UK Game Devs Call for Help

[Virtuoso]

UK game developers are not doing so hot in this economic climate, and they are asking for help (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7919777.stm) from the powers that be.

Compiled by the independent game making body, the research questioned developers about what has held back their success in the past 12 months.

Of those questioned 41% said foreign governments subsidising their native game makers was the biggest brake on growth. 31% said taxes in the UK were the problem.

"The UK games development industry is competing with one hand tied behind its back," said Dr. Richard Wilson, head of Tiga, in a statement.

Canada, the US, France and South Korea were all getting tax breaks from government to help them prosper, he said.

I know that some industries need to be subsidized, but video games?

[SupraSonicUK]

We don't have a lot of decent 'industries' left in the UK.. and this happens to one we're quite good at.

We have Bizarre Creations (PGR), Rockstar Leeds, Climax Racing (MotoGP) to name but a few.. our government is a little retarded with technology I'm afraid. It's a real shame.

Most Universities run courses in game development and are committed to nurturing the talent we have, but the government seems to ignore this.

[lost]

We are good at making the games but often very poor at managing their development.

The British games industry is one of the worst for just throwing as many people as they can at a project.

[Demo_Boy]

"I know that some industries need to be subsidized, but video games?"

Subsidizing games biz is a great way to prevent braindrain to other countries and has a good chance of building wealth in the communities subsidized.

[DeuceMojo]

We have Bizarre Creations (PGR), Rockstar Leeds, Climax Racing (MotoGP) to name but a few.That's nearly enough for me to say subsidize it somehow. I'm a huge fan of these two racers, primarily Project Gotham.

Normally I think an American would say "let the industry find its own path to profit," e.g. let enclaves develop in Romania, Hong Kong, France, wherever talent and funding pool naturally, but to that I have to say:

"Have you ever played Blazing Angels? Or some of Ubisoft's less popular titles, like Tom Clancy's EndWar?" <shudder>

If English-speaking nations don't retain their (dare I say) dominance of this industry, we'll all be stuck playing godawful stuff being pumped out of communist and post-communist developing nations. That and JRPGs.

Japanese RPGs, seriously guys? Video gaming is trying desperately not to return to obscurity and limp-wristedness. Do give what you can.

[Yama]

Quebec's subsidies ensured that Montreal became a busy hub of game development, employing well over two thousand in total. Meanwhile Ontario had no subsidies for quite some time, so despite it being the most populated province there's not many studios around. Toronto in particular, being Canada's largest city with lots of media firms, has only a handful of smaller studios that are presently struggling.

So subsidies definitely help a great deal.

[lost]

snippity snip.

I think the Eastern European bubble has burst. They have been the source of too many delays that cost too much money. Over-ambition on an epic scale.

[soapfoam]

I haven't played many good British videogames. That's not to say they don't exist (Dungeon Keeper) it's just that whenever they're mentioned someone seems to bring up boring racers. I'll take jRPGs over those any day.

[Hale]

I know that some industries need to be subsidized, but video games?


What industries 'need' subsidizing and if some do, why wouldn't video games be one of them?

[lost]

Well, to answer that question with another question, should we subsidize Hollywood?

[Hale]

If we subsidize some, why not others?

[lost]

Heh,

Surely it's best to protect those which have the greatest impact on the general public?

[Hale]

If their impact is so important why would they need protection?

People out of work are people out of work, be they peanut farmer or game developer.

[lost]

I don't think it's viewed as just job losses though.

Bank goes down the drain and people lots of people lose money. Game company goes down the drain and a far fewer number of people lose money.

[Hale]

That's of little comfort to the game developers with families who've lost their jobs.

I don't see how a terribly run bank with over paid CEOs qualify for the government's generosity (with our money) more than a well run game developer with people making far less money.


*Discalimer: Not picking a fight, just sayin'

[lost]

That's cool, obviously it isn't.

I just reckon that the (shit) banks wouldn't get it if it didn't effect so many.

[Hale]

Heh, most likely the game developer won't even be able to get a bank loan from the crappy bank the government bailed out.

[vallor]

I didn't think the US subsidized any video game makers directly... maybe they get to use the same business loan system or get the same tax breaks as any company. Heck a few might even get the same incentives as any successful company to locate their HQ or an office in a particular city but I don't think there is anything specifically for the video games industry.

If there is something I wanna know about it; maybe it is time to quite my job for the lifestyle of the rich and creative game developer!

[Apex]

I know that some industries need to be subsidized, but video games?

Someone hasnt been paying attention to the games industry or news this last several years.

[SupraSonicUK]

It's not really 'give them money' in the subsidise sense of the word... more give them a tax break - that's all they're asking.