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

The Kinect development director at Rare believes the industry’s principal control mechanism – the joypad – has grown too complex and complicated for the wider market. Speaking at the fifth annual Develop Conference in Brighton, Nick Burton said Joypads "have become convoluted, they have raised the bar to entry too …

Exactly one year after the closure of Midway Studios Newcastle, Robert Troughton has opened a new studio named Pitbull Studio Limited, of which he will serve as MD. The new studio name harks back to that of Midway Newcastle before it was brought up in 2006 – Pitbull Syndicate Limited. …

Sony has confirmed that it has now sold over 1m digital games through its bite-sized PlayStation Minis service since its launch in October 2009. The games, which can be downloaded through PSN, are compatible with both the PS3 and PSP are very much follow the template laid down by Apple’s …

Develop 2010: Studio dev director talks of 'many possibilities' for Kinect-powered FPSes

Develop 2010: Famed UK studio says Kinect will reduce technophobia

Retailer GAME has lifted the lid on a brand new mobile content portal as it strives to increase its penetration into the digital content market. Users are now able to buy games, apps, wallpapers, videos and various other pieces of mobile content directly through their handsets. Gaming on the go …

For 28 years the Golden Joysticks has been the best industry social event of every Q4. It’s that one chance – ahead of the manic Christmas period – to kick back and consume unhealthy amounts of alcohol. Oh, and celebrate the biggest games of the last 12 months, of course. …

UPDATE: Hogarty has contacted MCV to inform us that he is no longer editor at PC Zone, having taken up a position at Gamereactor.eu last week. He adds that the September issue of PC Zone will be the last.ORIGINAL STORY: A report on PC games site Rock Paper Shotgun – …

Gem has signed an exclusive distribution deal with software publisher Funbox Media that will see the distie stocking new titles such as North American Hunting Extravaganza. The partnership means Gem will be providing the publisher’s PC, Wii and Nintendo DS titles via both primary and secondary distribution. Barry Hatch, MD …

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey gave a well-rehearsed speech to a large group of games industry professionals at the Develop Conference in Brighton this morning, encouraging the sector to move on from ongoing tax breaks uncertainties and to look elsewhere for financial support. I know that, to put it mildly, most …