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

After years of speculation, a major US games retailer has finally promised to take on GAME in the UK – and the shock news is it’s not GameStop. Play N Trade, which boasts that it is the fastest-growing specialist chain over the pond, has unveiled a battleplan that could see …

Founder of Rockstar Games Dan Houser has admitted that the company expects an OTT reaction by the tabloid press when GTA IV is released in April. Speaking after a demonstration of the game to North American press, Houser asserted that GTA and other violent titles were a convenient enemy” for …

Electronic Arts has announced it is to launch and operate Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Working closely with developers EA Mythic, GigaMedia will provide marketing, community management, technical support and customer service functions. We are pleased and honoured to become EA’s operating partner on …

Disney Interactive Studios is set to release another title in its popular High school Musical series. High School Musical: Work This Out! Will be released on Nintendo DS in April. The title is described by Disney as ‘an all-new musical adventure game, featuring storylines extending beyond High School Musical 2′. …

Eidos will bring the sequel to 2006’s hit Just Cause to market this year. Developed by Avalanche Studios, Just Cause 2 marks the return of slick protagonist Rico Rodriquez, this time taking on a new destination – the huge playground of the South East Asian islands of Panau. The title …

Work on publisher-owned IPs does big business as studio readies move into bigger premises

Reuters reports that the platform holder now expects to have sold 1.5 million fewer PS3s than its initial sales target up to March. But its handheld console has outstripped forecasts – Sony has raised its sales target for PSP for the current business year by three million to 13 million. …

Codemasters, Kuju, Audiomotion, Denki, Finblade and outgoing CEO Hasson take home trade association prizes

Former EA studios chief takes over as Leleu resigns from Infogrames

QA and testing outfit adds 4,000 square foot to its premises - growth will aid client support