MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Retail rejoice, the next game in the Angry Birds series features physical goods. Rovio has unveiled a sequel to last year’s Angry Birds: Star Wars – aptly titled Angry Birds: Star Wars II. It features the usual pig-slaying, lightsaber action (plus some new moves, apparently) but in a twist clearly …
Read More »Skylanders named licence of the year at LIMA Awards
Activision’s Skylanders property was last night named as best licensed programme of the year at LIMA’s International Excellence Awards. Held on the first day of Licensing Expo in Las Vegas, Skylanders also walked away with the award for best character or toy brand. Other big winners included The Very Hungry …
Read More »Activision on why Skylanders isn’t afraid of Disney Infinity
Skylanders is the best selling video game this year, so perhaps it was inevitable that a kids giant like Disney would try to take a cut of the market. MCV asks Skylanders business unit VP Joshua Taub and VP of marketing John Coyne what they are doing in response. And …
Read More »Activision talks Skylanders vs Disney Infinity in the latest MCV
This latest MCV–which isnow available to view online– features an interview with two senior VPs at Activision on the future of Skylanders and its impending fight with Disney Infinity. We also reveal the top long-lasting indie games retailers, let retail have their say on Wii U, and discuss the impending …
Read More »No Skylanders movie or cartoon, says Activision
Publisher Activision has ended hopes of a Skylanders cartoon or movie. Speaking to MCV, the firm says that the video game ‘is the entertainment’ and that the regular release of new toys is the best way to keep kids engaged. Kids, when they see the new toys, it is a …
Read More »Activision boss Kotick is one of the highest paid CEOs in the US
Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick has had his compensation increased eight fold to $64.9m last year, according to Bloomberg. The man in charge of the publisher received a new employment agreement in March 2012, which awarded the CEO stock in the value of $55.9m over his five-year contract. Kotick won’t …
Read More »More Skylanders products head to retail
A huge array of new licensed Skylanders products will hit retail this summer. Mobile phone accessories, toys, stationary sets, balloons, shoes and stickers will launch in the coming weeks to complement the existing range of plush toys, calendars, birthday cards, cakes and toiletries. There are now well over 120 Skylanders …
Read More »MCV AWARDS 2013: Skylanders and trade marketing wins for Activision
Activision won twice at the MCV Awards last night. Its UK personnel claimed the Trade Marketing Team prize. Skylanders Giants meanwhile won the Third Party Hardware prize – previous game Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. In total Activision was one of 18 winners at the MCV Awards last night. The full list …
Read More »Asda secures exclusive Skylanders toy
A new Skylander figurine hits shelves next week, and it’s exclusive to Asda. The smash hit toy/video game brand – which accounted for almost a quarter of the entire accessories market last year – has been a major earner for retailers since its debut in October 2011. The new Skylander …
Read More »Hasbro wants in on the Skylanders/Disney Infinity party
First there was Skylanders, thenDisney Infinity was announced- and now Hasbro has entered the new ‘toys to life’ category. The new B-Daman line from Hasbro, under licence from D-rights and with manufacturing assistance from TakaraTomy, has been unveiled at the 2013 American International Toy Fair in New York. Characters and …
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