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

Though adds the firm is carefully reviewing opportunities

PEGI has released fresh guidelines on where to label its age-ratings. The guidelines detail where its age-rating labels and descriptor icons should appear on video game packaging and in promotional materials, including print, TV, radio and online. More information can be found on the PEGI website, here. The PEGI age …

Publisher Activision says it will use the learnings of the Modern Warfare 2 launch for future releases. The game has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, and was backed by a huge retail campaign – making Modern Warfare 2 the biggest game launch in the industry’s history. "This unprecedented achievement …

MCV’s vital weekly retail digest, RetailBiz, is available to view online and download now. Click here to access the RetailBiz Preview section for the definitive new guide to some of the key release due to hit the High Street soon. This week, we take a look at Square Enix’s Final …

Falling PS2 game sales is to blame for a ten per cent decline in the software market in US and Europe last year, says Activision. The firm’s publishing boss Mike Griffith made the claim during Activision’s conference call following its financial report – and added that he expects game sales …

Activision-Blizzard insists that the game industry can still grow despite the global economic gloom – just as long as the market sees more hardware price cuts. Speaking at Activision-Blizzard’s earnings call, Blizzard president Michael Morhaime said that the more affordable consoles were key to improving the industry’s health. If you …

Activision expects the console installed-base in US and Europe to grow 18 per cent in 2010 to 265 million units. The firm revealed that hardware sales leapt 37 per cent last year to 218 million consoles sold. The announcement was made by Activision’s publishing president and CEO Mike Griffith during …

MCV can confirm No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle will be released for Wii at the end of April. The game will be published throughout Europe by Rising Star Games, and continues the critically acclaimed series from the mind of notable developer Suda 51. The first No More Heroes game …

No matter what lengths publishers and platform holders go to when protecting their titles from illegal duplication, the proponents of piracy almost always find a workaround. From cracked and downloadable PC titles to the DS R4 cards, it’s an issue that has dogged the industry for decades and is unlikely …

Activision has called itself the leader in online and digital games – raking in around $1.3bn in digital revenue last year. The announcements was made by CEO Bobby Kotick during the firm’s post-fiscal conference call. Activision defines the digital and online market as subscription, digital game download, DLC, value-added services …