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

The debate surrounding age ratings has dominated the gaming headlines in Australia over the past 12 months. However, the lack of an adult certification hasn’t affected the industry’s growth. According to GFK, the Australian video game market in 2008 grew 47.8 per cent year-on-year, with revenues reaching $1.96 billion, a …

That must be galling for the country’s leading supermarket, and the world’s fourth largest retailer. But today’s cover story proves that this is set to change, with the retail giant finally revealing its plan for gaming – and pledging that it won’t drop the ball again. To call this an …

Rising Star Games has signed the rights to a major new franchise from the Japanese creator of the internationally successful Hello Kitty licence. Angel Cat Sugar has already spawned over 200 products across various categories in Asia and Europe. The video game will arrive in Europe just in time for …

Future Publishing has appointed two new editors to continue Edge Online’s development, following this morning’s news that the site’s former editorial team has left the publication. As part of the site’s closer integration with Edge magazine, Alex Wiltshire, previously the magazine’s deputy editor, has been made Edge Online’s editor. Tom …

New SDK based on cupcake branch; features multiple platform versions

Japanese publisher Konami has spoken officially for the first time about its official deal to publish the first video game based on controversial survival horror franchise Saw. The game takes place inside the corridors of an abandoned insane asylum that has been taken over by Jigsaw, and will include exploration …

Muzyka and Zeshuck to talk about the new frontier of 'emotionally engaging narrative'

Classic boxing re-make Punch-Out!! will be the biggest Wii launch of 2009 so far, Nintendo has told MCV. Due for release on May 22nd, Punch Out!! is the latest entry in a series that debuted in the 1980s and has not been seen in Europe since 1995’s Super Punch-Out!! on …

Unique Wii game Let’s Tap arrives in the UK this summer, and publisher Sega is confident the title can achieve real mass-market success. Let’s Tap is developed by Sonic creator Yuji Naka, and features five game modes that are played by simply tapping near the Wii Remote. And the title …

Ambitious supermarket Morrisons has told MCV that it is keen to sign more deals with publishers to sell their games exclusively through the chain. Bejeweled Twist reached No.8 in the PC budget chart last week, despite only being sold through Morrisons stores. And after that exclusive contract with Focus Multimedia, …