Born digital/ Grown digital

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today praised recent research from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, which shows that the video games industry is leading innovation in the

e-services economy.

The report ‘Born digital/ Grown digital – Assessing the future competitiveness of the EU video games software industry’ found that: “online games, for example, play a major role in the digital content convergence process based on digital distribution of different types of content and the diffusion of interactive capabilities for consumers. This phenomenon is having an effect on the movie, video, music and mobile communication industries, and the whole publishing sector in general”.

The EU Commission adds that: “As one of the most innovative industries, the video games world constantly develops and experiments with new digital services online, offline and mobile by providing user friendly, intuitive services that include the latest information and communication technologies such as context aware devices, sensors, cognitive technologies or movement recognition cameras. Furthermore, the fact that the industry is growing faster than any other in media and entertainment could intensify its effect as a breeding ground for other eservices such as eGovernment, eHealth, eCulture and eEducation.”

The EU also states that: “The global video games market, estimated to be €45 to €50 billion in 2009, is expected to grow four times faster than the media and entertainment market as a whole. The former is expected to grow by almost 70% by 2013, whereas the latter by only 17%. In the UK, the video game market outgrew the cinema market in 2009.”

Dr. Richard Wilson TIGA CEO stated: “We are delighted that the EU Joint Commission has recognised the innovation and agility of the European gaming sector. The EU’s research backs up our own findings that UK developers are increasingly moving towards digital distribution and network gaming. TIGA’s research shows that 80 per cent of 145 of the new studios that have emerged over the last two years are developing digital distribution games.  More and more developers are now becoming publishers. 64 per cent of all developers already self-publish games, and that 70 per cent of those who do not do so yet, intend to do so in the future.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

Download the report here: "Born digital/Grown digital – Assessing the future competitiveness of the EU videogames software industry": http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/publications/pub.cfm?id=3759

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 games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an ‘Investors In People’ accredited organisation.

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.