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

RETAIL Overview: Retail is (and will remain for the foreseeable future) the dominant sales and distribution channel for games. The mechanisms behind retail – manufacturing, infrastructure, POS, inventory, sale or return agreements – are the foundations of the industry’s most common commercial models, whose rigidity is reflected in common commercial …

Ubisoft has taken on former Konami man and 13-year industry veteran Michael Rotchell as trade sector manager of the grocery and non-specialist retail business, effective November 19th. Rotchell (pictured) began his career at the GAME store in Leeds before opening and running a new store in York for over a …

Following a rocketing year in 2006 in which it achieved 70 per cent growth, peripheral and hardware outfit Guillemot has its sights set on further expansion in the UK. Guillemot is building successful product ranges and the UK market has become a top priority in order to achieve our objective …

Online DVD rental service LoveFilm is further expanding its offering to the games trade, backing the release of Assassin’s Creed with a major postal promotional campaign. Half a million games and DVDs will be posted in envelopes branded with Ubisoft’s epic title. Our audience base is tech and media savvy …

UK gamers could soon be playing big-name titles through a television, without the need to buy the game itself – or even own a console or PC. t5 Labs is currently in negations with top publishers and global TV service providers to bring its Virtual Games Console to the US …

New MMO studio hires business and legal affairs exec from movie firm

UK games magazine publisher Imagine has hired former Dennis Publishing CEO Alistair Ramsey to serve as its non-executive chairman. The move is said to be an effort to help drive further acquisitions and overseas growth, with Ramsey being the man behind Dennis’ launch of a US division. "I am really …

Leading Japanese games magazine Famitsu has reported that Sega is to release a remake of its 1996 Saturn title Nights into Dreams on the PS2 next year, IGN reports. The remake is said to boast 16:9 widescreen, improved visuals as well as additional features such as a movie and picture …

Upgraded software said to enable faster production time

Koei’s ever-present and globally popular war series Dynasty Warriors is to receive its sixth instalment next year with the announcement that Dynasty Warriors 6 will be released on Xbox 360 and PS3 in Europe on March 7th. Set in ancient China in the third century, DW6 boasts new characters, new …