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

Even its unexpectedly close proximity to a resurgent E3 didn’t stop IDEF making more progress amongst international buyers and distributors last week. The strictly trade-only event was again dominated by French and Italians, but overall numbers were up and the market’s mood was overwhelmingly positive. Held in its popular Cannes …

A video game starring Michael Jackson’s likeness and speech recorded before the musician died is set for a posthumous release. Rumours of a new Jackson game have lingered ever since the star’s death. But these now appear to have been confirmed. The star’s own production company, MJJ Productions, has been …

Company axes its N-Gage development outfit, affecting some 100 jobs

Rock Band dev looks to Swedish tool company for project streamlining

The online version of the games industry’s definitive guide to agencies and service companies, Sourcebook, has gone live. You can also browse the digital version of the printed productby clicking here. Sourcebook ’09 – sponsored by Universally Speaking – is an all-year reference tool, featuring over 70 companies across eight …

Plans are afoot to spent 5m on building a ‘computer games academy’ in Liverpool, UK. According to a report in The Liverpool Daily Post, a National Games Academy in the city would be built to help it become ‘breeding ground for the finest computer minds in the country’. Students at …

Outspoken Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has stated that the muted reception to Nintendo’s Vitality Sensor reveal at last month’s E3 is down to the fact that it’s not yet understood. It’s true potential, he argues, will not be realised until the first software to sue the device is …

Publisher Oxygen is preparing a marketing blitz for its upcoming Hysteria Hospital, as the game continues to rise up the pre-order charts. The DS, Wii and PC title currently sits amongst the most anticipated games on Amazon, Play and GAME’s websites, and Oxygen is expecting anticipation to grow further with …

Top UK retailers have taken to social networking service Twitter to promote their latest games offers and communicate with customers. High Street and online giants including GAME, Gamestation, HMV, Amazon and Play are already using the service, with many working the social networking website to gather feedback from its customer …

Microsoft believes that securing exclusive televised content can be the next step in Xbox 360’s growing domination of UK living rooms. The firm signed a partnership deal with Pay-TV broadcaster Canal Plus in France last week – in a similar agreement to that reached with BSkyB last month in the …