MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry

The Wall Street journal has reported that Google is thinking of buying into the in-game advertising space via the acquisition of US company Adscape - and the deal could be done as soon as next week.

The January 31st early registration deadline for March's Game Developers Conference is fast approaching - and the event is shaping up for the biggest outing in its 20-year history.

Games consultancy Pixel-Lab has warned that the ideas for a UK Games Academy would fall short of industry needs – suggesting instead that the government backs the founding of an organisation comparable to the British Film Institute.

The founder members of Rockstar Vienna are preparing to unveil a new company – and they say it has a radical approach to development. But you'll have to wait a week to find out what it is.

EA's casual games imprint Pogo.com and Bizarre Creations have teamed up for a new Xbox Live Arcade title, Boom Boom Rocket.

Merseyside's Playbox Games has been signed as an official Nintendo Wii development partner and is currently chasing a deal with another Japanese giant, Capcom.

In-game marketing firm IGA has updated its propriety ad-delivery technology, Radial, saying improvements to the system are a world first for one of the fastest-growing advertising sectors in entertainment.

The makers of acclaimed and upcoming titles by Ubisoft Montreal, Grasshopper, Square Enix ,and many others are preparing to present key sessions at March's Game Developers Conference.

GDC Prime, an exclusive conference targetted at industry leaders, has recently been added to the roster events taking place as part of CMP's week-long Game Developers Conference in March.

The association for developers in the North East, Codeworks GameHorizon, is hosting a games-based talent competition at next month's Animex festival.