayne Rooney will continue to represent the EA Sports brand. The Sunday Mirror claimed yesterday that the sportsman, who is the cover star of the UK version of FIFA 11, had a string of encounters with a prostitute …

Online payments firm to launch social games transactions tools and micropayments feature

Reports are suggesting that the ban placed on a new PS3 hacking device in Australia last week may not afford PS3 the protection Sony might have hoped. Kotaku claims to have been informed by an anonymous retailer that the injunction made permanent by the Australian courts last week does not …

European film and games rental giant LoveFilm has announced the appointment of Kristian Segerstrale as a non-executive director. Segerstrale is the CEO and co-founder of casual games specialist Playfish, which was snapped up by EA last year for around $250m. He also spent six years as a senior executive at …

Mafia II has topped the ELSPA GfK Chart-Track All Formats Top 40 for the second consecutive week, despite a 23 per cent drop in sales. The Xbox 360, PS3 and PC third person shooter is ahead of Square Enix’s Kane & Lynch 2 again, which saw a 19 per cent …