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

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 …

$50,000 and fame on offer for the most impressive indie talent



But in the stampede towards the mass market, the industry shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that video games have built their legacy and reputation on both inclusive experiences (ie the ones for my Wii-owning dad) and visceral, single-player entertainment (ie the ones for me). Yes, great family games – …

Regional director of Xbox in the UK Neil Thompson has told MCV that parents are still erroneously treating consoles and adult games as ‘toys’ – and called on the industry to educate families. ELSPA member Thompson said that the publishers’ body would corral the industry” into teaching parents the difference …

The BioShock 2 project will now see four studios working simultaneously to develop the game. Principal developer 2K Marin is already partnering with 2K Australia for development of the game’s singleplayer, while Canadian dev Digital Extremes is stepping in to provide the game’s multiplayer component. Now the trio will be …