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

EXCLUSIVE Q&A: Scott Novis, boss of Buena Vista Games' Fall Line team discusses why the company set up a Nintendo-exclusive studio and how it plays in Disney's development activity.

Fresh from having been confirmed as an official Nintendo development partner, Italian outfit Twelve Games has backed the Wii saying that producing games for the format is perfect for its small team.

Nintendo's best-selling DS and Wii games machines seem to have sparked a flurry of production and acquisition activity, with Traveller's Tales the latest studio to set-up a format-holder-exclusive team to satisfy publisher demand.

Think again if you think Apple's iPhone could be adopted en masse by mobile games developers - the company has confirmed that the platform will be, like the iPod, a closed platform.

SPECIAL REPORT: Tiga loves it, EA doesn't - MP Shaun Woodward's suggestion that UK studios form an academy for games developers has ignited sector chatter, but opinions clash over the idea's worth.

German company NDS has announced at CES that the first game to use video technology in its new set top box is a version of Rebellion's Rogue Trooper.

Sega has partnered with another Western games studio for an upcoming title - this time taking on new Silicon Valley-based outfit Sniper Studios.

The Imagine Cup, Microsoft's yearly digital media competition, has this year added an AI programming battle to its roster of prizes - and now the company is inviting games tech students to take part.

Big audiences and trade gatherings can work together says the organiser of March's GO3, an Australian contender on the event circuit which has added a game developer conference to its busy schedule.

The creative industries minister Shaun Woodward has called for developers to solve the problems facing recruiters by forming an academy to educate those looking to get into the games industry.