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

Speaking to The Guardian , The Sims creator Will Wright has confirmed that his hugely anticipated ‘life, the universe and everything’ sim Spore is in development for the Nintendo Wii. Wright has recently stated that in his opinion the Wii is the only genuine next-gen games system, criticising the rival …

Sony has said that it expects losses in the unit to be double its initial forecast for the financial year ending March ’08. Reuters reports that contrary to its initial prediction of losses totalling YEN 50 billion, it now expects its gaming losses to exceed YEN 100 billion ($875 million). …

MCV sister site Develop reports that the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport has said that the UK may challenge the legal basis of Canada’s generous tax credits in a bid to level to the paying field for the country’s interactive entertainment talent. Speaking to Channel 4 news, the minister …

Channel 4 report says government may also follow France if its tax break bill passes EC

Thorsten Heinze takes over as head of games for QA firm

Investment cash pumped into parent company ZeniMax Media

The games industry’s finest has been gathered at London’s Park Lane Hilton this afternoon to enjoy the 25th Annual Golden Joystick Awards, and it was Microsoft’s and Epic’s Gears of War that stormed the show. The Xbox 360 and PC shooter won four wards in total, including the biggest gong …

MCV sister site Develop reports that some staff at EA’s studios around the world are facing redundancy, in what the publisher is calling a small-scale and routine move that comes as production on the year’s games winds down. Develop understands that staff at the company’s studios – including its big …

Development, publishing and corporate layoffs "a small and somewhat routine event" says spokesperson

Celebrating today’s release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and PC, Sega Europe duo Dwayne Buck and Aaron Francis have proved that they are the best PES players in the industry by conquering all the claim the first ever PES Industry Cup, in association with MCV …