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

Combined video game software unit sales across the world’s three largest games markets experienced growth of just one percent during the third quarter of 2008. The flat performance can largely be attributed to a weakening in the Japanese software market, where sales declined 21 per cent from Q2. However, the …

Japanese publishing powerhouse Square Enix has gone to every effort to make the most of its cherished Final Fantasy VII franchise in recent years, and none are more leftfield than the recently announced Final Fantasy VII: Snowboarding. To read more, head over to MCV’s sister site CasualGaming.biz.

Whilst the rise to prominence of user-generated content is undoubtedly a good thing for gamers, it’s a litigation nightmare for publishers – so it’s no surprise to see both Sony and Activision-Blizzard moving swiftly to eradicate any potentially copyright infringing user content from its servers. Kotaku reports that some LittleBigPlanet …

Icelandic developer CCP signs multi-title deal for Geomerics' lighting tech

CCP, the developer of popular online PC space adventure series EVE Online has hinted that an FPS based on the franchise is in the works – and could be heading to consoles. Eurogamer reports that in a recent press briefing CCP bosses Hilmar Petursson and Nathan Richardsson spoke of a …

Rockstar’s co-founder and creative VP Dan Houser has said that he’s unable to commit to a 2008 release date for the hotly anticipated exclusive Xbox 360 Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content. Speaking to Variety, Houser stated: It’s going well, but we don’t know a date. We hope to be …

Criterion has followed up the announcement of The Ultimate Box and Burnout Paradise Party Pack with the Burnout Paradise Legendary Cars Pack. The Legendary Cars Pack is set to feature four ‘unbelievable’ new vehicles including the Jansen 88 Special, which has the ability to hover through the tracks. Other vehicles …

Japanese toy giant Tomy is looking to snatch market share from the biggest games suppliers in Europe – as it splashes the cash on its new standalone video games publishing business. The age-old family company has revealed its full publishing strategy to MCV, speaking candidly about its ambitions to muscle …

New Wolverhampton University research proves need for better university-business links, says organisation

Electronic Arts is to face legal action over its controversial use of SecuROM digital rights management software in many of its recent PC titles. SecuROM became a heated talking point following its use on EA’s recent PC hit Spore, mostly owing to the fact that it limited users to installing …