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

Microsoft’s Major Nelson has released the 2009 Xbox Live Charts, and they show that Bungie’s Halo 3 has managed to pip Activision’s trio of popular Call of Duty titles to claim the coveted number one spot. In terms of the number of unique users logging onto Xbox Live to play …

A look at how FreeStyleGames reinvented the rhythm action series

For a full rundown of the charts on all formats, check out MCV’s vital weekly retail digest, RetailBiz – available to view online or download now. It’s nine weeks and counting at the top of the ELSPA GfK-ChartTrack All Formats Top 40 this week as Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern …

Why mastering the DJ Hero soundtrack requires a new kind of developer

In an exclusive interview with MCV, EA Europe’s senior VP Jens Uwe Intat has revealed the true extent of FIFA’s current dominance in the European football game sector. "We continue to beat the heck out of Pro Evo and across Europe we’re taking 75 per cent of the football space," …

The UK games industry was hit hard by the recession in 2009, and now leading execs are hopeful that the worst is behind them. We hope that coming out of an often rocky and uncertain 2009, we as an industry can go into 2010 with the worst of the world’s …

Splinter Cell: Conviction sneaks in The next entry in Ubisoft’s prestigious Splinter Cell series was announced in 2006. And now, just four years and a radical overhaul later, Sam Fisher is back. The game launches on Xbox 360 on February 26th. Gran Turismo 5 reaches the finishing line It’s been …

Well known adult entertainment star Ron Jeremy has issued one of the more eyebrow-raising attacks on gaming in recent times. Speaking at ‘The Great Porn Debate’ at last week’s CES technology showcase, PC Mag quotes Jeremy as admitting that we don’t want kids to watch porn” but then added that …

Most consumers take the term ‘Limited Edition’ with a pinch of salt nowadays, but Nintendo has confirmed that its Limited Edition Metroid Prime Trilogy on Wii is exactly that. Unfortunately, Metroid Prime Trilogy is no longer being shipped,” a Nintendo rep told blog Coffee With Games. You may be able …

Ex-Lionhead developer admits he took publishers for granted before going indie