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

The Conservative Party has failed to cite game development tax breaks in its 131-page policy manifesto, raising suspicion that the party is no longer backing a tax-specific state support package as once thought. Labour MP Tom Watson – an industry sympathiser who previously claimed to have identified conflict on the …

Heavy Rain stands as proof that non-traditional games can prove to be a blockbuster success with traditional gamers. That’s according to the game’s writer and director David Cage, who also serves as CEO for Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream. He said: It has been hugely gratifying to see the positive …

Labourâ??s industry sympathiser fears internal Tory conflict on the issue

It has emerged that John Rau, the new South Australian attorney-general, is not the huge supporter of the introduction of an R18+ video game rating as had previously been suggested. Last month MCV reported that Rau, who replaced outspoken violent games sceptic Michael Atkinson, had stated that the lack of …

Industry concerned that prior tax relief plans have been overruled

This year’s Eurogamer Expo will once again welcome entertainment chain HMV as a key sponsor and retail partner for the upcoming event, scheduled to take place at Earls Court between October 1st and October 3rd. As well as sampling a number of the year’s biggest upcoming titles, the new tie-up …

Microsoft will launch a new hardware bundle containing an Xbox 360 Slim console, the motion-sensing Natal camera and a 250GB hard drive before the end of the year, so says industry analyst Michael Pachter. Furthermore, Pachter believes that the price of SKU could end up being even lower if PS3 …

Another two longstanding Infinity Ward employees have left the beleaguered Modern Warfare studio. Experienced programmer Jon Shiring and lead designer Mackey McCandlish have separately confirmed they have quit the studio – with both departing in the wake of a destructive legal row between Activision and two Infinity Ward co-founders. Shiring …

Microsoft has at last lifted the lid on what is already one of the most anticipated games of 2011 – Gears of War 3. To check out the first official video of the game, just cast your eyes below:

Anyone who’s been following the games industry for any amount of time should know all too well by now that a final chapter” is normally anything but. Step forward Gears of War 3. The epic story concludes” – that was the tag line that accompanied the leaked confirmation of the …