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

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 …

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has talked of his fear that the cost of hardware in today’s market may be prohibitive” to new customers. Speaking to The Times, Kotick said that platform holders are going to have to think about reducing their prices” – later revealing that he estimated the adult …

Following a strong set of financial results from retailer HMV, the chain has confirmed that it will unleash its long-anticipated push into the pre-owned market this year – as predicted by MCV last month. A statement accompanying the firm’s financial results read: We embarked on successful trials of a ‘next …

McFarlane Toys is expanding its range of action figures after inking a deal with video games publisher Activision to produce collectables based on the smash hit Guitar Hero. Arriving in the US from November, the most popular characters will be represented in the first wave of figures. These will include …

New version offers all-new geometry pipeline plus enhanced editor

Just over a week after his departure from EA was announced, Neil Young has unveiled his new venture – a new firm dedicated to publishing games for the iPhone and other high-end mobile platforms. Called ng:moco, the new venture is pitched to seize the emerging opportunity on the increasingly-popular Apple …

HMV has enjoyed more than 25 per cent year-on-year growth in profit, thanks to surging sales of video games. The Group’s pre-tax profit increased 25.2 percent to 56.6 million for the year to April 26th, with the retailer ahead of plan after one year of its three-year turnaround strategy. HMV …

Showcomotion panel to feature Charles Cecil and Michel Cassius

EA vet Neil Young reaches high when discussing new venture