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

Amongst them I could sense an upbeat mood – there’s definitely a newer optimism in the air of the company. With the likes of Kaz Hirai and Shuhei Yoshida leading global strategy from Japan, and people like David Reeves pushing the message out across the vast PAL territory, it also …

Speaking at the William Blair & Company Growth Stock Conference in Chicago yesterday, EA CEO John Riccitiello announced that the next instalment in its popular street racing series Need for Speed will be dubbed ‘Undercover’, GameSpot reports. However, following previous comments in which the outspoken executive admitted to disappointment concerning …

This past week I had the opportunity to spend time with not one, but six of the senior execs at Sony Computer Entertainment, from David Reeves through to members of the third-party relations team, R&D chiefs and Phil Harrison replacement Shuhei Yoshida. Amongst them I could sense an upbeat mood …

Leading Japanese games bible Famitsu is reporting that Square Enix is to delay the release of one of its upcoming threesome of Final Fantasy XIII titles, according to reports . Developers who had to date been working on Final Fantasy Versus XIII have been shifted to the team handling PS3 …

Digital distribution will be the ruling force in games within the next decade and the PS3 will be the centrepiece of that new online era – but we must not ignore the serious issues which faced the music industry, Sony’s David Reeves has warned. The president of SCEE last week …

Sainsbury’s has targeted a major expansion in video game floor space as it looks to grow its entertainment offering, the supermarket chain has told MCV. Both Asda and Tesco have been quick to tout their recent success in video game sales, and Sainsbury’s is keen to catch up by improving …

Microsoft VP of interactive entertainment business in Europe Chris Lewis is determined that losing studio figurehead Phil Spencer from his team will not damage the company’s optimism. Speaking exclusively to MCV, Lewis also laid out his criteria for Spencer’s replacement – and said Europe was a priority for his management …

Our IP Profile scrutinises the Britsoft hit franchise as speculation mounts over sequel

In the fifth instalment of our IP profiles series, Nick Gibson looks at Reflectionsâ?? driving successâ?¦

Ken Levine, Christopher Kline, Nate Wells and Bill Gardner to offer secrets of their success at July event