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

Analysts have predicted that the boom in netbook usage around the world could drive forward the importance of casual gaming within the global games industry. Netbooks are relatively low-powered devices that thrive on their portability. Whilst they all boast excellent in-built wireless internet connectivity, many do not include internal storage …

Platform holder Microsoft has revealed that it ‘recently’ enjoyed its biggest ever sales week in Europe – and it’s thanking the effects of the economic crisis for the boom. A press release from the firm reads: British families are set to spend more quality time together than in the last …

Leading component and software vendor Intel has launched a brand new digital magazine targeting the games development sector. Entitled Intel Visual Adrenaline, the mag is free to those who sign up to the Intel Software Dispatch news service. The digital publication covers the use of multi-threading and code optimisation in …

Visual Adrenaline offers tips on multi-threading and code optimisation for games devs

Future Publishing has announced preliminary results for the year to September 30th – including a healthy year-on-year pre-tax profit rise of three per cent, or 300,000. Overall normalised revenues grew two per cent to 162.9 million, with normalised EBITAE up nine per cent to 14.9 million. The company’s net debt …

Bungie has announced that the highly anticipated Halo 3: Recon is to be renamed Halo 3: ODST. In the game players must control an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), who is on the hunt for his missing squad in the occupied new Mombasa. Bungie wrote on its blog: This new …

Reports are claiming that Nintendo has decided to abandon its traditional red logo and instead adopt the grey version currently seen plastered on the Wii and DS. A press release from the German-based Nintendo Europe reads: For several years, a new generation of Wii and Nintendo DS games have adorned …

Trading in the shares of the Woolworths Group has been suspended on the London Stock Exchange. The company said trading would resume once it had announced whether it would be selling its BBC show distribution service and its chain of retail stores. In a statement, the firm’s Board also confirmed …

Professor Layton and the Curious Village has gone missing from store shelves as Nintendo struggle to supply the sensational demand for its DS hit. The game has sold out online at GAME, HMV, Gameplay, Zavvi and Shopto and stock is limited on the High Street. Consumers are now selling their …

Developer and publisher EA has confirmed that Skate 2 will be released worldwide on Xbox 360 and PS3 on January 23rd. The title builds on the success of the first game by introducing loads of new tricks to the brand, as well as taking gamers to a brand new city. …