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

Xbox Live is becoming Microsoft’s secret weapon in its battle with Sony to secure lucrative family audiences, the platform holder has told MCV. Paramount Pictures recently signed up to provide movie content to Live’s download-to-rent Video Store on Monday – an extension of a successful collaboration between the two firms …

Gamedaily.com reports that the merger pushes investors into an unfavourable minority position”. The complaint reads: "The merger, stock purchase and tender offer, working in concert, convey control of Activision to Vivendi but fail to offer the Activision stockholders an opportunity to realise a true control premium for their stock."

Capcom is readying Resident Evil 0 for Wii, according to Famitsu. The game is to use full Wii Remote controls, and follows in the footsteps of last year’s successful Resident Evil 4. Resident Evil 0 was previously released for Nintendo’s GameCube and was later re-visited in the recent Resident Evil: …

Sony has confirmed that its free internet telephony package Go!Messenger will be launched in Europe this Friday, February 29th. The software, which is already included on any PSP updated with the latest Sony firmware, allows PSP owners to chat for free via any BT Wireless hotspot or through their own …

Todd McFarlane MMO to use Australian middleware

Java game specialist opens new portal community

Continued Touch Generations success keeps Nintendo at top of our monthly chart

The investigation into THQ’s stock option grant practices will not result in criminal or civil action, according to the company. The Securities and Exchange Commission requested documents and information from THQ, relating to stock option grant practices between January 1st 1996 to 2006. The publisher was already in the process …

There may have been a few complaints about the perceived lack of new content appearing on Sony’s PS3 network PSN as of late, but a list on European ratings board PEGI’s website reveals a number of titles are on the way. The one that caught MCV’s eye was Vib Ribbon, …

Nintendo has given an official price to its much-anticipated Wii Fit: 69.99 in the UK and €89.99 in wider Europe. The title – which will released on Friday, April 25th – contains software and Nintendo’s innovative Balance Board. According to Eurogamer, Nintendo announced the price of the product just minutes …