MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Play.com will sell video game downloads in the near future, the firm has told MCV. The online retail giant already offers music downloads, and will add books, movies and games to that line-up – but the company wouldn’t give a launch date for the new service. Downloads will be the …
Read More »$180m pumped into Zynga
A Russian investment firm that previously invested $200m in social network leader Facebook has backed Mafia Wars and FarmVille developer Zynga to the power of $180m. The move means that Zynga now has an approximate valuation of between $1.5bn-$3bn. The fulls tory is on CasualGaming.biz.
Read More »Codies to up digital presence in 2010
Codemasters will ramp up its digital games output next year – as it brings sequels to its strongest franchises to market in a bid to grow its business. The firm celebrated a return to form in 2009, with Ashes Cricket, Dirt 2 and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising all hitting top …
Read More »Digital guru in at GAME
Former Metaboli director Paul Howes has joined GAME to head up its push into digital. Howes is recruited from download specialists Metaboli, where he held the role of business director for Northern Europe for almost four years. Prior to joining Metaboli he worked as UK general manager for Mindscape and …
Read More »Tesco unveils digital movie drive
It already boasts a popular and competitive MP3 marketplace and now leading national supermarket Tesco has taken a huge stride into the digital video space with the announcement of its new Virtual DVD offering. Using Microsoft’s Silverlight – an ambitious rival to Adobe’s Flash technology – the products will offer …
Read More »Physical media extinction inevitable
A cocktail of strong debate and sparkling wit was the outcome of sister site Develop’s first ever Jury Service feature, which resulted in a near-unanimous verdict that physical content is now on borrowed time. If you look at the model adopted by the music industry, it is getting rarer and …
Read More »Interactive Ideas signs with CTA Digital
Interactive Ideas has signed a distribution contract with accessories vendor CTA Digital. The distributor will now handle CTA’s products across all formats as the vendor looks to strengthen its presence in the UK. CTA boasts 15 years of experience in the market. By this agreement with CTA, we are delighted …
Read More »Riccitiello: Digital to overtake boxed product in 2010
In the wake of EA’s long-expected purchase of social network gaming specialist Playfish earlier this month, boss John Riccitiello has predicted that emerging online-based gaming models will overtake traditional console gaming to become the dominant force by next year. When people think of games they traditionally think of the Xbox, …
Read More »Gem signs digital Paramount deal
UK distributor Gem has found a unique way to help bricks and mortar retailers sell digital content. The firm has partnered with Paramount to sell two of this summer’s blockbusters – Star Trek and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – as digital movies on USB sticks. Specifically themed around the …
Read More »GameStop buys into Jolt
Global High Street video games retailer GameStop has acquired a stake in Irish online games network Jolt.co.uk in a move that it hopes will better position it for the future and the rise of digitally distributed content. Jolt will allow us to test digital distribution,” Gamestop’s executive VP of merchandising …
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