MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
49 per cent of that revenue is generated by the Madden NFL series alone
Read More »EA generates $1 billion through its free-to-play mobile sports games
Is ‘free’ the future of console games?
It seems inevitable that free-to-play will play a big part in the next generation of consoles. Last year Xbox launched Happy Wars, its first freemium game. And that game now boasts a player base of over 2m. PS4 allows for free-to-play titles and even Nintendo is eyeing micro-transactions for Wii …
Read More »Discovery channel: how indie free-to-play games can break through
Creating free-to-play video games is a risky affair. It’s especially hard for those developers looking to crack new IP, without the help of a brand or a major publisher to drive awareness. Free-to-play has changed the power dynamic,” said Marvelous AQL Europe CEO Harry Holmwood. Before, players would have pay …
Read More »Free’s crowd: Using free-to-play to grow MMOs
Trion Worlds aims to reinvent the MMO space with each title, and is using free-to-play to attract a wider audience. James Batchelor finds out how this model will benefit titles like the online RPG? Rift and strategy game End of Nations. What are you doing to prepare for the launch …
Read More »Can free games work on console?
If you believe the boss of developer Crytek, then games consoles are facing a crisis. The firm’s CEO Cevat Yerli says that its three upcoming console titles – Homefront 2, Crysis 3 and Ryse – will be its last 50 products. After then it’ll focus all its efforts on creating …
Read More »Ubisoft’s digital boss on free-to-play, mobile games, eSports and the new UPlay
Ubisoft showed off its download line-up at its Digital Days showcase in Paris earlier this month, and MCV caught up with worldwide director of online games Stephanie Perotti. The publisher’s digital boss shared with us the plan for the newly-relaunched UPlay downloads service, the ever-growing free-to-play sector, the promising eSports …
Read More »Free-to-play RPG Guardian Hearts coming to Vita
Japanese publisher Q Entertainment is bringing a free-to-play RPG to PlayStation Vita this month. Guardian Hearts Online on Vita will use an microtransaction system to offer players extra items, but the standard content will be free to download and play, according to Famitsu (via Andriasang). While the game is due …
Read More »HOT TOPICS: Is the subscription MMO in trouble?
In the seventh of a series of features answering the biggest questions about the industry’s future, James Batchelor discusses the impact the free-to-play model has had on the traditional MMO Is the subscription MMO in trouble?YES At its peak in 2010, 12m people around the world were playing Blizzard’s World …
Read More »HOT TOPICS: Will all games be free?
In the fourth of a series of features answering the biggest questions about the industry’s future, Dominic Sacco evaluates the threat of the free-to-play model Will all games be free?NO The most played PC browser and mobile games cost nothing to play. Zynga’s CityVille is the most popular Facebook game …
Read More »Can free-to-play games come to consoles?
The developer behind the world’s most popular free MMO is in discussion with the main platform holders in a bid to bring the free-to-play model to consoles. RuneScape developer Jagex is aiming to turn console digital distribution services such as WiiWare, XBLA and PSN into platforms that can host free …
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