MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Sales of triple-A video games have reached an all-time low. The UK games retail market is 25 per cent down compared with last year. And publishers are aghast by the performances of major sequels. One prominent analyst told MCV that sales are half of what they should be”. According to …
Read More »GAME to close Gameplay.co.uk and 35 stores
GAME will close Gameplay.co.uk next week, MCV can reveal. All that website’s customers will now be served via Gamestation.co.uk as of March 1st. The move makes sense for GAME. It acquired Gameplay back in 2004 but since then it has become a forgotten brand at the retail specialist. The site …
Read More »FEATURE: Have we lost the kids games market?
It was September 2003 when THQ released Finding Nemo. The Traveller’s Tales-developed adventure based on the hit Disney/Pixar movie was a phenomenon. It shifted millions worldwide. In the UK alone it sold over 500,000 units on just PS2 and Game Boy Advance. Fast forward to February 2011 and THQ CEO …
Read More »Gamers give up on credit cards
Fewer gamers are using credit cards. NewZoo says that in 2010, 26 per cent of consumers reported making payment for games using credit cards, but that fell to 20 per cent last year. It follows similar research from pre-payment specialist Ukash, which says nine out of ten of its customers …
Read More »UK CHARTS: UFC 3 takes No.1
THQ is back at No.1 with UFC, however the game has failed to match the sales of the previous games in the series. In fact, the first UFC release in 2009 outsold last week’s game by 3 to 1 during the same period, according to GfK Chart-Track. It all marks …
Read More »Vita midnight openings announced
The flagship GAME and GameStation stores will hold midnight events for PlayStation Vita. GAME Oxford Street is the official UK midnight launch, and will feature meet and greets with WipEout 2048 developers Karl Jones and Ami Ledger (who will be on hand to sign copies of the games). Fans will …
Read More »High Street lost 14 shops a day in 2011
5,268 shops were closed on the High Street last year, PWC and the Local Data Company have revealed. However, 5,094 shops were opened, leaving a difference of 174 fewer stores. It is the first time since the height of the recession that more shops were shut than opened. London suffered …
Read More »One price for Vita and PS3 cross-platform games
Consumers who buy a PS Vita/PS3 cross-platform game, will be able to play it on both consoles for just one price. Motostorm RC, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 DLC, Hustle Kings, Top Darts, WipEout HD and HD Fury DLC for WipEout 2048 can be played across both of Sony’s consoles. …
Read More »Bobby Kotick joins Coca-Cola Board
The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Activision CEO Bobby Kotick to its Board of Directors. As part of the move, the exec is placed on the company’s management development committee. The move follows higher than expected results for Activision in its latest financial report. "Bobby brings an entrepreneurial mindset and a …
Read More »3DS gets new Shaun the Sheep episodes
Wallace and Gromit creators Aardaman has developed exclusive episodes of Shaun the Sheep for Nintendo 3DS. One of 15 clips will be made available to view via Nintendo Video, with the first one going live from March 7th. The content is in full 3D and can be downloaded via an …
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