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

Microsoft has claimed that it is continually keeping ahead” of its rivals’ online services with additions to Xbox Live. The firm this week added social media services such as Twitter, Facebook and music portal Last.FM to Live – as well as HD movie streaming service Zune. However, Facebook arrived on …

Talent is the real reason studios choose canada, argues minister

Though some corners of the internet would have you believe that we were literally all about to die following Infinity Ward’s decision to drop dedicated multiplayer servers for the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the sales numbers paint a different story. Posting on the Infinity Ward …

Sony expects its revenues from the PlayStation Network to reach $500m in 2009 – and if this proves correct it will mean that the service has enjoyed a 300 per cent year-on-year increase. The claim comes from executive VP Kaz Hirai, who made the bold prediction at a management strategy …

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers will arrive on UK shelves on February 5th, 2010. The Square Enix game is the latest instalment in the Nintendo-exclusive branch of the long-running RPG series. It is the first retail entry to be specifically developed for Wii, as opposed to March’s DS …

RIM on why developer's should choose the App World store

Euro event looks to strengthen ties between academia and industry

Steam is estimated to control around 70 per cent of the overall game downloads space. That’s according to rival Stardock, which runs its own digital distribution service Impulse. The company claims to be in second place behind Valve in the market, reports Gamasutra. Our estimation is that Steam – as …

The latest in the five million-selling Mama franchise hits store shelves this week. Christopher Dring meets 505 Games’ Tim Woodley to discover what’s next for Mama… What would you say has been the secret to Mama’s global success?The appeal of Mama is in its simplicity. The simplicity of the concept, …

The British Video Association has lifted the lid on a significant new TV advertising campaign designed to highlight the growing high definition Blu-ray format this Christmas. The push is being run on behalf of Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal pictures, Walt Disney and Warner. It’s part of a 1m …