MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
One of the most surprising turns in this year’s X Factor wasn’t the show’s inevitable slide into mediocrity. It was a Blockbuster ad promoting games. This was a once-in-a-lifetime performance. The curtain lifted, to reveal a retailer, paying for prime space in a Saturday night TV show. Even better: it …
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Blockbuster: Publishers see rental model as deterrent to pre-owned
Forget Online Passes – renting is the new weapon for the war on pre-owned. Publishers have backed Blockbuster’s marketing push for its rental business as it ‘takes away from trade-ins’, the entertainment giant has told MCV. Consumers renting a game for 5 for five nights is a better option than …
Read More »OPINION: The media’s questionable attitude to Modern Warfare 3
We always love to cheer on the underdog, especially in this country. And in some ways I can just about understand why this embittered attitude is clear to see amongst some elements of gaming’s fanbase. But what I struggle to understand is why the games industry itself begins craving the …
Read More »Zelda: Industry’s magic moments
The UK games trade shares its favourite Legend of Zelda moments including GAME’s Ian Shepherd, Capcom’s David Reeves, Ubisoft’s Murray Pannell and more. "Thinking back on my first playthrough of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time brings to mind a number of moments that left me in awe. From …
Read More »What’s Out Today? w/e November 18th, 2011
Ancient swords, muscle cars, magic LEGO, Olympian hedgehogs, Racoon-suited plumbers and 5ft purple dildo bats – there’s something for everyone. As we reported yesterday, it’s a blockbuster week for new releases with fresh hits from Nintendo, THQ, EA, Warner Bros, Ubisoft, Sega and Capcom. THQ caters to the core gamers …
Read More »GameStop sells 600k COD Elite memberships, laments packed Q4 schedule
The growth of the digital games market may typically be seen as the biggest threat to retail, but is the cramped Q4 release schedule in reality a bigger burden? Speaking to investors following its Q3 financial report yesterday, GameStop president Tony Bartel highlighted the major role the chain has played …
Read More »Microsoft hails Xbox’s 10-year achievement
Xbox execs around the world were celebrating this week as Microsoft’s console reached its tenth birthday. Tuesday (November 15th) marked the anniversary of the device’s roll-out in the USA.Although technically the UK birthday is in March 2012, Microsoft has been toasting the console’s event-packed life.Tuesday was also the launch of …
Read More »Tax dodgers flee Channel Islands
Online entertainment retailers are preparing to leave the Channel Islands after the UK Government said it will close the VAT loophole next April. MCV understands online retail behemoths may move to Asia, Switzerland and even the US to avoid paying tax on CDs, DVDs and some games. For years, campaigners …
Read More »GOG.com hopes to add newer games to catalogue
The managing director of digital games retailer GOG.com has said that the service hopes to add newer titles to its catalogue in 2012. Until now GOG, which stands for Good Old Games, has until now specialised in the sale of older, retro titles, all of which are free of any …
Read More »Digital sales lead strong quarter for GameStop
Global games retailer GameStop has posted a solid set of Q3 numbers amidst a background of widespread financial unease. Total sales for the quarter ending October 29th hit $1.95bn, a year-on-year increase of 2.5 per cent. Like-for-like sales slipped by 0.6 per cent. Net earnings fell from $54.7m to $53.9m. …
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