Game industry business news

Former president of Sega Enterprises Hayao Nakayama, who oversaw the firm’s 1980s and 1990s hardware boom, has made a personal investment in video games publisher Virgin Play. Nakayama established his reputation by managing the global success of both the Sega Master System and Megadrive (Genesis) – in addition to the …

Sega’s UK-based Racing Studio has been closed, MCV sister site Develop understands. According to a former staff member from the studio, the Solihull-based outfit has shut down effective immediately. Sega Racing Studio had so far developed just one game, its PS3/360 and PC remake of Sega Rally. Released in September …

Internal survey tells of increased satisfaction in workplace

Play.com has sold out of its allocation GTA IV pre-orders – whilst GAME and Gamestation’s online offerings have already put up warning of stock running low. Play.com’s head of games Gian Luzio told MCV that the title was far and away the biggest selling title” he’d ever seen on PS3 …

SCEE president David Reeves has politely criticised recommendations made in the Byron Review, telling its author that she has been too nice” to the UK games industry. At a press conference attended by selected press last week, Reeves told Byron that he was in favour of PEGI becoming the only …

DAVID REEVES: About two-and-a-half years ago, Sony had a series of meetings with the industry, including people from ELSPA. We funded research into the subject of age ratings by a respected German consultant firm to investigate the matter. They did a lot of research in the UK, Spain, Germany and …

The PSP’s resurgence has continued in Japan, with Sony’s handheld trumping all other hardware opponents in the March sales battle, Reuters reports. PSP sold 415,415 units throughout the month, way ahead of rival DS – though Nintendo’s machine still sold an impressive 255,124 in the period. The PSP was boosted …

SCi’s share price has plunged by over seven per cent at the last count today – suggesting that the furious speculation over buyout talks may have calmed down. The stock price reached a high of 60.5p-per-share on Friday, but that dipped slightly yesterday. However, it is today’s unforeseen drop that …

EA has confirmed the price for Rock Band, after announcing the European release date of the game this morning. The title will be sold in separate SKUs – a different approach than in the US, where the title is avaliable with all instruments bundled together with the game. Instead, Eurogamer …

Rock Band will be released in the Europe on May 23rd, with the Xbox 360 enjoying an exclusive launch window. Electronic Arts has also revealed that Wii, PS2 and PS3 versions of the game will arrive later in the Summer. The music title received much critical acclaim when it was …