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

The US' largest independent games development company just got larger – Foundation 9 Entertainment has acquired Amaze.

Isle of Wight-based team Stainless has been signed to work on a whole clutch of games for Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade platform - namely Atari's range of retro remakes.

The director of the new Alone in the Dark, David Nadal, has struck out against other story-driven titles saying that most are repetitive after just an hour and are failing their audiences.

Valve has added another development partner to its Steam digitial distribution network, with Swedish Simbin set to deliver its game Race over the service.

CCP, the Icelandic developer responsible for MMO Eve Online, is to merge with pen-and-paper RPG company White Wolf.

Climax Racing, signing Stainless, opening a Nintendo-only studio - these are just the first steps in Disney's recent development activity; Buena Vista Games plans to keep spending on games production over the next few years.

Leading international games development trade publication Develop has today added a newsflash service to its website.

Games audio specialist and Develop Industry Excellence Award winner Side UK has added music team Bob and Barn to its business, rounding out its offer for games sound production.

A new EU-wide trade organisation, called the European Game Developers Federation, has been formed to support the interests of 500 studios working in the continent.

Following the success of its event in February 2006, the UK Trade & Invesment group have announced plans for a new trade mission to Japan for games developers and service companies.