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

Claims that withholding of bonus payments has prompted team to begin talks about establishing new studio

High Street retailer GAME is the host of this year’s Pokmon tour: The Search for Giratina. The tour will feature face painting, balloon modelling, and a free prize draw with Pokmon prizes and GAME gift cards up for grabs. Gamers can also bring their DS along to battle, as well …

Explodemon! heading for PSN, PC and WiiWare later this year

Popular UK account director at Bastion Mark Ward has announced his departure from the specialist PR agency. In an email to industry professionals, Ward revealed that Bastion is preparing for an internal restructuring. Noting his strong relationship with Bastion, which he called a company I’ve helped to build and grown …

Leading independent chain Playtime Multimedia has entered administration, the retailer has told MCV. Insolvency specialists P&A Partnerships has been appointed by the retailer, and the Northern-based independent has cited a collapse in like-for-like sales as the reason behind its decision. We had to call in the administrators last week because …

This week has been a time for private mourning amongst family and close friends, but a man so important to the games industry, and loved by so many, must also be remembered in MCV. We will publish a full tribute to Uncle Frank next week and invite eulogies from former …

Nintendo has launched its DSi console across Europe – and told MCV that the device’s new functions will ensure that consumers see DS as exciting and innovative”. The handheld, which features, a camera, sound playback and downloads via the DSiWare service, carries a retail price of 149.99 in the UK. …

Digital downloads were the talk of the Games Developers Conference last week. At the event Sony discussed releasing PSP games ‘simultaneously’ through retail and PSN, a new digital console called Zeebo was unveiled, and cloud-computing service OnLive grabbed the headlines, with certain corners of the media calling it ‘the future …

Microsoft has told MCV that it sees downloadable content and Xbox Live as a ‘complementary’ addition to boxed product – and that it doesn’t see the packaged goods business declining. However other standout companies have pointed to 2009’s explosion of download-only new releases – which cut out retail altogether. Speaking …

WHSmith has launched a new website dedicated to entertainment, despite previously stating it will back out of games, DVD and CDs. WHSmith Entertainment has been launched in collaboration with white label specialist The Hut, and features over 200,000 products. However, the High Street giant has reiterated its desire to reduce …