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

Keep on moving is the message for the UK games business in 2009, as demonstrated by leading execs in this year’s MCV Awards video skit. Watch David Yarnton (Nintendo), Michael Rawlinson (ELSPA), John Clark (Sega), Martyn Gibbs (Gamestation) and Murray Pannell (Ubisoft) re-enact the dance moves from a cheesy pop …

Californian online game publisher to partner with Petroglyph following the shock-exodus of president Jon Van Caneghem

Never doubt the appetite for all things Final Fantasy in Japan – sales of PS3 rocketed last week after the arrival of a playable demo of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII on the Blu-ray release of CGI movie Final Fantasy: Advent Children Complete. Sales of Sony’s machine hit 62,527, up …

Production of FPS announced in 2006 transfers to UK studio

Apple has cut around ten per cent of its workforce during the second quarter of 2009, according to documents released to the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to the document, Apple cut its full-time workforce from 15,600 to 14,000 during the second quarter. It is unclear if the retailer made …

Employees of Empire Interactive are experiencing ‘dreadful circumstances’ as the company drags its feet over confirming their fate. MCV broke the news on Friday that the firm had fallen into administration, and that all staff are expected to be made redundant this week. One employee told us: On Friday, MCV …

Former Take Two and Capcom man to lead Scottish studio

Retiring PlayStation Europe boss was unaware of Scottish studioâ??s existence until last week

Ex-Zavvi head of games Patrick Kelly joined Play.com this week, and is already planning new ways to grow the firm’s games offer. Prior to joining Zavvi, Kelly had worked in games for Virgin Retail, and now replaces Gian Luzio at Play.com. Luzio joined The Hut as product director earlier this …

In the interests of fairness, we should also invite Microsoft, Gamestation Birmingham New Street, Rockstar North, HMV, Centresoft, Sony, Play.com and the managers of GAME Oxford Street to take a few bouquets. Winning at the MCV Awards is a huge achievement. Fighting through to become a Finalist and then gain …