MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Boxed games are struggling to sell because consumers don’t need to buy any, UK retailers have told MCV. Fewer physical games were sold in 2014 compared with 2013, while recent releases – including Saints Row and Evolve – have not achieved the numbers some retailers had anticipated. The figures are …
Read More »Opinion: In defence of review scores
I am really quite fond of the review score. I’m that guy who, more often than not, skips to the final paragraph, sees the number and doesn’t read the full review. I know it’s not ideal. I’m a critic, too, and I hate the idea that someone just skips to …
Read More »Take-Two CEO on unannounced games, buying studios, WWE and the power of GTA Online
For years, Take-Two’s business has been built on the boxed games market. Yet, with the arrival of Grand Theft Auto Online and the firm’s efforts in Asia, the company has become a digital powerhouse. What does this transition mean for retail? We ask Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Your latest financial …
Read More »‘Metacritic obsession is harming games’
The obsession around Metacritic is damaging to video games. That’s the warning from UK developers, speaking as Eurogamer announces it is culling scores from its reviews. Metacritic – which pulls together review scores from various websites to come up with one ultimate rating – is used as the primary measurement …
Read More »INTERVIEW: Capcom’s 2015 comeback
The last time MCV met with Capcom’s UK team, they were full of optimism. It was early 2012 and the next year was to mark the arrival of Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Street Fighter X Tekken, DmC: Devil May Cry and Resident Evil 6. The products were in place …
Read More »Over 2m Minecraft books were sold in the UK last year
Books based on video games were worth 14.5m in 2014, a rise of almost 10m year-on-year. Book tracker Nielsen revealed this massive increase in sales was down to the incredible success of Minecraft books. Minecraft strategy books and annuals made up seven places in the Top Ten books based on …
Read More »Video game toy sales slump as Moshi Monsters falters
Sales of toys based on video games fell 14 per cent in 2014, NPD has told MCV. The decline is almost entirely down to a drop in popularity of Moshi Monsters products. NPD tells MCV that if Moshi Monsters was discounted from all of its numbers (now and historically), then …
Read More »Interview: Nintendo’s hopes for New 3DS
Nintendo has launched five (count them) Nintendo 3DS-related products today. Two consoles (or four, if you’re counting special editions) and three games, including the highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask and Monster Hunter 4. MCV has played on them, and we like them. But just how significant are …
Read More »Around the world with IGN
Back in 2006, games media giant IGN decided it was time to move beyond its US borders and try to take on the world. It began by moving into similar markets, opening offices in both the UK and Australia in a bid to win over local audiences. Games and entertainment …
Read More »eSports organiser EGL teams up with ad agency in bid for global recognition
The European Gaming League is the latest eSports organiser to team up with a communications and ad agency in an effort to take the fledgling business mainstream. EGL has announced that advertising and communications agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) has taken shares in the business. It follows news that event …
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