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

After a successful debut on DS and a remake/sequel on Wii, Atlus’ imaginative Trauma Centre franchise is heading back to Nintendo’s handheld, DSfanboy reports. The game, currently dubbed Under the Knife 2, will pick up where the first title left off, and will once again feature the likes of Dr. …

Codemasters is to expand its casual gaming portfolio with Bella Sara, an interactive world of fantasy horses for Nintendo DS and PC. The game is based around the award-winning trading cards and online websites, which has seen over 40 million cards sold between 5-12 year old girls since the series …

Jester Interactive is set to return to the industry by bringing back a number of its key franchises. The first game on the comeback trail is TT Superbikes: Real Road Racing Championship for PlayStation 2, which is due for release in May. The game is designed to be the most …

Big Brother and Deal Or No Deal creator Endemol has told MCV that it is eyeing the online services of next-gen consoles for casual games adaptations of its franchises. The US firm appointed Eric LaVanchy, founder of online ‘advergaming’ developer Bottle Rocket, as its new director of gaming last month. …

Ubisoft’s share price has jumped by over six per cent at last count – off the back of yesterday’s increase in its annual sales forecast . The publisher announced that better-than-expected sales of titles such as Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 had raised expectations – and the financial market …

Smaller developers targeted by audio outsourcing company

2D physics and fluid simulation technology showcased

As the games industry looks on in bewilderment at the ping pong litigations firing back and forth between Gibson, Activision and Harmonix regarding a 1999 Gibson patent for technology to simulate a musical performance, those involved in the musical instrument trade shrug and ask ‘what’s new?’ Gibson relishes a good …

Gibson Guitar has filed infringement lawsuits against five large retailers, including US giants Target and Wal-Mart, according to MMR news. Software developer Harmonix and publisher Electronic Arts are also being sued in a separate lawsuit, with both relating to ‘popular guitar simulation games and their alleged infringement of Gibson’s 1999 …

North American publisher Atari Inc has appointed Jim Wilson as its new CEO. Wilson joins from Sony BMG’s home entertainment business, Sony Wonder. He has previously held posts as president of Universal Interactive and as EVP/general manager of Worldwide Studios for Vivendi Universal Games. Wilson replaces Curtis G. Solsvig III, …