Is indie development doomed? Find out in this week’s MCV

The critics are saying that indie development is in trouble – but ID@Xbox European boss Agostino Simonetta says there’s never been a better time to be making games.

Xbox’s indie man in Europe tells MCV why people are wrong about the indie apocalypse, and how developers can get their games noticed in the marketplace.

Further into the mag, following the blockbuster long-term success of Grand Theft Auto V, speak to Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick about what impact Rockstar’s crime hit has had on the company’s future.

And former Naughty Dog community strategist Eric Monacelli about what influence The Last of Us and indie games have had on Uncharted 4.

Meanwhile, Excalibur tells us why it’s reducing its simulation product and why it is eying up the console space.

Below are the full contents of this week’s issue. It can be read online here.

• COVER: Games retail braced for 70m Bloack Friday bonanza
• COVER: PlayStation’s Wilson takes Euro PR role..
• COVER: …as UK chief Gara joins Amazon
• NEWS: FIFA and COD favourites to take Christmas No.1
• NEWS: Indies bemoan ‘worse trade prices yet’ for Q4 blockbusters
• NEWS: Call of Duty, Fallout and Star Wars lift physical games market in November
• FEATURES: ID@Xbox Europe boss Agostino Simonetta tells us why the critics are wrong about the indie apocalypse and why there has never been a better time to be making games
• APPOINTMENTS: Guy Cocker to head up Stuff
• INTERVIEW: Does Take-Two need another Grand Theft Auto? We speak to the firm’s boss Strauss Zelnick to find out what the impact of GTAV has had on the future of the company
• INTERVIEW: ‘Uncharted isn’t the last of us’ – former community strategist Eric Monacelli on what Naughty Dog has learnt from The Last of Us for Uncharted 4, and what inspiration it is taking from indies
• INTERVIEW: PC simulation-focused firm Excalibur tells MCV why it’s reducing its simulation product, why it’s focusing on indies and what its ambition on console is
• INDIE INTERVIEW: Three University of Salford graduates quit their studio jobs to set up their own firm, Prospect Games. We speak to one of the founders Andrew Bennison to find out more
• FEATURE: Can the king of games rule again? Japan might be the birthplace of the modern games industry, but the region’s standing has slipped in the last decade. We speak to the experts to find out why Japan has lost favour
• INSIGHT: Ebay on finding a new audience by looking outside of games and Generation Media tells us which console is dominating the festiva ad space this year
• SHELF LIFE: Stuart Tracey of Bridgwater’s Insane Games on how he has secured decent trade prices for his games and why people pre-ordering late in the day is causing him troubles
• MARGIN MAKERS: We round up the best video game music on the market
• INTERNATIONAL: Egypt’s games amrket is still in its infancy but is struggling due to high tax rates and widespread piracy