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

As part of its new report on what’s in store for the games industry for the remainder of the year, analyst firm Screen Digest has claimed that global publishing giants EA and Activision-Blizzard will account for 75 per cent of all releases on Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii this Q3. …

Many of Future’s titles performed well in the half-yearly ABC results – are you pleased with the performance? We’re very pleased actually, and for the official video games magazines we’re very, very pleased. We’ve got extreme growth across all three console markets, and when compared to struggling men’s lifestyle magazines …

One of Europe’s biggest music download sites, Napster, has told MCV that it has ruled out a move into the digital download video games market. Despite the enviable performance of the video games sector – and Napster reporting 23 per cent revenue growth for the full fiscal year 2007-2008 – …

A Washington court has ordered rumble firm Immersion to pay Microsoft $20.75 million in damages as a result of Sony licensing the company’s technology for use in its revised PS3 joypad, the Dualshock 3. In the build up to the release of the next-gen consoles, Microsoft paid Immersion to use …

Consoles are connected, weâ??re all on Facebook, and Will Wrightâ??s Spore has a development team of thousands. Other developers should wake up and take the hint.

Mario Kart Wii has held onto the top spot in the official UK software Chart – as the top five remains unchanged from last week . According to ELSPA/GFK-ChartTrack data, both Mario Kart and Wii Fit enjoyed a boost in sales, both up 12 per cent on the previous week. …

Cologne-based event Gamescom will take over from Leipzig Games Convention as the key European trade and consumer event in 2009, says a statement just released by the organiser of the new BIU-backed show. While Leipzig Games Convention was declared a huge success and attracted over 200,000 people this year, German …

Take Two and EA have both signed a confidentiality agreement that will see any possible takeover remain a secret affair until the deed is done. EA has extended its bid for the Rockstar parent five times since February – but there will be no more public announcements in future. The …

New report says government should increase support of local industry to help it compete globally

Gamestation has revealed that its current head of marketing Jon Brook will be leaving the retailer in September, with Emma Kitching and Anna Downing promoted to head of marketing and senior marketing manager respectively. Kitching joined Gamestation from Northern Foods and has gained three years of experience within the firm’s …