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

Founder and current boss of Rockstar Leeds Gordon Hall has warned other video games firms that they should rally behind the developer against the BBFC’s decision to ban Manhunt 2 – or face similar prohibition in the future. Hall told MCV sister magazine Develop that the outlawing of the title …

Owners of Microsoft’s basic Core Xbox 360 may soon find themselves unable to play the latest titles following Microsoft’s announcement that developers of online MMO games will be allowed to design their titles for use on hard drive-enabled machines only. Devs will be able to create a single ‘Master Storage …

As Sony continues to build the hype for its potentially revolutionary PS3 online social network Home, Sony’s Peter Edward has told an audience at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival that anyone caught abusing fellow users online could face the prospect of their machines being banned from accessing any of Sony’s online …

Warner Bros has revealed the first of several new titles to hit retail in the UK, having set up its London office last month, as previously revealed by MCV. Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment plans to release Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal on 360, Wii and PS2 this Autumn, with Looney Tunes: …

Audio middleware now available for XBLA, PSN, WiiWare games

The format holder has announced that there are currently over 7.1 million Xbox Live users, reported Games Industry . Chris Satchell, the company’s game developer group general manager, also said that more than 25 million downloads have been recorded on the Xbox 360. The firm claims that the attach rate …

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 …