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

Koch Media has signed up kids games specialist The Game Factory as an exclusive client. Koch told MCV that it will take on the exclusive distribution of the publisher’s titles across the UK and Eire. Koch will handle The Game Factory’s packed line-up of releases in time to take advantage …

Midway has let a number of staff go from its Chicago studio as development on upcoming titles has wound down. The news, first reported by Kotaku, comes on the heels of the resignation of chairwoman Shari Redstone and Midway’s latest financials confirming operating losses for the publisher. For the full …

Shopto.net has launched a brand new games magazine that will reach 50,000 readers, MCV can reveal. The online retailer’s 32 page free publication will be available from this week, and the quarterly magazine will be distributed free to all Shopto.net customers with copies also available from universities, internet cafes, gyms …

As MCV sister site Develop revealed yesterday, the buyer for the other half of Swordfish Studios has today been named – with Codemasters swooping to acquire Swordfish Birmingham to create its fourth development studio. The move comes following Activision Blizzard’s July announcement that it plans to ‘realign or divest’ assets …

Microsoft has come out with its chest beating after a solid hardware sales victory over PS3 and a commanding performance from monthly software chart topper Fable II in the NPD October US sales figures. The firm confirmed that Lionhead’s expansive RPG Fable II has sold more than 1.5 million units …

But our cover story this week is the first time ever the company has publically moved to mark its territory in video games – and you should take note. Undoubtedly, Apple plans to replicate its domineering success in music with its games and software push. It’s one of the biggest …

GFK-ChartTrack has predicted that this year’s Christmas period will push the UK industry to its biggest Q4 ever in terms of both unit sales and value. The news comes in the week that a report from leading global sales monitor Top Global Markets showed software sales growth has flattened around …

Nintendo may have dominated the US October hardware battle , but Microsoft can claim a sound victory in the hardware stakes with its Xbox 360 exclusive RPG Fable II topping the monthly software listings with sales of 790,000. NPD figures name Wii Fit as the next best selling game, with …

In one of the last of our IP profiles, we cast our eye over the most iconic UK-born games property of allâ?¦

With news of 35 per cent growth in the US hardware market in October causing great cheer across the Atlantic, Nintendo has the greatest reason to celebrate after some hugely impressive sales figures for its hardware. NPD stats show that the Wii sold 803,000 units in October, with twin-screened cousin …