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

DEVELOP CONFERENCE: Lively session sees industry luminaries consign ugly game design to the dustbin

School pupils will be able to learn the history of games in qualifications equivalent to a GCSE or A-Level as part of new Government plans. 14-year-old students will soon have the chance to choose a media course at school; part of which will ask them to examine ‘the historical development …

The Hollywood Reporter has predicted that Microsoft will drop the SRP of Xbox 360 by $50 in the US on August 8th this year – and credited the information to an unnamed retail source. The publication notes that a price drop at this time would arrive shortly before the release …

DEVELOP CONFERENCE: UKTI survey of developers reveals ugly truth of the publishing paradox

Speaking exclusively to MCV, Sony’s Head of Worldwide Studios Phil Harrison has said that the choice developers face when deciding what hardware formats to support is harder now than it ever has been. Development and support for a format is very important yes, and the story is very different these …

Labour announced last night that it has spent over 15,000 on consoles for young offenders in the past two years, according to a story in national free-sheet Metro. The newspaper reports that the money had been spent on installing 120 PlayStations in young offender institutions across the country. We need …

Diploma to teach history of interactive entertainment

After the promising start made by London Games Festival last year, chairman of LGF Keith Ramsdale has told MCV that publisher announcements made at 2007’s event will have ramifications throughout the international industry. And the EA boss has spoken of his confidence that with ‘nearly all’ major publishers and platform …

Virgin Play has moved into Portugal with the opening of a new Lisbon office designed to provide a more specialised service to the region. The publishing and distribution outfit says the move is part of its overall strategy for international expansion, coming alongside its recent announcement that it will be …

EA has signed deal with in game ad firm Massive to bring dynamic adverts to five of its key titles, reported Next Generation . Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360, PC), NASCAR 08 (Xbox 360), NHL 08 (Xbox 360), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360, PC) and Skate (Xbox 360) …