Activision Blizzard signing
TIGA joined.
June 28th 2010
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today announced Activision Blizzard as its latest member.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide pure-play online and console game publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry.
Activision Blizzard's Activision Publishing, Inc. division operates two games development studios in the United Kingdom; Liverpool based Bizarre Creations TM , famous for the Project Gotham Racing ® franchise and highly anticipated new title Blur TM , as well as Leamington Spa based FreeStyleGames TM , famous for the DJ Hero and Guitar Hero ® franchises.
George Rose, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer of Activision Blizzard explains the company’s reasons for joining TIGA:
“At Activision Blizzard we are extremely supportive of TIGA’s campaign to secure Games Tax Relief for the UK development community. The UK has one of the most talented and creative workforces anywhere in the industry. The introduction of Games Tax Relief in the UK will be a game changer. It will make the UK a significantly more attractive place to invest in games development. Games Tax Relief will lead to increased investment, more job creation and power economic growth. However, if Games Tax Relief is not introduced then the UK will remain at a real disadvantage in comparison to other territories as a location for inward investment. Without Games Tax Relief the UK games industry will not fulfill its potential.”
Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO stated:
“The support of Activision Blizzard is a huge boost for TIGA and for our campaign to secure Games Tax Relief. Brian Ward, Activision Publishing's Senior Vice President, Worldwide Studios, and I have already met with MPs in the UK to press home the case for Games Tax Relief. Our message is simple: back Games Tax Relief and benefit from more investment and more jobs in a high technology, export oriented industry, or risk investment drifting away to other, more forward thinking countries.”
In addition to the U.S. and United Kingdom, Activision Blizzard maintains operations in Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Romania, Australia, Chile, India, Japan, China, the region of Taiwan and South Korea. More information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activisionblizzard.com.
Ends
Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact Eva Field, TIGA PR Manager on: 07814 039 983, or email eva@tiga.org.