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

Future US president Jonathan Simpson-Bint is to step down on August 31st. According to Folio Simpson-Bint sent an email to staff that said he was leaving the company to start his own business. Simpson-Bint wrote: I’m leaving now simply because the time is right for me. I’ve never made any …

Quantic Dream offering a high-end collection of animations to other studios

Britsoft publisher Codemasters has confirmed that global cricket superstar Kevin Pietersen will be the face of its upcoming Ashes Cricket 2009, which is due for release on PS3, 360, Wii and PC. Pietersen will be joining up with the likes of Aussie legends Ricky Ponting and Shane Warner, as well …

Microsoft has lowered the price of an Xbox Live Gold subscription to $1 for the first month. Once the first month has expired, gamers will be automatically charged for the next 11 months at the regular price, Joystiq reports. They will be able to opt out of this if they …

Publisher EA has heaped praise on the emerging business models being pioneered by the online casual games market, fuelling the fire in the bellies of those who still believe the company is on the hunt for a big casual acquisition. We’re in investment mode,” COO John Pleasants stated. We have …

When CEO John Riccitiello memorably told MCV in 2003 that million sellers weren’t a big deal any more, this wasn’t what he had in mind. What’s gone wrong? The short-term diagnosis: Having stumbled in the transition, EA underestimated Wii, allowed costs to spiral, and made too many mediocre games and …

Sony’s European studios boss has told MCV that the firm is on the hunt for new IP – across its three platforms. Michael Denny said that PlayStation is keen to disrupt” the market with its new products. In an exclusive interview with MCV, he commented: Our strategy is very clear. …

The fortunes of the PlayStation format are these days always under some scrutiny. Has that impacted much of your product strategy this year?Our strategy is very clear. We have big franchises we want to expand and need new IPs. We still have three active platforms that we are supporting. PlayStation …

Former Virgin Interactive and US Gold boss Tim Chaney has returned to the UK to set up a new online gaming platform. Zattikka will look to buy online games portals and studios after it opens for business on July 1st. The venture is Chaney’s first since he left Virgin Play …

Remedy Entertainment licences Umbra's rendering optimisation toolset for â??faster content creationâ??