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

Excitement building for 2008 Develop Industry Excellence Awards, which take place next week

Universal is producing a video game adaptation of its recent movie release Wanted – with more self-financed, cinema-based licences planned. The studio – famous for creating movies such as Jaws, Jurassic Park and The Blues Brothers – is to ‘selectively finance its own games whilst still licensing out the majority …

Hollywood studio Paramount has unveiled the first step in its games publishing strategy, revealing that it has signed up casual games firm Legacy to make games based on a number of its classic romantic comedies. Clueless, Mean Girls and Pretty in Pink are the movies getting the first games treatment. …

GAMEFEST 08: New version adds compute shaders for GPGPU; completely compatible with DirectX 10 hardware

The Wii has been crowned the fastest-selling console ever down under after Nintendo Australia revealed that it has beaten PS2 and DS to the half a milion sales milestone. Gamespot Australia reports that Wii only took 84 weeks to top the 500,000 units mark, while previous record holders PS2 and …

At GAMEFEST 08, Seattle, Microsoft revealed online features of Games for Windows Live will now be offered free to gamers. Previously Games For Windows Live users had to pay a premium to use the facility, but as part of a major revamp of the system the firm has waived subscription …

UKT&I award opens doors to providing financial support for UK exporters

GAMEFEST 08: Format-holder has â??no short term planâ?? for games with UGC â?? but says devs are welcome to try

GAMEFEST 08: And titles with premium content can make up to $18 extra revenue, says Microsoft

At this weekâ??s Microsoft Gamefest developers conference, Xbox Live Marketplace group business manager Alvin Gendrano provided a fascinating look at how developers can best use premium downloadable content and the advantages it provides to the industry. Full session summary followsâ?¦