Meet the new Curve Digital in this week’s issue of MCV

In this week’s MCV we sit down with Curve’s new CEO, Dominic Wheatley and Chairman Stuart Dinsey to find out about the publisher’s merger with Kuju.

Is this merger an act of noble ambition or is it a desperate move in an increasingly challenging indie games market?

We also talk to Games London’s Chair Andy Payne about the newly-announced London Games Festival about how the Mayor of London’s investment is a boost for the entire of the UK – not just the capital

And as 505 Games turns ten, president Ian Howe and global marketing boss Tim Woodley tell the publisher’s ten-year history – from being ‘the Cooking Mama company’ to releasing indie hits and beyond

Meanwhile, publisher 2K Games and developer Firaxis talk to MCV about their brand new entry in sci-fi strategy franchise XCOM.

The full contents of this week’s issue are below. The digital edition can be read here.

• COVER: ‘Boris boost is for all of Britain, not just London – 1.2m Mayor of London investment will bolster games industry from Brighton to Edinburgh, says organiser
• NEWS: MCV boosts sales team
• NEWS: Creative England makes surprise publishing move
• NEWS: Curve Digital – We could make a cracking James Bond tie-in game
• NEWS: 505 Games switces focus to developing its own IP
• NEWS: Candy Crush company King targets Clash of Clans’ fans
• INTERVIEW: Unfinished business – Eidos co-founder Dominic Wheatley has returned to the frontline of games to resurrect the publishing scene. Is this merger between Curve and Kuju an act of noble ambition or a desperate move in a challenged indie games market?
• MONTHLY CHARTS: Despite some huge releases and the blockbuster Black Friday sales period, the UK games market is slightly down year-on-year for the month of December
• INTERVIEW: As 505 Games turns ten, we sit down with the firm’s president Ian Howe and global marketing boss Tim Woodley to find out the story so far
• THE BIG GAME: Sci fi strategy game XCOM is back, but this time things are looking far bleaker for the alien-combat team. We speak to publisher 2K and developer Firaxis to find out more about this new entry
• INTERVIEW: Dutch publisher Soedesco used to publish games and accessory bundles of hit games like Resident Evil 4. Now it is one of many companies shifting indie releases. MCV sits down with executive manager Hans van Brakel to find out more
• APPOINTMENTS: IGN news editor joins Bastion’s PR team
• SHELF LIFE: Brechin’s Angus Video Games’ manager tells us about the Wii U games success his store has seen, and why VR is probably going to fail
• MARGIN MAKERS: As Lara Croft’s latest adventure comes to PC, we round up the best Tomb Raider accessories and merchandise on the market
• INTERNATIONAL: MCV looks at the Spanish games market – the fourth biggest in Europe, and the ninth largest in the world