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

New figures from the British Video Association show that hi-def disc format Blu-ray enjoyed a bumper Christmas in the UK, with sales climbing significantly compared to the same period last year. The BVA claims that 1.5 million Blu-ray movies were sold in the UK in December – a number that’s …

Archangel Ventures to fund titles, as opposed to companies.

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is to inherit stores from troubled retailer Zavvi – suggesting Virgin Megastores could return to the High Street 16 months after it left UK retail. Zavvi administrator Ernst & Young has told MCV that Branson still holds the leases on seven Zavvi outlets. Zavvi was …

Head of Lionhead Studios Peter Molyneux has said that 2009’s gaes slate is looking a bit dry” – and predicted that economic pressures will see the price of new releases tumble. Writing for the BBC, Molyneux says: ‘Next year, well, it’s all looking a bit dry. All the triple A …

MGS designer re-evaluating all aspects of studio to 'challenge foreign software houses'

President of EA Sports Peter Moore has revealed on his blog that the critically acclaimed FIFA ’09 is on course to sell through ten million units. The statement came during a light-hearted rant made over the game’s absence from Eurogamer’s Top 50 Games of 2008, posted over the Christmas break. …

Japan is 'last big market' for foreign studios, says Takeuchi

Business managers from the world’s leadings companies are set to make use of Sony’s PlayStation Home service to house virtual meetings. The move is part of a project commissioned by Advanced Workplace Associates, which will see how large corporations can use virtual worlds in reducing travel costs and carbon emissions. …

Japanese television executives have spoken of their fear over Nintendo’s new video channel for Wii. One leading TV official in the country said that the Wii was the centrepiece of the living room”. And an executive at Fuji Television, Japan’s biggest commercial broadcaster, told The Times that the launch of …

Leading studios greet 2009 with modest optimism and plans for industry change