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

'Soft' December in Europe and lower shipments in North America dent full-year earnings

European senior VP Jens Uwe Intat explains publisher's change of strategy

Screen Digest expects Project Natal and Sony’s motion controller to extend the lifecycle of PS3 and Xbox 360. The media analysts says it’s important for Sony and Microsoft to release motion sensing devices to face off the threat from on-demand services such as OnLive. However, the firm still anticipates a …

Nintendo has announced Pokmon HeartGold and SoulSilver will be released in the UK on March 26th. The platform holder also revealed the DS games will be bundled with the Pokwalker, a pedometer accessory that was included with the Japanese versions. The Pokwalker translates gamers’ steps in experience points and currency …

Tesco has posted its strongest Christmas results in three years, with like-for-like sales up 5.1 per cent in the UK. The whole group sales – including its international business – increased by 7.5 per cent in the six weeks to January 9th 2010. The results were driven by sales of …

In an exclusive interview with MCV, EA Europe’s senior VP Jens Uwe Intat has stated that the publisher will release fewer games in 2010 than it did in 2009 – but the payoff will be an overall increase in quality. "Our aim is to do less games and do them …

While the UK’s leading games specialist retailer GAME today confirmed sales were down over Christmas, the chain has said its preowned offer continues to grow. Across all territories the firm operates in, it said second-hand sales presented year-on-year growth over Christmas. A year ago, the firm started reporting specific figures …

GAME has issued its annual post-Christmas trading update this morning – and it looks like the UK retailer bore the brunt of the local market’s dip in sales. Sales for the five weeks ending January 9th were down by 12.1 per cent across the whole group, while group like-for-like sales …

Electronic Arts this evening announced it is down-grading projections for both full year revenues and trading during the Christmas season. The firm has lowered its yearly guidance from $3.6bn-$3.9bn down to $3.6bn-$3.675bn. CEO John Riccitiello blamed two factors for the drop: a "soft December for EA and packaged good sector …

Comments made by EA’s CEO in this evening’s investors conference call suggests Star Wars: The Old Republic will be released in Spring 2011. During the call – which discussed the firm’s decision to reduce its projected revenues for FY2010 – John Riccitiello said the firm’s next ‘major MMO’ is making …