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

With Harry Potter due to cast a spell on cinemas next year following the delay to the release of recent Hollywood outing The Half-Blood Prince, claims have emerged that J. K. Rowling’s literary smash hit will be the next brand to receive the Traveller’s Tales LEGO treatment. For the full …

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Il Finaciero James Armstrong, Sony’s chief executive in southern Europe, has revealed that Gran Turismo 5 will be released in Christmas 2009 release date in Europe. The news, translated by Gran Turismo fansite GTPlanet, would suggest a late summer 2009 release in Japan, with the US …

Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis is reportedly among a number of potential buyers ready to buy chunks of Woolworths. Several meetings have taken place between interested parties and Woolworths’ administrators, Deloitte, since the retailer went into administration last week. Pahpitis is thought to be interested in a number of Woolworths’ …

Despite repeatedly confirming there will be no official price cut for the PS3, Sony is offering significant savings to consumers who purchase various models of the console directly from its website. Available in 40Gb, 80Gb and 160Gb versions, current prices for the PS3 on Sony Europe’s direct sales division Sony …

Developer and publisher Rockstar has confirmed that it intends to use the controversial DRM software SecuROM on the upcoming PC release of Grand Theft Auto IV. EA is currently facing legal action in the US concerning its decision to use SecuROM on its PC products. The move followed a prolonged …

Liverpool FC striker Fernando Torres is ‘addicted’ to PS3 – having installed three PlayStation rooms at his house. According to Click Liverpool, Torres has employed the rooms to help him recover from a hamstring injury that’s kept him out for three weeks. Torres has reportedly spent 35,000 kitting out his …

Eidos parent SCi Entertainment is reportedly in takeover talks once again – with Ubisoft and Electronic Arts. According to The Daily Mail, a source said discussions are at an ‘early stage’ – and that SCi has received approaches from two separate firms within the past few weeks. The newspaper has …

Play.com has kicked off its Mega Monday sale, reducing a number of leading new releases to 18 or under. Deals include Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Saints Row 2, Shaun White Snowboarding, High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance!, GTA IV, Manhunt 2, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, The Last Remnant, …

Sony has followed in the footsteps of Microsoft by integrating its online games network into it PlayStation internet homepage. Users of eu.playstion.com will now be able to log into the site using their PlayStation Network details and access things such as their Friends Lists and account details. It is also …

Microsoft never officially comments on its ongoing internal redesigns for its Xbox 360 hardware, but online tech-heads are claiming that the latest revision to the console’s innards has arrived on the High Street. Talk first emerged of the new motherboard’s arrival began earlier in the month, but in recent days …