MCV launches Digital Counts campaign in this week’s issue

This week, MCV is launching its Digital Counts campaign in an effort to get publishers to share their digital sales data.

While major publishers remain silent on the matter, indie developers The Chinese Room and Mike Bithell have missed out on chart positions in digital charts farce

And Chart-Track warns the industry of what it might lose if it fails to share digital data.

We also speak to Disney, Warner Bros and Activision about the toys-to-life products they are releasing in the next few months to find out what retailers should stock.

And Konami marketing exec Jon Edwards tells MCV about Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – what he dubs ‘the game of the year’.

The full contents of this week issue can be found below. This week’s MCV can be read online here.

• COVER: DIGITAL COUNTS – Dear Games Industry, we’ve been lying to you… MCV launches its campaign to get publishers to share their digital data
• NEWS: Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and Volume missed out in digital charts farce
• NEWS: Major publishers silent over data sharing
• NEWS: Chart-Track – Industry is at risk of losing its best research and PR tool
• NEWS: Dreamcast console sales spike following Shenmue III reveal
• NEWS: Square Enix – Digital is the first option for a generation of gamers
• FEATURE: The toys-to-life ear – what should you stock? MCV speaks to Activision, Disney and Warner Bros about their upcoming toys-to-life properties
• INTERVIEW: Is Quantum Break the most ambitious game in Xbox history? Remedy creative director Sam Lake tells us more
• THE BIG GAME: Konami marketing exec Jon Edwards on ‘the game of the year’, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
• INDIE INTERVIEW: Henry Hoffman tells MCV about his colourful new platformer, Hue
• INSIGHT: Writer Lee Bradley on the benefit of digital special editions, and Kantar’s James Brown on what the market can do to re-engage female gamer
• FEATURE: One Piece is the most popular Japanese comic book of all time. We speak to Bandai Namco product manager Karla Pett about One Piece Pirate Warriors
• APPOINTMENTS: Capcom UK boosts team ahead of Street Fighter V
• SHELF LIFE: Reload Games’ Michael Wealleans on the performance of his store’s website, why his retro stock is selling well and what his plans are for events towards the end of the year
• MARGIN MAKERS: As Disney Infinity 3.0 is about to hit stores, we round up the best Disney-related merchandise on the market
• INTERNATIONAL: According to research tracker Newzoo, one third of Italian consumers play games. MCV investigates the market