MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Despite the economic downturn, British retailers sold a record number of games, DVDs and music in 2008 – with video games ahead of the pack, establishing the medium as the most successful entertainment business of the ear. The Entertainment Retailers Association has revealed that its members a total of 485.8 …
Read More »Empty shops to reach record levels
The worsening conditions on the UK High Street could lead to a record number of vacant retail outlets by the end of the year, analyst Experian has predicted. Ongoing retail administrations, disposals and rationalisations are expected to see the vacancy rate climb from its current seven per cent to ten …
Read More »EA: FIFA 09 will shift 10 million units
President of EA Sports Peter Moore has revealed on his blog that the critically acclaimed FIFA ’09 is on course to sell through ten million units. The statement came during a light-hearted rant made over the game’s absence from Eurogamer’s Top 50 Games of 2008, posted over the Christmas break. …
Read More »Woolworths closure delayed
Woolworths administrator Deloitte has announced that the final closure of the retailer’s remaining outlets will be delayed by one working day. The last 200 Woolworths stores were due to be closed today, but will now open on Saturday in order to sell leftover stock. They will now close on Tuesday, …
Read More »Gamestation targets new store openings
Specialist retailer still ‘under-represented’ in key cities following 250th store opening High Street chain Gamestation has told MCV it is actively seeking new sites following the opening of its 250th store. The firm opened its latest outlet in Meadowhall in Sheffield last week, and sales director Steve Cunningham feels Gamestation …
Read More »CHIPS relaunches online store
The UK’s largest independent games retailer, CHIPS, has re-launched its ecommerce website with the product offering expanded to include DVDs, CDs and books. The site, which also boasts a new design, no longer features pre-owned stock or mobile phone downloads. And CHIPS’ joint MD Don McCabe hopes that the new …
Read More »Ben 10 set to be top Xmas brand
Publisher D3P has told MCV that Ben 10 will be a leading force this Christmas, following news that Ben 10: Protector of Earth for DS, PS2, Wii and PSP has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The Cartoon Network-owned property has already been a huge global hit, with two movies …
Read More »High Street sales reach unprecedented pre-Xmas levels
New research from PricewaterhouseCoopers show that 82 per cent of UK High Street retailers are now offering significant sales or reductions in an effort to get shoppers spending money in the run-up to Christmas. Retail Bulletin reports that just 52 per cent of stores were running sales promotions one month …
Read More »HMV: We’ll introduce gaming to millions of new consumers
HMV could introduce gaming to ‘millions’ of new consumers, as the chain puts the finishing touches to its specialist games offer. At least that’s according to HMV Group CEO and UK and Ireland MD Simon Fox, who is delighted following the successful acquisition of Gamerbase and the launch of the …
Read More »Best Buy hunts UK employees
CVs AT the ready – US retail superpower Best Buy has confirmed to MCV that it is looking to recruit far and wide as the firm builds its business in the UK and Europe. In May, the American electronics giant announced a partnership with Carphone Warehouse to establish its brand …
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