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

In the second part of our interview with new Tiga CEO Richard Wilson, we discuss the organisationâ??s plans for better knowledge transfer in the industry, why game developers should get closer to educators and the value of strong studio managementâ?¦

Ubisoft has raised its sales guidance for fiscal 2007 – 2008 to €920 million – up from its previous forecast of €875 million, announced in January. The new target comes off the back of better-than-expected software sales, particularly for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 – which has already sold …

Those who’d noticed the recent ad on PSN won’t be surprised to hear that Sony has officially confirmed that its PlayStation Store is to receive a visual and structural makeover later this month. Feeding on the weighty response from users of the service, the main changes will be to the …

Age ratings board the BBFC has told MCV that GTA IV has been given an 18 certificate, after initially banning fellow Rockstar title Manhunt 2. The confirmation means that Grand Theft Auto IV is all set for release on Xbox 360 and PS3 on April 29th. The news comes in …

MP Keith Vaz has released a statement to the press welcoming the proposals within the Byron Review – but in doing so he suggests once again that Rockstar title Manhunt was linked to the murder of Stefan Pakeerah in 2004. The statement reads: Mr Vaz first became involved in the …

Ben Rotholtz joins casual games developer from RealNetworks

Nordic gamers will have 49 new GameStop stores to peruse after today’s acquisition deal for Norwegian chain Free Record. All Free Record outlest will be re-branded as GameStop, bringing the US retailer’s store count in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland up to 160. The transaction is ecpected to close in …

EA’s The Sims Studio is looking to lure traditional gamers to the next installment in the franchise, The Sims 3, with more ‘goal-orientated’ gameplay. Speaking exclusively to MCV, the division’s creative director Rod Humble also revealed that his MMO background would help the franchise move away from its simulation past. …

If EA’s all-conquering franchise The Sims was a musician, it would be someone like James Blunt or Natasha Bedingfield – impossibly successful, but constantly subjected to critical disdain. In the past, The Sims has been derided as a game for non-gamers. However, if you’re interested in games, then The Sims …

Forget the festive season – Nintendo’s DS console is selling more right now than the platform holder would expect in the run-up to Christmas, according to marketing director Dawn Paine. A full three years after its UK launch, Nintendo has told MCV that DS sales continue to increase – and the …