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

Bringing a bit of light relief to the heavy subject of tax, Chancellor Alistair Darling’s move to offer tax relief to some UK games developers has sparked interest amongst the Twitter-using public and become one of the morning’s most discussed subjects. At the time of writing, #culturallybritishtaxbreakgames is the most …

Ahead of the opening of its first UK stores in Liverpool, Southampton, Merry Hill and Thurrock next month, Verdict Research consulting director Neil Saunders has told MCV that Best Buy poses little danger for established High Street games retailers. Best Buy’s UK arrival shouldn’t prove too much of a threat …

A brand new Michael Jackson game seems very much on the cards after news that Sony has swooped to secure a seven-year deal for the rights to release video games based on the late King of Pop. The Independent reports that the $200m deal gives Sony the rights to release …

2K Games has announced an autumn release date for its upcoming open-world mobster action game Mafia II. The title will hit UK stores on August 27th for PS3, PC and Xbox 360, three days after its US release. It’s in development by 2K Czech – the team behind the award-winning …

New measures to introduce game development tax breaks will give Britain 3,550 graduate-level jobs. That’s according to Tiga, the game industry association which spearheaded the UK’s push for state tax aid. Providing the next government follows Tiga’s guidelines, it is claimed that tax breaks will create or save 3,550 graduate …

And, according to Tiga, the proposed measures will stimulate £457m in dev investment

Infinity Ward has released the first video of the highly anticipated Stimulus Package – the first DLC for the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The download includes three brand new multiplayer maps – Bailout, Storm and Salvage – as well as re-workings of two classic Call of Duty …

Two of GAME’s senior management have been promoted to new strategic roles, the firm has announced this morning. Martyn Gibbs has become managing director of the group’s UK & Eire operations, which covers both the GAME and Gamestation chains. Gibbs, previously customer and brand director, will have responsibility for developing …

The online version of our MCV Awards supplement is now live and can be found here. Over 60 companies are in the running for the hotly contested awards, and our indispensable guide tells you who they are and what they have achieved. The print version of the guide was published …

The Internet Advertising Bureau has formed a new video games steering group that hopes to drive growth in internet advertising within the sector and to establish a code of best practise within the industry. Companies already involved in the scheme include Microsoft, SCEE and EA, according to NewMediaAge. Gaming is …