"UK Industry Needs More Help", says Hasson...

[Gikoku]

"UK Industry Needs More Help", says Hasson...

Gaming Industry
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T i g a

The games industry in the UK is in danger of losing its international competitive edge if the government doesn't act to help software developers, according to Tiga CEO and chairman Fred Hasson, who spoke to GamesIndustry.biz in an exclusive interview.

Following the EU announcement that games developers would be able to apply for funding from a EUR 1.5 million pot, Hasson and the other members of the European Game Developers Federation welcomed the move, although a high level of interest already indicates that competition will be fierce.

"One of my colleagues in Germany just told me he's had over 20 enquiries from his members - well, it doesn't take a lot to work out that if everybody is hoping for the maximum amount [of EUR 100,000 each], there are already going to be people disappointed in Germany, let alone if you add the other 26 countries of the EU…"

Hasson cited a number of issues, including work-for-hire contracts and the strong Pound, as well as the support available from governments in countries such as Singapore and Canada, as reasons why UK firms are beginning to struggle.

But he's confident that talks with ministers scheduled next month will allow Tiga to persuade the UK government to its three-pronged solution, which deals with skills, IP creation and technology.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: "UK Industry Needs More Help", says Hasson...

I agree the UK Government needs to put more funding into the games industry, thats for sure. At the moment they have only been interested in the negative side of things such as the banning of Manhunt and speaking about age restrictions on games. If they had a bigger hand in the industry they could actually get some revenue from it themselves. They seem to forget just how big the games industry is sometimes.