MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Two of the biggest names in games are to become one. Activision Blizzard has announced that it will purchase Candy Crush firm King for $5.9 billion (3.8bn), in a deal unanimously approved by both boards. The sum works out to a value of $18 (11.67) per share for the latter …
Read More »Persson likely to leave Microsoft-owned Mojang; Minecraft won’t be pulled from PS4 and PS3
Markus ‘Notch’ Persson is unlikely to stay at Mojang once Microsoft’s acquisition of the Minecraft developer is completed, reports suggest. Bloomberg says that Persson reached out to Microsoft a few months ago, based on a positive working relationship on Minecraft for Xbox” in an effort to close the estimated $2bn …
Read More »NPD: Only 29 per cent of core gamers plan on buying a next-gen console
The traditional games industry needs PS4 and Xbox 720 to be a big hit, so these new stats from NPD make for grim reading. TechSpot reveals that a poll by the research firm suggests just 29 per cent of core gamers are currently planning on buying a next-generation machine as …
Read More »Nintendo details trio of 3DS retail options
Nintendo has detailed the three ways in which consumers will be able to purchases digital games for the 3DS. Andriasang reports that gamers have three options. Firstly, they can download the game directly onto their machine from the Nintendo eShop. Simple. Secondly, they can buy a code from an online …
Read More »Four out of five games are bought for men
The female gamer is in decline, research has found. Statistics from Kantar Worldpanel show that the boxed games market is proving more popular with males aged 18 to 24, while casual and female gamers are switching over todigital platforms. Three quarters of games sold in 2008 were bought for males …
Read More »Analyst questions OpCapita motivations
With a firm offer from OpCapita to acquire GAME Group understood to be on the table, one analyst has questioned the motivations behind the potential deal. Highlighting the fact that HMV is lucky to have decent assets to sell” and suppliers that have rallied around them”, independent analyst Nick Bubb …
Read More »Blueshore Global Equity acquires 8% of GAME’s shares
A company called Blueshore Global Equity has today acquired 29m GAME Group shares, giving it an 8.35 per cent stake in the retailer and limited voting rights. Blueshore, a global equity fund based in New Jersey, was founded in 2006 by Harsha Gowda. It specialises in equity and pooled investment …
Read More »Gem swoops for digital distributor Ztorm
MCV understands that Gem has agreed a deal to acquire digital distributor Ztorm. The move is a surprise following strong rumours that Sony was on the brink of sealing a deal to buy the firm last year. Ztorm specialises in the distribution of a variety of digital media including games, …
Read More »1 in 5 Brits regret iPhone purchase
Is the Apple halo slipping? Although the firm sold4m unitsof the iPhone 4S in its opening weekend, there is evidence of some disenchantment with its devices. Mobile phone comparison site www.GoodMobilePhones.co.uk claims 22 per cent of UK iPhone users wish they had chosen a different device. Almost half of iPhone …
Read More »Zenimax buys Mikami studio
Zenimax Media has acquired Shinji Mikami’s new Tokyo-based studio, Tango. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though this month Zenimax raised $150m for what it deemed a ‘tactical buyout’. Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil and numerous other hit titles, said it was refreshing to find a publisher …
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