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

GAME’s admission that pre-owned sales (sock!) offer better margins than new releases and are (pow!) set to grow beyond providing a quarter of its revenues has no doubt gone down about as well with ELSPA’s members as a Christmas Card from the BBFC. For years, the retail-publishing alliance have abided …

The launch of the upcoming Facebook and Twitter integration with Xbox Live has been called into question after a date was seemingly announced this weekend. VG247 reported on Saturday that Microsoft’s official UK Xbox website had announced Facebook, Twitter and LastFM would be coming to Xbox 360 on November 17th. …

Shigeru Miyamoto expects New Super Mario Bros. Wii to continue to selling well into 2010 and beyond. According to a retailer’s blog translated by Andriasang, Miyamoto was on hand to present the multiplayer platformer to the trade and he told the lucky attendees: "It’s a Mario that will continue selling …

Reports have emerged that Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport 3 has been pirated. A Koku Gamer piece states the anticipated Xbox 360-exclusive racer has already been leaked to several peer-to-peer websites. The game is due to be released on October 23rd. The download allegedly contains the full version of the game, as …

Leading downloads provider Direct2Drive is keen to see the formation of a digital games chart, despite resistance to the prospect from competitors including Steam. In an exclusive interview with MCV, Rich Keen – marketing director of IGN-owned Direct2Drive – said that a chart would make the digital market appear more …

Steam isn’t the only digital download platform enjoying the benefits of the online boom – IGN’s Direct2Drive service is seeing record growth. Tim Ingham speaks to marketing boss Rich Keen…How is Direct2Drive performing compared to previous years?September was the fifth anniversary of Direct2Drive globally. We’ve been established in the UK …

Electronic Arts’ FIFA 10 has remained the best-selling game of the week – it’s still the UK’s No.1 game. The all-conquering football franchise, which EA only last week revealed had sold through almost 2m units in Europe, was one of the biggest game launches ever a week ago and interest …

Rein: â??If you want a big head-start with Natal development, come talk to meâ?

Firm praised for bonus and sabbatical policy; Digital Extremes also joins list

Microsoft has cut the price ofselected titles in itsXbox 360 Classics line to 14.99. The platform holder has also added Grand Theft Auto IV, Midnight Club Los Angeles: Complete Edition and BioShock to its budget range. Although these titles are being sold at the usual RRP of 19.99. Games cut …