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

In-game ad firm also secures new funding from Translink Capital

Ukrainian developer GCS Game World has confirmed that its upcoming FPS-prequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky will be made available on Valve’s online distribution network Steam simultaneously with its release at retail. For the full story, head over to MCV’s best online buddy Develop.

GCS FPS follow-up to hit Valveâ??s Steam network the same time as High Street shelves

Atari parent Infogrames has told MCV it is to double the number of games in development and build up a 30 strong network of partner studios as it looks to recover from a difficult few years. The group received a €150 million financial boost last week courtesy of BlueBay Asset …

Microsoft’s Xbox games team has announced an operating profit of $357 million for its 2008 second fiscal quarter – up from a $302 million loss the year before. According to Next-Gen, Operating income within the Entertainment and Devices division primarily increased because of increased revenue, decreased cost of revenue and …

Franchise fusion Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games takes the number one spot in the Australian software charts for the second week in a row, reported Next Generation. Elsewhere, DS titles perform particularly well, taking four of the top ten spots, led by The Simpsons Game at number two. …

A fresh batch of anti-games bile came from a columnist in The Times, and follows some cheeky comments about games causing obesity from (drumroll, please…) McDonalds’ UK boss . And even Prime Minister Gordon Brown got in on the action, linking knife crime to games in a recent Sun story. …

Publisher System 3 is currently driving support for the game, due to arrive in spring this year. The PS2 version will feature 50 different models of Ferrari and the full compliment of racetracks in the PS3 version. A six-page preview of the title will appear in the issue of Official …

MCV RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Who is eligible for this award? Any UK-based company or individual active within the interactive entertainment industry that has had dealings with the stores represented by the MCV Retail Advisory Board over the past 12 months. Judges will consider the following criteria: ● …

The Metro reports this morning that after the Video Appeals Committee took the Manhunt 2 case to court to finally get it released – but Mr Justice Mitting yesterday ruled that the committee must reconsider its decision. During the hearing, the BBFC – which rejected the game in the first …