MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
You fire up the dusty old computer. A search engine fizzes through the scan lines. In the text box, a single word: MURDER. Below, five videos, each with the same woman. You play one. The women begins to tell her story. This is how the latest game from former Silent …
Read More »One indie’s journey to resurrect local multiplayer
In 2012, Geraldo Nascimento left his native Portugal to move to the UK in order to develop games. A life-long gamer, Nascimento started doing software consultancy work during his Master’s degree in computer science at the University of Lisbon, and realised he wanted to make games. But he says going …
Read More »NCSoft’s journey to the West
In its native Korea, NCSoft is one of the top three games publishers alongside rivals, Nexon and SmileGate. The firm has long had a presence in the West, and has been behind MMO titles such as Guild Wars and WildStar. But now the company is looking to accelerate its growth …
Read More »Ubisoft: ‘We’re taking more risks than our rivals’
On paper, 2014 looks like one of the most successful years in Ubisoft’s history. It smashed its targets by generating over 1bn in software revenue – thanks to its biggest new IP launch (Watch Dogs), and major sellers such as Far Cry 4, The Crew and Assassin’s Creed. Unfortunately, that …
Read More »Winning strategy: War gaming firm Slitherine on balancing niche appeal with mainstream success
Slitherine could very well be the biggest publisher you’ve never heard of. Formed 15 years ago, the Epsom-based firm has long been the flagbearer for war gaming titles in the UK – so much so that it doesn’t even fully consider the complex strategy titles in its catalogue video games, …
Read More »Gunpoint and Heat Signature developer Tom Francis on going from critic to creator
Everybody’s a critic,” goes the old adage and, in the age of the YouTube comment and customer review, rarely has it seemed more veracious. Examine the Steam or Amazon page for any title and you’ll find hundreds – if not thousands – of players offering their helpful insight into how …
Read More »The perfect Storm: why you shouldn’t pass over this year’s Naruto game
When you peruse the list of games coming out this year, it’s fair to say that a title based on a Japanese comic series probably isn’t the first thing you jump to. Launching in the same Autumn period as FIFA, Pro Evo, Skylanders, LEGO Dimensions, Metal Gear Solid, Forza, Mad …
Read More »Why it’s not RIP for D&D video games
It might have recently turned 40 years old, but Dungeons & Dragons hasn’t thrown its last die yet. Having almost single-handedly created the role-playing genre upon its release in 1974, D&D is to thank for the modern state of RPG games. Without it, there wouldn’t be Fallout 4, The Witcher …
Read More »How Studio OwlBear is breaking the ice
The sky above the port was the colour of television, tuned to a dead channel.” So begins William Gibson’s 1984 novel Neuromancer, a seminal work that helped launched the cyberpunk genre of science fiction. It’s a movement that analyses the effects of tech on society and stars hackers, criminals and …
Read More »J-Stars in their eyes
I know what you’re probably thinking – what the devil is J-Stars Victory Vs+? Bandai Namco’s fighting title gathers characters from the long-running and hugely popular Japanese manga comic anthology Shonen Jump to celebrate the publication’s 45th anniversary. Think Super Smash Bros, but featuring a roster of Japanese comic book …
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