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

GAME Group’s profits have fallen from 35.5 million to 14.5 million for the six months ending July 31st, a drop of 60 per cent. The fall is in line with company expectations, while sales have dipped seven per cent to 690.8 million and like-for-like sales were down 16.3 per cent. …

National report reveals healthy turnover and workforce gains for 2008

In a surprise move, Microsoft has effectively cut another $50 off the price of its high-end Xbox 360 Elite – though the deal is only set to run for two weeks. Any consumers who buy Microsoft’s 120GB machine by October 5th will be able to send off for a $50 …

NCsoft expects new title Aion can join Warcraft in dominating the MMO genre after its release this week. Speaking to MCV, European publishing MD Vronique Lallier revealed the game has already attractred over 300,000 pre-orders in the West. Aion is going to be a real success – it adds new content …

Mindscape is banking on major pop star power for its new Wii singing game U-Sing. While Rock Band might not have been able to ride Beatlemania to the top of the charts, Universal Music-backed U-Sing features the likes of The Saturdays, Just Jack, Mika and Duffy in its bid to …

Some of the industry’s most recognised PR execs have moved into new roles this week. At Microsoft, UK PR manager for Xbox & Games for Windows Andy Irving has taken a job in the firm’s marketing team. MCV understands that this will involve looking after a number of first party …

Developer performs technical feat using XNA Game Studio 3.1

The wait for a UK release date for Sony’s PS3 exclusive action outing Uncharted 2: Amongst Thieves is finally over – Sony has confirmed to Eurogamer that the game will be released on October 16th. Talk amongst those in the know in the UK industry is pegging Uncharted 2 as …

Microsoft’s Summer of Arcade promotion on Xbox Live, which came to an end last month, helped the digital portal to a 200 per cent increase in revenues, the platform holder has revealed. Microsoft has also revealed that it’s pioneering online quiz show title, 1 vs 100, was downloaded a total …

Alongside the numerous other revelations that have come to light thanks to a leaked publisher document this morning, it has also emerged that Sony is considering introducing an import games area of PSN. And furthering reports of a Western release for Yakuza 3 over the last few days, it seems …