MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
This week’s MCV isnow available to view online – and it features Disney vs Activision as the battle for video game toys begins. We also analyse the challenges faced by HMV, THQ and Play.com and run our exclusive 2012 retail charts. We’ve listed the contents in full below. Download our …
Read More »ERA ‘saddened’ by Blockbuster news
The Entertainment Retail Association hopes Blockbuster will re-emerge in some form. The rental giant announced it would go into administration earlier today. ERA’s director general Kim Bayley says the rental giant has suffered due to the rise of online and on-demand rental firms. We are saddened by the news that …
Read More »Square Enix and Microsoft toast chart triumphs
Square Enix and Microsoft are delighted by their success at UK retail last year. Square Enix told MCV last year that Hitman Absolution would be a Top Five game of 2012 and the firm delivered on that, with its stealth shooter reaching No.5. The firm also had the top selling …
Read More »Buyers eye Gamerbase swoop should HMV fall
HMV’s Gamerbase concessions could be rescued even if the retail giant closes. The tournament zones – which can be found located besides HMV stores in London, Manchester, Glasgow or Edinburgh – has already attracted attention from at least one prospective buyer, MCV has been told. Although no official approach has …
Read More »Revealed: 2012’s UK Top 100 Video Games
Just two physical games sold over 1m units in the UK last year, according toUKIE and GfK Chart-Track data. Call of Duty: Black Ops II and FIFA 13 were comfortably the No.1 and No.2 sellers last year. In contrast, there were five million sellers in the UK in 2011 – …
Read More »UK retail eyes up Steam Box and Nvidia Shield
UK retailers have told MCV that they are keen to stock Valve’s Steam-box and Nvidia’s Shield. A Steam-box style product named Piston and Nvidia’s new console Shield was showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, putting pressure on Microsoft and Sony who have yet to lift the lid on …
Read More »UNCOVERED: The Top Ten best selling Skylanders
Over 6m Skylanders figures were sold in the UK last year, GfK Chart-Track figures reveal. Activision’s kids sensation dominated the Top 40 accessory charts with 18 entries in the list, only points cards had a bigger share of the market. And for the first time we can reveal a Skylanders …
Read More »Don’t worry, Xbox is not ditching the High Street
There is just one Microsoft-published game on the release schedule. Gears of War: Judgment launches on March 22nd and when MCV asked a rep yesterday if that was it, we were pointed to the array of Xbox Live Arcade titles on the way. It’s not exactly the answer GAME or …
Read More »Microsoft: ‘We’re moving away from being a maker of packaged goods’
The future of the games industry is in the cloud, Microsoft VP Phil Harrison said today. He made his statement as he lifted the lid on the firm’s new London Studio: Lift London. The new studio is entirely focused on the cloud and will not be making physical video games. …
Read More »EA Origin UK boss Roger Walkden joins Microsoft
EA Origin’s UK chief Roger Walkden has joined Microsoft Studios. The former EA and Activision man takes the role of Chief of Staff, and will work behind the scenes across all of Microsoft’s European studios, which includes Rare, Lionhead, Soho Productions, Press Play and the new studio, Lift London. "My …
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