MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
THQ has won a legal dispute with Jakks Pacific over royalty payments. The case regarded delays in reaching an agreement over the royalty rate that the US publisher would pay Jakks for use of the WWE licence. Under the terms of the original partnership, a royalty rate would have begun …
Read More »Dungeons and Dragons creator dies at 69
The co-creator of the hugely popular Dungeons and Dragons game, which has become a seminal franchise in video games history, has died age 69 at his Lake Geneva Home. Gary Gygax’s death was confirmed by his wife, reports the Associated Press. Along with fellow D&D creator David Arneson, Gygax kicked …
Read More »Report: Casual gaming gets serious
Next-gen.biz has a full report from media research firm Interpret, which throws up some fascinating facts and figures on the rise and rise of casual gaming. According to figures from Interpret’s Gameasure service, casual games reached over 145 million people aged 12-65 in 2007. Of that figure, over 71 million …
Read More »Take Twos future is independent, insists Zelnick
Take Two executive chairman Strauss Zelnick has claimed that his business model will see the publisher remain independent – unless his shareholders tell him otherwise. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in a wider interview about Zelnick’s own ZelnickMedia, he reiterated his previously stated view that he expects consolidation in the …
Read More »EA CFO eyes up Take Twos diamonds
Electronic Arts CFO Warren Jenson has said that EA is keen to add key Take Two creative personnel – whom he terms diamonds” – into the publisher’s global distribution system. IGN reports that Jenson talked at length on EA’s desire to buyout Take Two whilst speaking to industry analysts at …
Read More »Another big name steps up at Atari
2008’s impressive staff recruitment drive at Atari and parent Infogrames shows no sign of stopping – as Mathias Hautefort is promoted to head of global distribution. Hautefort, who MCV enjoyed an exclusive interview with earlier this year, will look after distribution in the US, Europe and Asia. He moves up …
Read More »Harrison appointed Atari president
Atari brand-owner Infogrames has confirmed that former Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison is joining the company as president, looking after group publishing and game development . Harrison, whose departure from Sony was announced a week ago, will report to recently appointed CEO David Gardner, working with him …
Read More »Modern games feature virtual rape, MP tells Parliament
MP for Leicester East Keith Vaz has put forward the questionable claim that players can rape women” in modern games to Parliament. Vaz was speaking in support of of Conservative MP Julian Brazier’s Private Member’s Bill on Friday – which seeks to introduce an official governmental body that can challenge …
Read More »In-game communication coming to PS3 in summer
SCE UK boss Ray Maguire has revealed that PS3’s forthcoming firmware update will introduce new features to the cross media bar. As he thanked SCE UK’s trade partners for reaching one million UK PS3 sales, he added: Our momentum will continue with the introduction of in-game communication in the summer, …
Read More »EA & Take Two – the analyst view
While Take Two boss Strauss Zelnick has said that the $2bn bid substantially undervalues” the publisher’s portfolio, key analysts believe that Take Two is playing a dangerous game by rejecting the approach and holding out for a better offer. I would imagine there is room for negotiation,” said Colin Sebastian …
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