MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Head of Lionhead Studios Peter Molyneux has said that 2009’s gaes slate is looking a bit dry” – and predicted that economic pressures will see the price of new releases tumble. Writing for the BBC, Molyneux says: ‘Next year, well, it’s all looking a bit dry. All the triple A …
Read More »Wii video is nightmare for TV execs’
Japanese television executives have spoken of their fear over Nintendo’s new video channel for Wii. One leading TV official in the country said that the Wii was the centrepiece of the living room”. And an executive at Fuji Television, Japan’s biggest commercial broadcaster, told The Times that the launch of …
Read More »Nintendo to launch Wii video service
Japan’s largest ad agency Dentsu Inc has teamed up with Nintendo to launch a video distribution service on Wii. The two companies plan to offer original programmes created for the service, a Dentsu spokesman told Reuters (via Nikkei) – in contrast to Xbox 360 and PS3, which tend to carry …
Read More »Popeye copyright expires
Video games publishers and developers could be able to use Popeye the Sailorman’s image for free from this week. The copyright expired on the spinach-munching character yesterday, becoming public domain in Britain under an EU law that restricts the rights of authors to 70 years after their death. Elzie Segar, …
Read More »Video games causing speech problems for toddlers
Video games have been blamed for helping create speech problems amongst toddlers – ahead of a possible nationwide screening programme of the problem. Two-year-olds will reportedly be screened to tackle the problem which experts say is now more prevalent than dyslexia or autism. According to the Telegraph: ‘Toddlers could be …
Read More »2m sales sprint for Mario & Sonic
Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games is creeping towards two million sales in the UK – and is still flying out of stores over a year after it was released. Sega has even recently given the title an outside shot at Christmas No.1, after it appeared in TV ads …
Read More »US distributor targets UK
AMERICAN PERIPHERALS distributor dreamGEAR is sizing up the UK and is set to bring a new line of products to European shores. DreamGEAR, recognised as one of the top 300 fastest growing US firms by Entrepreneur Magazine, provides video game and MP3 accessories. The firm already holds strong relationships with …
Read More »Tesco Grabs Cartoon Network PC games
Super budget publisher GrabIt has launched its second wave of exclusive Tesco games based on hugely popular Cartoon Network properties. Released under the names Candy Capers, Power Pack, Toon Tastic and Fun Factory, each pack features 19 games plus six bonus cartoons, and includes leading franchises such as Ben 10, …
Read More »When ELSPA met GAME
2008 has been a really mixed year for all of us. What have been your highlights – and what has not been so great?It started off with an amazing first half – with over 50 per cent increase in Group sales and 80 per cent growth online. We saw phenomenal …
Read More »UK CHARTS: Call of Duty shoots back to the top
While a late sales surge drove EA’s FIFA 09 to claim the Christmas 2008 games No.1 last week, the title has been usurped by Call of Duty: World at War which is once again the UK’s number one title. The Activision Blizzard FPS returns to the top, although EA still …
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