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

The UK spent as much as 280 million on online-based casual games, a new study suggests. If accurate, the research reveals that 2.4 million Britons paid on average 117 each to play games through online game portals. For mobile games, the UK spent 170 million. German gamers spend 440 million, …

Virgin Media has relaunched its online games channel, choosing VideoGamer as its editorial partner. A new partnership between the broadcaster and VideoGamer.com’s publisher Pro-G Media will see the Virgin Media games portal populated with news, reviews, features and trailers, as well as downloadable PC games through Oberon and Metaboli. With …

UPDATE: Full comparison to previously reported figures for specialist games and select PC titles added to end of story The latest circulation figures from ABC are out, with readers of Nintendo, PlayStation and PC magazines down. Future’s Official Nintendo Magazine has seen its readership slide 12.8 per cent to 51,271, …

Koch Media says its new game Prison Break: The Conspiracy will be a success when it arrives in March – even though the TV show it is based on finished last year. In fact the publisher says the 360, PS3 and PC title can revitalise the popular licence when it …

Black Inc adds more direct control system and adds new features

Pioneering PopCap game passes 50 million unit sales

Event set to commence October 5

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 …