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

An aggressive price promotion from the UK’s leading retailer Tesco has seen Microsoft’s Xbox 360 drop below the 150 barrier for the first time. The supermarket chain if offering an Xbox 360 Arcade machine, which includes a wireless joypad, 256MB memory card, component cable and five Xbox Live Arcade titles, …

Currently video games are subject to two classification bodies, PEGI and BBFC, with the latter only used for more adult software. PEGI is a voluntary system, with the ratings carried out by members of the industry itself. This takes place by means of a self-assessment form. Ratings proposed by the …

As other national papers detail the Byron report, The Independent’s front page advertises its feature for the ten best video games. The feature, which can be found on page 24 of its extra supplement, claims that Sega’s Condemned 2 is the best video game of the moment, whilst Advance Wars: …

Digital Media Fund extended until 2012, tax credits for larger firms rises to 25 per cent

Secretary Of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham has told MCV that the video games industry is expected to fund a parental awareness campaign following the publication of Dr. Tanya Byron’s Review of video games and internet safety. In the Review, Byron suggested ‘sustained, high-profile …

Result of UK Government study requests 'more dialogue between games developers, educational resource developers and educators'

Director of the BBFC David Cooke has welcomed the Byron review’s recommendations – and has emphasised that its own ratings system is the industry standard. The BBFC has been able to handle a major expansion of the DVD market over the last few years, and we are ready and able …

Dr. Tanya Byron’s long-awaited Review into children’s access to unsuitable digital entertainment has finally been published – and spells some serious changes for the UK industry. Here, we condense the main points from the Review, entitled Safer Children In a Digital World. Byron recommends: * ‘A hybrid classification system in …

While it welcomed Byron’s desire to introduce one clear age ratings system, ELSPA also highlighted concerns over the BBFC’s ability to deliver its new remit, and added that the proposals could struggle to keep up with the public’s increasing desire to buy and play on-line.” The games industry would need …

Newspapers across the country have responded this morning to Dr Tanya Byron’s report ‘Safer Children in a Digital World’. The Times was the most in depth, offering up two pages and a front cover to the story that included a picture of a six-year-old boy playing Grand Theft Auto. The …