NEWS In Brief
UK MARKET: The number of games sold at UK retail last week dropped three per cent to 849,310 week-on-week. The value of the market dropped 12 per cent to £21.2m.
THQ: The publisher has signed a contract with Turtle Rock – the studio that co- developed Left 4 Deadwith Valve – to develop a new FPS multiplayer game.
FUNCOM: Age of Conanwill launch as a free-to-play downloadable game this summer. The MMO went on sale in 2008 and was previously subscription-only. Players will be able to play for free and purchase extra in- game items.
EA:MCVunderstands that the publisher will release a Facebook game based on The Simpsons this September.
TAKE-TWO: The publisher has posted revenues of $1.14bn and profits of $53.8m for its fiscal year ending March 31st.
MICROSOFT: A Gears of War 3trailer aired in the UK after the Champions League final on Saturday, May 28th.
“Do glare furiously at your rivals. You’re not here to make new friends, soldier. You are here to kill.” E3 veterans share their survival tips p34
The Empire strikes back
New LucasArts’ president looks to rebuild studio’s reputation with focus on Star Wars games by Michael French
LUCASARTS boss Paul Meegan has told MCVhe feels people look at the firm ‘and wonder why it hasn’t done better’.
In his first interview since becoming president of the firm a year ago, Meegan says he wants to reverse that perception with a focus on decent Star Warsgames. There are two big Star
Warsgames set for E3 – Star Wars Kinectand The Old Republic– but neither are made by LucasArts itself. When Meegan took over, the firm restructured
entertainment, we have a loyal community of fans, and talented people in every discipline. We’re surrounded by staggeringly bright and creative people at the top of their games. “In recent years, LucasArts
LucasArts president Paul Meegan says the firm is now reaching out to fans with new, quality Star Wars video games
its development teams as production finished on The Force Unleashed IIand is now working on new projects. “LucasArts is a company with tremendous potential,”
he said. “I think people look at it and wonder why it hasn’t done better in recent years. “Lucasfilm has some of the most beloved and powerful brands in
hasn’t always done a good job of making games. We should be making games that define our medium, that are competitive with the best of our industry, but we’re not. That has to change. “Our priority is to create authentic, immersive, high quality Star Wars games.” Read the full interview with Meegan on page 24.
Codies: ‘We won’t repeat Sony’s mistakes’ by Christopher Dring Sponsored By
THE REBORN F1series will not die off like its forebears, Codemasters has vowed. Like the Brit publisher, Sony hit the top spot with its first F1game back in 2001. But it never again reproduced that success. Codemasters insists history won’t repeat itself when it launches F1 2011on September 23rd, thanks to
some new multiplayer modes (including co-op) and an updated engine. “The franchise won’t dip
like it did with Sony,” said Stephen Hood, F1 2011’s chief games designer. “I know what happened with that series. I was there. I did the 2001 game and I knew what their plans were for the rest of the series before I left in 2002. It is cool for me to do F1again
People internally are always saying “Don’t do a
Sony.” We won’t. Stephen Hood, Codemasters
“
almost ten years later. People internally are always saying “Don’t do a Sony.” We won’t.”
by Christopher Dring
CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS:
Modern Warfare 3 FIFA 12 Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Videos are available within the free iPad Edition of MCVon iTunes and the free Browser-based Digital Edition, which can be accessed at
MCVUK.com
THE INTERNATIONAL chief at Direct2Drive has joined rival digital distributor Green Man Gaming. Paul Herron takes the role of commercial director and leaves Direct2Drive as it is sold to US mail-order rental specialist GameFly. Herron formally starts his new role tomorrow (Saturday,
8 June 3rd 2011
June 4th) at the Electronics Entertainment Expo. “Paul Herron has an excellent track record in digital distribution,” said Green Man Gaming MD Paul Sulyok.
“His experience, vision and understanding of the digital future coupled with GMG’s consistent track record of delivering innovation will make him a
Paul Herron takes the role of commercial director at GMG
Hood admits that he was surprised by the success of last year’s title. The game went on to sell 2.3m units worldwide.
“The sale projections kept going up,” he said “It did get the point where I thought: “That sounds really high.” But it exceeded that. We just need to make sure we do it again.” Codemasters: 01926 814132
Digital ace joins Green Man Gaming
powerful addition to the Green team.”
Herron added: “I have great respect for Green Man Gaming’s approach and platform. Their pursuit of customer service and delivery of leading edge technology in the digital market is remarkable. I’m looking forward to being part of the team.”
www.greenmangaming.com www.mcvuk.com
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