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

The European arm of Wii and DS platform holder Nintendo has confirmed that the Wii iteration of Animal Crossing will be released in Europe this December – along with a new name for the title. Mirroring the recent announcement about the Australian release, the game will be called Animal Crossing: …

Subscription gaming service GameTap has merged with digital download giant Metaboli – cutting ties with parent Turner Broadcasting systems. According to GameStop, the deal that will see Turner relinquish management duties of the site early next year. After the transition is completed, Turner will become an equity investor in the …

Google releases v1.0 SDK; Gameloft, glu and Namco Bandai pledge support

Future has picked comedian Frankie Boyle to be the host of this year’s Golden Joysticks, MCV has learnt – as the publisher calls upon the trade to galvanise gamers into pushing the vote count past a million for the first time. In association with Virgin Media, the 26th Annual Golden …

Gizmondo boss Carl Freer has described his masterplan for the launch of the new version of the firm’s handheld – and in a reference to the opulence of days gone by, promised, No more company Ferraris!” Freer headed up the launch of the ill-fated Gizmondo console back in 2005, alongside …

Exchange rate drop will help work-for-hire studios' 'competitive advantage'

Releases based on big selling franchises * Gaming IPs that have generated substantial historical games sales and will see new iterations in Q3 include James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace (Activision Blizzard), Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, Madden NFL 09, SimCity Creator (all EA), Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami), …

We asked gamers what they wanted and this is what they said. Using an online survey, we asked Bond fans and non-Bond fans a lot of questions and one of the biggest questions we asked was what camera did you want. GoldenEye was of course in first person. But a …

Microsoft has called on third-party publishers to set up offices in the Middle East – in order for the industry to combat piracy in the region more effectively. The firm’s Xbox 360 has begun to see growth in the territory, but its success has been stunted in the region by …

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is getting a massive casual games marketing push in the US – just days after the company revealed to MCV that it would be spending tens of millions on widespread marketing for the console in the UK. For the full story, visit MCV sister site CasualGaming.biz