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

After announcing the 2.0 version of XNA Game Studio during Gamefest’s keynote, XNA general manager Chris Satchell also revealed that the company had made an "unprecedented" move to allow consumers direct, legal access to game content from a number of Microsoft-owned IPs. Effectively immediately, Microsoft has granted consumers "a personal, …

Artist and programmer outsourcing operation Nikitova LLC has launched its own games initiative, reported Games Industry. The newly formed Nikitova Games will initially concentrate on developing Wii and DS titles, and will possibly move onto other consoles next year. The first title to emerge will be a licensed tie-in with …

Of all the possible presents a child will eagerly envisage receiving when watching their parent wander into a video games shop, you can guarantee that the one thing they won’t expect or appreciate is Algebra Adventures. Thanks,” they’ll say through gritted teeth, while concluding yet again that their parents hate …

She might not have much interest in discovering the Scion and she’s never fought off the advances of belligerent bears or destructive dinosaurs (as far as we know, anyway). But SCi CEO Jane Cavanagh still has a notable amount in common with Eidos heroine Lara Croft: namely an interminable appetite …

IGA co-founder talks scheduling and player-centric in-game ads

In-game advertising may be a dirty word to some; something that cheapens the experience and irritates players. But that's not the case, IGA Worldwide's Ed Bartlett tells Develop: advertising is a co-operative process, and it could just be a way to finance the development of your title...

Company will use eastern European staff; UK wages 'too high'

Mobile firm buys studios in Spain and India

GAMEFEST: Landmark legal move allows consumers free use of Halo, Forza and Viva Piñata assets in homebrew works

In his keynote at Microsoft’s Gamefest event, XNA general manager Chris Satchell unveiled the latest version of XNA Game Studio – and announced a new strategy for the product, reports MCV sister mag Develop . Previously planned to be split into two packages – Game Studio Express for hobbyist users …