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

Media giant and owner of CNN supporting game design competition

Whilst European Wii owners are still waiting to hear when Nintendo’s highly anticipated multiplayer thump-a-thon will arrive on these fair shores, US owners are facing a further delay. Having originally been lined up for an early February release, US gamers can now expect the game to be released on March …

One of Nintendo’s biggest cash-cows is to return to DS with a brad new instalment in March when Pokemon Ranger Batonnage arrives in Japan, IGN reports. A follow up to last year’s Pokemon Ranger, Batonnage will once again allow players to control a Ranger who captures those troublesome Pokemon by …

Over 80 per cent of UK employees – particularly those involved in retail – have been victims of bullying at work, according to a new survey by The Samaritans. The report, entitled Stressed Out, also found over half of retail employees say their jobs are getting more stressful and that …

Come to a sprawling Moscow and step back in time. To a land where independent games retailers are still the most powerful High Street force. Where everyone in the games business is still under 40, and barely 30. Even the bosses. And to a land where computer games rule. That’s …

Sega has outlined its marketing campaign for upcoming action-shooter The Club – and both specialist games and men’s press are set to be blitzed as part of the promotion. The publisher will have demos of the title and double-page adverts featured in Official Xbox 360, Official PlayStation and GamesMaster magazines. …

Woolworths has forecast a return to profitibiliuty for its High Street stores in 2008 – after the High Street chain suffered a 3.2 per cent drop in like-for-like sales for the 49 weeks to January 12th. The firm blamed ‘fierce discounting’ across the electrical products sector for the dip – …

The Writers Guild of America has reveleaed the nominations for its inaugural videogame writing award. Five games are in the running for a prize designed to "[honour] outstanding achievement in videogame writing during 2007". As seems to be a common theme this morning, head over to the quite wonderful Develop …

Newer developer-focused publisher Gamecock has announced that it is moving its games showcase from E3 to run alongside culture and technology event SXSW. MCV sister-site Develop has the full-down.

With the hype for Apple’s Mac brand currently sky-high following yesterday’s Macworld Expo and the unveiling of the undoubtedly gorgeous Macbook Air , EA has announced that its highly anticipated Spore will release on Apple’s format alongside PC later this year. Spore, which is currently being developed by Sims mastermind …