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

QA, localisation and testing firm Babel Media been acquired by Indian outsourcing firm Quatrro. The move sees Babel – which already boasts 500 staff across offices in Brighton, Los Angeles, Montreal and New Delhi – become part of a bigger operation that specialises in business process outsourcing. Algy Williams, co-founder …

Up to a third of Atari’s Hammersmith-based UK team are set to have left by the end of this month. MCV can reveal that five staff have already accepted redundancy packages, with another key exec still considering his options. Atari’s reduction of overhead further underlines its intention to streamline the …

Sony has shot down a rumour that it is set to introduce PS2 titles as downloadable games on the PlayStation Store. Next-gen.biz reports that a strong source supplied a PSN screenshot (pictured) that suggested Sony would be revealing the service at E3 this year – as its answer to Xbox …

Swoop for popular services and testing firm also sees EA's Leinfeller joining as CEO

The Xbox 360 has become the cheapest home console on the Australian market after Microsoft slashed the price of the entry level Arcade model from [AUD] $399 (191) to $349 (167). The mid-range 360 console, with a 20GB hard drive, now sells for $499 (239). Before the cuts it was …

Entertainment Weekly has published its list of the 50 greatest games of all time – and the golden oldies are top of the pops. Tetris comes out in first place, followed by Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time on N64 and the original Doom on PC. Other titles that hit …

Electronic Arts has unveiled new details about its flagship football title FIFA 09, which it claims has been designed to ‘take advantage of the hardware specifications of each available platform’. The publisher also claims that the title has over 250 additions and enhancements to the core gameplay seen in its …

We’ve all been guilty of gorging on artery-choking slop after a night on the ale. It’s one of the satisfyingly defiant joys of living in an age when getting told to avoid fatty food makes those indulgences even more appealing. But it’s a dangerous game to play. Too many visits …

During an economic slump when consumers feel the need to tighten their belts, paradoxically the sales of alcohol and cigarettes, the amount of gambling and also cinema attendance all rise for consumers. Games are a cost-effective form of entertainment per hour and are a satisfying impulse buy when consumers are …

Respected novelist Junot Diaz has said that GTA IV is no equal to classic US dramas The Sopranos and The Godfather. Pulitzer Prize winner Diaz called the game ‘art’ in a piece in the Wall Street Journal, but said it was not the revolution”. Diaz opened his opinion piece by …