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

The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) has praised comments from Government and Opposition ministers made in MCV about the cultural and fiscal importance of the UK video and computer games industry. Labour’s Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism Margaret Hodge and The Conservatives’ Shadow Secretary of State …

The first awards event dedicated entirely to the UK computer retail channel – the PC Retail Awards – has revealed its awards categories. In order to fully represent the entire trade, the awards will be divided into three separate sections – Frontline, Distribution and Vendor. The categories will contain five …

Nintendo has refuted rumours that the hardware production capacity of Wii has been hindered following a shortage of components. The claims, which recently emerged across internet news channels, appeared to come from the component manufacturers themselves, and asserted that a shortage of internal hardware such as IC chips and PCBs …

Rockstar has finally received some good news over Manhunt 2: the game has been cleared for an October release in the US. American ratings board the ESRB has granted the game an ‘M’ classification – which allows sale to consumers of 17 years and older – after Rockstar submitted a …

Nintendo has told MCV that it has no plans to follow the lead of Sony and Microsoft by introducing a budget label on first-party Wii software. Sony’s PlayStation Platinum and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Classics ranges have both significantly boosted revenues for Nintendo’s rival format holders – but the Japanese firm …

Microsoft has shrugged off any fear that its Core Xbox 360 will struggle for prominence in the Christmas market – and told MCV that its price drop will tempt customers away from PS3. The Core console’s price point falls to just 179.99 today – the same as Nintendo’s Wii – …

In the latest of Activision’s notoriously lavish Guitar Hero promotions, attendees of the first Games Media Awards will be invited to compete in a Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock play-off in support of the release of the rhythm title. The competition will kick off straight after the awards ceremony, …

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the games industry and announced plans for further economic support, after the Conservative Party claimed that Labour was not doing enough to support the sector in last week’s MCV (cover, 17/08). Speaking exclusively to MCV, Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and …

ESRB gives game Mature rating on PS2, PSP and Wii

Plans building for GDC companion event in February 2008