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

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 …

Tesco’s exclusive distribution partner Handleman is going all out to secure similar deals with other leading games retailers – including specialists such as GAME. Handleman’s MD James Wilding told MCV that the firm is in discussions with other High Street chains to expand its ‘fee for service’ model across the …

In one of the more unbelievable media twists to come in the aftermath of last week’s Byron Review, a national newspaper is offering readers ‘hundreds of pounds’ to confess that games pushed them into a life of crime. An advert encouraging readers to ‘pitch’ their story to the newspaper has …

Microsoft has inked a deal that will result in the first original TV content produced for the Xbox 360 gaming console, according to Media Week. The partnership is with Safran Digital Group, a web-based production and distribution company that has been launched by Hollywood talent agent Peter Safran. Safran will …