UK developers need government support
Haze developers, Free Radical Software, think that the UK government should give more support to games developers.
Cue Free Radical, the UK based developer of Timesplitters and the upcoming (and compellingly gorgeous) Haze, who want to shake things up a little.
In an interview over at Gi.biz, David Doak says;
"The UK Government needs to do something more useful than just criticizing violent content in video games. "They love the British film industry and stuff and are prepared to give it money [...] yet they'll stand around watching video game developers losing staff."
"Here's an industry that 20 years ago we led the world in - through bedroom rock-and-roll development on the early home computers - and now there's a very real chance that what is now a real profession is going to be driven out of the UK because they don't make any concessions to it."
David, who showcased the upcoming Haze at Ubidays 2007 for us, points to countries like France and China as being more attractive to games developers as the UK government drives up the costs of game development.
In an article on the BBC last month Roger Bennett, the Director of the ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) agreed with David;
"Our greatest asset is our creativity and in recent times we have seen this talent being leached away through lack of funding and more attractive prospects overseas. As a result, the UK risks losing its position as the source of global blockbuster titles. It is now time for government to recognise the valuable contribution we make to the UK economy, comparative to other entertainment sectors."
With other countries like France already finding ways to honour prominent developers like Michel Ancel, the creator of Rayman, we better hope that parliament is quick to act before more developers flee the country.
Should games developers expect help from the government, or are they just moaning about nothing? Tell us what you think in the forums.
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11 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyDon't you start on the whole computer games are art debate!
Anyway, games companies should receive some form of Tax relief because they benefit our economy massively. But also games developers should stop being stupid and spending their money on rubbish
I think the government should probably take a good look at it and what they do for films and think hard about wether they should be helping.
I know the french government in the past has been very supportive/protective of ubisoft for example, so why not here?
In many respects one could equate film making to computer game making, they're pretty similer, so if the government supports film makers, they should also support computer game developers. Whether they should support film and game developers is another debate, but if they support one, they ought to support the other.
We're one of the largest markets for gaming etc in the world, it only makes sense that we have a greater presence in feeding that market than we do now.
Agreed, government subsidization isn't good for companies: it encourages dependence upon government, "nanny state" etc. which is a bad thing.
Though the only British game dev. that I can think of other than Introversion is Splash Damage. But they are a pretty good representation of British GD.
H.B.
I like your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter ;)
As for something mentioned previously - Videogames are not art, and no I am not interested in subsidising it out of my tax money. Its a much more global economy and people will go where it is cheapest. If Britain is one of the world's most expensive countries to operate in, then thats what the government should be looking at. Not throwing my money into game developers pockets - which would be very well ligned if they actually made something good.