A recent article on MCV revealed that the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, or ELSPA, is considering taking actions to stop the proliferation of flashcarts such as the R4 and M3 in the UK. Learn more after the jump!

Despite friction with trade infringement and discounting on game releases, Microsoft's winning streak for 2007 seems to be keeping strong as the computer technology corporation tops MCV's 2007 Retail Survey - helmed by Halo 3 and the Xbox 360.

More details on Microsoft's achievement after the jump.

The British Board of Film Classification will be reviewing its guidelines for games classification next year as part of a review of all the BBFC's guidelines. This was revealed by BBFC senior examiner Gianni Zamo in an interview with MCV UK.

Additionally, Zamo explained that the more realistic graphics found in today's games don't necessarily pose additional problems for the BBFC. The same goes for motion-sensing controllers. Context is one of the big factors in classifying a game, but it's not without its problems. Said Zamo:

Many game narratives are often fractured and detached from the interactive element of the game, making it difficult to see them as a whole, coherent piece. Trying to understand the context of a 40 plus hour game (even with a storyline) is very different from understanding a 90 minute movie.

The British Board of Film Classification has responded to UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron's statements calling for a review of its regulatory framework.

Cameron revealed earlier this week a dossier called "It's Time to Fight Back". As we reported earlier, the dossier urged video game developers - as well as proponents of other forms of artistic expression like films and music - not to promote issues such as casual violence, gang culture and the degradation of women.

In response, BBFC spokesperson Sue Clark told MCV that the classification guidelines that the BBFC uses are "based on what the public deems acceptable." She further added that they "feel confident that we have public consent on how we deal with issues such as gun and knife crime."

The UK's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) also spoke in support of the BBFC. Here's what one DCMS spokesman told MCV:

We have a strict enforcement code for people who supply '18' or '15' rated games to children. Adults can make their own decisions which games to play, as they can which films to watch.

US attorney Jack Thompson has commended the UK for banning Take-Two Interactive's Manhunt 2 from sale, adding that he "would absolutely like to see the US and other countries following the UK’s lead."

Thompson said in an article published in MCV UK that the British have a working model where a law has a functional sanction that prevents people from purchasing the concerned material. "I think you all have it right and I think the ruling on Manhunt 2 was spot on – and I see also that Take 2’s The Darkness was banned in Singapore," he says to the UK ratings body BBFC.

Thompson also took a swipe at nemesis publisher and developer tandem Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games, saying that the fact that they made Manhunt 2 made it all the more likely for a ban to be imposed. The high visibility of Take 2 and Rockstar – the poster child for what’s wrong in the industry – made it more likely that it would get a ban," comments the activist lawyer.

"In a way the BBFC rating is redundant because the industry itself, the format holders, have banned it," Thompson says in reference to what he says is a sensible act by Sony and Nintendo to not allow an Adults Only-rated game to be sold in their platforms.

And if you think gamers are the only people excited about Grand Theft Auto IV's launch, you're in for a shock. Thompson says "the next big thing that’s going to hit is Grand Theft Auto 4 and we’ll have to wait and see whether or not that deserves a very restricted rating or doesn’t get rated at all."

The US attorney then concluded with optimism that Americans will adopt a similar rating system to that of the UK, especially Thompson says, if Hillary Clinton becomes the next President. "This has been one of her issues for many years, so I think if she’s elected you’ll see a real push from the White House to have a national sanction hooking into the Government’s rating system."

Since GameStation was picked up by GAME for £ 74 million, a lot of people have been talking about a possible investigation by the Competition Commission over its larger market share and possible monopoly. GAME is unfazed by this talk and isn't worried about it. Why?

GAME's chief executive Lisa Morgan spoke to MCV regarding this, and stated that the company believes everything is in order with regards to their purchase of the franchise.

Blockbuster would not accept an offer that had any potential conditions attached to it. The deal will be subject to a regulatory review process and that will be an ongoing process during the first ten weeks. We have taken considerable advice in this area and we are confident and comfortable to proceed.

So given this new information, we have to wonder what the mega retailer has planned for their new acquisition. While some have speculated that a massive closing of stores will happen, Morgan assured that this wouldn't happen. In typical PR fashion, she stated that "we are looking forward to putting new GAME and Gamestation stores into the market. This transaction is not about store closures – this is about bringing a second brand into the fold and serving more customers."

