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

Following the merger of Vivendi Games and Activision to create new super-publisher Activision Blizzard, the new company’s president and CEO Robert Kotick and co-chairman Brian Kelly look set to share a $40 million payout, the Financial Times reports . Each will receive around $10 million in change-of-control payments and 363,637 …

This morning’s Metro reports that Wii bundles are being sold for a more than 1000 as Christmas looms and desperate parents continue to pay over the odds for the console. While the frenzy has calmed a little – a quick look at the auction site this morning sees the consoles …

MICROSOFT IS spending over four million pounds on its Christmas marketing push, matching the figure SCE UK has earmarked for its PlayStation 3 campaign. The platform holder is inviting consumers to ‘jump in’ through a huge range of TV and other media promotions as the Christmas console hardware battle continues …

Nintendo and Activision reclaimed 12.8 per cent total market share in the last month between them – making serious inroads into EA’s lead over its rivals. According to ELSPA/ChartTrack sales data for November, Activision enjoyed a 9.1 per cent jump on the 2.7 per cent revenue share it recorded in …

Game based on Weinstein's Igor movie comes to market via outside financer

This month: Unreal Engine 3 to be used to create animated series, Southpeak helps out indies and Destineer jumps on the UE3 wagonâ?¦

With reports of expensive bundles and extortionate eBay prices plaguing those desperate to track down the increasingly rare Wii in time for Christmas, platform holder Nintendo has told MCV that it is considering changing some elements of its pre-Christmas marketing strategy. Marketing Week reports that all of Nintendo’s allocated Wii …

360 degree deals may be commonplace in the music industry, says Owain Bennallack, but could they prove a valuable source of income for games studios?

CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America Jack Tretton has admitted that many consumers were still left in the dark about PS3’s capabilities following the console’s launch. In an interview with GameDaily , to celebrate his first full year as CEO, Tretton said: We are on our fourth platform introduction, and …

The PSP and PS3 may have between them enjoyed a spell of dominance in the Japanese hardware market in recent times, but it seems that Nintendo’s Wii and DS double-team is staging a fight back as both machines enjoy sales rises this week – despite drops elsewhere across the board. …