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

The clock is ticking on Sony’s recurrent pledge to release an open beta for its PS3 social network Home by the end of the year – and a report in yesterday’s issue of The Sunday Times suggests that December 17th may be the day. The piece reads: To try Home, …

Sony has announced via the X-Play show on G4TV that Guerilla’s feverously anticipated gritty FPS Killzone 2 will be released in North America on February 27th. And whilst the game remains TBA in all other regions, an SCE UK spokesperson has told Videogamer that Europeans can expect to receive the …

New brand and US studio to target global audience

Spore has been illegally downloaded 1.7 million times since its release in early September, reportedly setting a new record to become the most pirated game ever. The figure was among several estimated by TorrentFreak, which reports Spore is the first game to come close to rivalling the number of illegal …

Less than 24 hours before Gamestation’s 250th store party, Woolworths buckled under its debt and entered administration.Although the team behind the fastest growing games specialist was determined not to let this spoil the celebrations, there was a genuine sense of concern – from individual store managers right up to MD …

Nintendo is preparing to break new ground yet again with its DS handheld by releasing a compilation of popular novels for its machine entitled 100 Classic Book Collection. Developed in association with publisher HarperCollins, the title includes the likes of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the …

Konami has launched an ambiguous teaser site concerning its plans for the highly popular and lucrative Metal Gear Solid series – and many are seeing it as the strongest hint yet that PS3 hit Metal Gear Solid 4 could be on the way to Xbox 360. At present the new …

A sequel to 2007’s much loved open world shooter Crackdown could be in the pipeline, according to Microsoft’s Major Nelson. Speaking on his latest Major Nelson podcast, Xbox Live’s director of programming Larry Hryb told Microsoft Games Studios head Phil Spencer: I’m here to tell you on behalf of the …

American retailer Wal-Mart has confirmed that it has tens of thousands” of Wii’s in stock for sale on its website store over the Christmas period, reports Reuters . Wal-Mart is to offer the console for $249.24, along with a value bundle including extra controllers retailing for $329 while supplies last. …

Theo Paphitis has pulled out of the running to buy parts of High Street chain Woolworths, which is on the brink of collapse, reports The Press Association . Phaphitis, who has become famous due to his role on the Dragons’ Den television show, had hoped to retain the Woolworths brand …