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

The online games market in china grew to $1.66 billion last year, according to market research firm Pearl Research. China’s most popular online games include Netease’s Fantasy Westward Journey, with 1.66 million peak concurrent users, followed by Giant Interactive’s Zhengtu Online with 1.52 million. The year 2007 exceeded expectations with …

Late March will see the introduction of system software update version 2.20 for PlayStation 3 – and will bring with it ‘the ultimate interactive film experience’ according to Sony. Dubbed BD Live, the new functionality will bring a host of interactive features to Blu-Ray movies. A variety of downloadable content, …

Already established as the most important online trade resource, MCV has launched a new mobile-specific website. All readers have to do is bookmark mobile.mcvuk.com into their handsets. Stories are updated through the day and advertising-free. "Just like BBC Sport, we now provide news wherever you are and whenever you like," …

Leading financial observers are agreed: the video games industry has never seen an M&A move anywhere near as aggressive as Electronic Arts’ hostile bid for Take Two. The fascinating story of EA CEO John Riccitiello’s one man mission to secure the acquisition took a further turn this week, as it …

IGN has the scoop on the long rumoured but never confirmed DS version of Activision’s Guitar Hero – and reports that the game is due out later this year. The title, named Guitar Hero: On Tour, is being developed by Vicarious Visions, the studio behind certain versions of Activision’s Tony …

Following the publication of its latest financial statement , GameStop COO Dan DeMatteo has stated in an investor call that he anticipates supplies of Nintendo’s Wii won’t meet demand for the next two quarters at least”. He did, however, say that supplies of both Microsoft’s Xbox 360, which Microsoft recently …

PR agency representing a number of developers lands in Munich

Former Oracle VP of server tech to help burgeoning MMO firm

US developer LucasArts has said that whilst many studios are pushing the visual envelope, few are genuinely taking advantage of the power offered by the Xbox 360 and PS3. Speaking to CVG, a spokesperson for the developer stated: "To put it simply, Fracture is one of the few games that …

Disney has unveiled details of the next game in the Spectrobes series, entitled Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals, which is due out for Nintendo DS The title picks up from the original game, continuing the story of Rallen and Jeena, interplanetary patrol officers who discover, excavate, awaken and train mysterious fossilised …