All well and good if it pushes through. Now, what if an investigation is held and the Competition Commission finds Game to be holding too much of the market, what happens then?

 

At the conclusion of the fifth annual MCV Industry Excellence Awards on April 19, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo was able to bring home four awards, three of which were individual awards leaving them to clearly bag the overall Grand Prix Award for 2007. The awards recognize the past 12 months of excellence for each nominated company in Retail, People & Industry, and Press Relations & Marketing.

The awards held at the The Brewery, London, brought in over 600 top executive attendees from the computer and video games industry alike, which celebrated the industry's continued achievements over the period from March 3, 2006 to March 2, 2007. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Al Murray and sponsored by Microsoft's Xbox 360 Team, Nintendo, NVidia, IGA, System 3, Sennheiser, Gem and Kiss FM, Disney Interactive Studios, Gamer.tv, Creative, and Mice Domino.

Other award spectacles of the night were Activision's Guitar Hero grabbing the New Games Brand Award, GAME taking the Specialist Retailer Award, Blizzard Entertainment being recognized for the Unsung Hero Award, and Microsoft's Gears of War winning the Game Campaign Award, as announced by the official press release.

Click on Full Article to view the list of winners and finalists under each category.

It comes out as no surprise sometimes when two great firms partner with each other. MCV is a respected trade magazine in the UK that focuses on the video gaming industry. Famitsu is the most widely respected video game news magazine in Japan. Recently, the two establishments announced that they will continue corresponding with each other in securing video games data.

MCV managing editor Lisa Foster said that they are delighted to able able to continue their mutually beneficial association with Famitsu. Famitsu will continue to provide MCV with authoritative marketing data as well as industry leading analysis and news. MCV in return will supply Famitsu with the latest trends, data and stories from the European market.

Ricky Tanimoto of Famitsu says that they are honored to be able to use MCV's content in their publications and online product. He further elaborates that their knowledge of games marketing in Europe has been enriched in the last two years, as attention towards the emerging European game market, especially in the UK, has continued to increase in Japan.

We're glad for this announcement. Both publications, like we said, are quite known in their fields and it's always nice to have a collaboration.

More than two weeks would still have to pass before the Market for Home Computing & Video Games Industry Excellence Awards (MCV Awards) happens, but the event has already sold out. To be attended by over 600 industry executives from all aspects of the gaming industry, the prestigious awards honors excellence across 15 categories.

The event will be held at the London's Brewery venue in Chiswell Street on Thursday April 19th. It will start with pre-event drinks at The King's Head, Chiswell Street from 5 pm, care of Sennheiser and Gem Distribution. At 6pm, a champagne reception sponsored by IGA Worlwide will follow, and then the awards proper happens.

Sounds like a lot of boozing, huh? Well, the event is a celebration, as the industry itself chooses the winners of the awards. MCV Awards recognizes effort, innovation and commercial success. Every major company will be attending the event. Pub landlord at the London's Brewery Al Murray will even be performing, so you can expect more to be there because of them.

There are 17 coveted awards to be competed for by the finalists. The categories include awards for Star Store, Games Publisher, Marketing Team, Sales Team and Game Campaign. The event is sponsored by Xbox 360, Nintendo, Nvidia, Kiss FM, System 3, Mice Domino and GamerTV.

The Market for Home Computing & Video Games Industry Excellence Awards has recently revealed the finalists for this year. Old rivalries are awaken and perennial opponents are made to compete once again in this celebrated event, to be attended by over 600 industry executives from all aspects of the gaming industry.

Nintendo caps an amazing year with a total of eight nominations at the prestigious awards, followed closely by Microsoft, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts, with five nominations each. Over 40 companies have been named as finalists at this year's MCV Industry Excellence Awards, to be held at The Brewery, London on April 19.

The award honors excellence across 15 categories, and will be attended by executives from all sectors of the games community, including even the online retailers and gaming stores. A panel of 60 industry experts will decide the winners in the MCV Awards. However, a highly-coveted "Grand Prix" Award will also be given by the magazine itself.

MCV, or The Market for Home Computing & Video Games is a weekly trade publication for all sectors of the interactive entertainment market. A list of the Awards finalists in their respective categories follows.

See the complete list of nominees after the jump!