MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The UK’s most powerful retailer Tesco is to cut an estimated 34 roles from its non-food department. Marketing Magazine reports that difficult economic times” have been blamed, and in particular the poor performance of electronics and entertainment. The retailer says it hopes to find alternative jobs for all those affected, …
Read More »Xbox division posts another quarter of growth
Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division has reported another annual revenue increase, though falling Xbox 360 sales hint that perhaps thoughts in some quarters have turned to the next generation. Revenue for the three months ending September 30th hit $1.96bn, up nine per cent on last year’s $1.8bn. Xbox revenue in …
Read More »Sainsbury’s plots £1m digital retail push
Sainsbury’s has bought online entertainment company Global Media Vault for 1 million. The acquisition will facilitate its drive to beat supermarket rivals to the online and digital entertainment market, following the launch of the Sainsbury’s Entertainment website in November 2010. Global Media Vault’s digital database already includes over three million …
Read More »Games hardest hit as entertainment retailers struggle
It has been a bleak year for music and films so far, but it’s video games that have suffered the most. Gfk and Official Chart Company data, compiled by the Entertainment Retailers Association, show the value of the UK games software market is down 12.2 per cent year-to-date over the …
Read More »Sony rebrands its online services
As of today Sony has gathered its numerous online services under a new, single brand – Sony Entertainment Network. It will incorporate all of the company’s online services across its gaming, music and video divisions, CNET reports, and brands such asthe PlayStation Network, Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited – that, …
Read More »300,000 depart World of Warcraft
The number of paying subscribers for World of Warcraft fell to 11.1m between May and July, but Blizzard has plans to reverse the downturn. World of Warcraft is still the PC’s leading MMO despite losing 300,000 players. Back in May this year the online RPG had 11.4m players. At its …
Read More »OPINION: Diablo III auctions a smart move against gold farmers
By introducing real money auctions for virtual items in Diablo III Blizzard has upped its game in the fight against illegal ‘gold farmers’. For online games such as World of Warcraft where it can take months or even years to forge a strong character, time is money. Forget monthly subscriptions …
Read More »Reef to publish 360 and PS3 games
Reef Entertainment will publish HD console games beginning with PS3 Move pirate adventure Captain Morgane later this year. The publisher – which has received major investment from distributor Creative Distribution – has previously focused on PC and Wii games in recent years. Notably, it brought the 1m+ selling Sniper Elite …
Read More »MS talks Xbox transformation
In a frank blog post ahead of next week’s E3 press conference in LA, Microsoft’s corporate VP of corporate communications Frank Shaw has hinted that Xbox 360’s future might be less dependent on gaming than we had previously presumed. "[It can be hard] to recognise a transformation, especially when the …
Read More »SOE confirms MMOs are go
Developer Sony Online Entertainment has confirmed that its networks are back online. Players of titles such as DC Universe Online, Free Realms and EverQuest can now access their games for the first time in nearly a month. "We are pleased to be back online and deeply apologise for the inconvenience …
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