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

The usual US suspects may have managed to bring a touch of razzmatazz to this year’s downsized E3 – but former attendees on this side of the Atlantic have poured scorn on the UK being ‘frozen out’ of the expo. And domestic retailers and publishers have warned that the Leipzig …

Following the recall of Mario Party 8 just a day after it was released in the UK, Nintendo has promised retailers it is working as quickly as it can to get it back on the shelves. The Wii title was withdrawn from the shelves after the word ‘spastic’ was discovered …

Microsoft has become the first platform holder to endorse the new online age labelling system from the Interactive Software Federation (ISFE), PEGI Online. The site will work in conjunction with the current Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system by offering age-rating labels and descriptions of content – and helping parents …

The online version of the games industry’s definitive guide to agencies and service companies has gone live today. Sourcebook 07 is an all-year reference tool, featuring over 70 companies across eight different categories. The print version is distributed in MCV and sister title Develop Magazine, plus there is a dedicated …

Newly departed Xbox boss Peter Moore has told MCV that he believes Sony’s recent product tweaking in the US will be ineffective, and what’s really needed is a dramatic, decisive drop to $399. Just days ahead of his dramatic move to head up EA Sports, Moore also went on to …

GAME is set to significantly ramp up its presence in France, Australia and Spain before the end of the year, in a bid to get closer to being a truly global retailer”, according to company CEO Lisa Morgan. Of the 50 new stores touted in the firm’s recent trading update, 20 …

MCV understands that ‘version two’ of Sony’s PSP will arrive in British stores before the console reaches Japan in September – and will be priced at €169 (around 114). Sony this week announced that the machine would be launched in Japan on September 20th, priced at Y19,800 (around 80). And …

MMO specialist NCsoft has emerged on a high from E3, having announced a major new agreement with Sony. The deal will see the company produce a number of titles for the PS3 and PSP, based on new and existing IP. We’re delighted with what we’ve just signed,” CEO of NCsoft …

Whilst meeting many of its objectives this year, the games industry’s biggest trade event looks set to change venue, date and strategy for next year. After ditching the Los Angeles Convention Center, E3 moved from its traditional all-trade May show for 60,000 visitors, to a media and analysts’ show in …

And if you were amongst the much reduced number of ‘accredited press’ then this year’s games industry showcase was probably about as close to heaven as is possible without aid of illegal substances. Media were targeted with a dozen short press conferences from the big publishers over two days, with …