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

WITH GROWTH expected to continue, Sega has promoted two of its senior management and hired a new marketing director. Alan Pritchard steps up from UK and northern territories to full European managing director from May 1st.At the same time, erstwhile sales director John Clark is stepping up to UK managing …

The National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) has defended its divisive ‘pathological addiction‘ study findings following criticism from academics, media outlets and, most vehemently, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). NIMF President Dr. David Walsh said that, regardless of the controversy, the study has provided the gaming industry, medical …

Former Woolworths games boss Gerry Berkley has returned to the industry four months after the retailer closed, MCV can reveal. Berkley has been appointed trading manager for entertainment at the Shop Direct Group, which owns Littlewoods, Choice and Empire Stores. In February, Shop Direct bought the rights for the Woolworths …

MICROSOFT’s Xbox strategy boss Richard Teversham has quit the firm to join arch rival Apple, MCV can reveal. The popular exec leaves his role as senior director of business, insights and strategy for Xbox, where he reported in to European VP of the firm’s interactive entertainment, Chris Lewis. MCV understands …

iPhone app developers are being invited to join social games firm SGNâ??s in-app advertising network.

Shares in Activision Blizzard saw a sizable spike yesterday ahead of the publisher’s quarterly earnings report. On Wednesday Activision’s share price peaked at $11.16 after closing the day prior at $10.30. The encouraging jump follows Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Wienkes upgrading the company’s shares from ‘Neutral’ to ‘Buy’, claiming in …

Programmers take the lionâ??s share while testers remain starving

Console edition of The Witcher on hold as WideScreen Games and CD Projekt dispute the matter in public

Ubisoft has reported revenues for its full fiscal year 09 grew 14 per cent – despite a drop in Q4 sales. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008-09 came to €206 million, down 5.1 per cent – or 2.3 per cent at constant exchange rates – compared with the €217 …

Ubisoft has announced that a new Ghost Recon will hit shelves before April 2010. The game was revealed in the firm’s full year financial report, which saw Ubisoft post an annual sales jump of 14 per cent. The publisher also confirmed that Red Steel 2 will hit shelves this Christmas, …