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

In a move designed to expand both the DSi’s multimedia credentials and its mass-market appeal, Nintendo has entered into a deal with renowned UK animators Aardman. All the details are over on CasualGaming.biz.

PlayStation 3 platform holder Sony has told MCV that it has nothing to say concerning the possibility of a PS3 hardware bundle to accompany the upcoming release of Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Microsoft this morning lifted the lid on a surprise 250GB Xbox 360 bundle arriving alongside …

The French National Assembly has passed one of the toughest laws against internet piracy that the world has ever seen. Under the new legislation, backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured), illegal downloaders of games, music and movies will be sent two warnings – first by email and then by recorded …

Group seeks devs who can work with new tech â??such as the Unreal Engine or CryEngineâ?

Nintendo has taken the wraps off a host of new games and services for its WiiWare channel at an event in London today. But retailers shouldn’t have anything to fear from the downloadable games service, said Laurent Fischer, MD, marketing and PR for Nintendo of Europe, the host of the …

Leading Netherlands-based retailer Nedgame is currently carrying a detailed explanation on the front page of its site explaining the many reasons why it won’t be stocking Sony’s new PSPgo – and imploring customers to shun it too. The main reasons cited include the €80 price difference, the inflexible price of …

Nintendo has announced The Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks will arrive in the US on December 7th. The date was revealed in a press release detailing the complete line-up for Wii and DS in the run-up to Christmas, with the anticipated sequel to 2007’s Zelda: Phantom Hourglass arriving in early …

Blockbuster said yesterday that it may be forced to close up to 960 outlets by the end of next year – a fifth of its overall store count. However, the firm confirmed that it still plans to have 10,000 Blockbuster Express kiosks open in the same time. It currently has …

With increasing development costs putting upwards pressure on new releases to maximise their sales potential, Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick has explained that modern releases can now make ten time the revenue that they used to. In the last cycle of videogames you spent $50 on a game, played it …

Chinese web giant Shanda is to sell off a 22 per cent share in its online gaming unit next week, as part of an IPO estimated to be worth $725 million. Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd, the parent company of Shanda Games, has agreed to a Nasdaq-listed initial public offering set …