Budget 2008: a missed opportunity, says Tiga

Alistair Darling's first budget was a missed opportunity that failed to help UK games developers, Tiga said today.

Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, said

"The 2008 budget contained nothing to help UK games developers enhance their competitiveness in the face of intense global competition. It was particularly disappointing that no provision was made to help offset the impact of massive government subsidies to games developers in competing territories like Canada.

"Games developers will also be concerned by the budget's slew of worrying economic statistics, including an increase in the overall tax burden.

"Despite this disappointing budget, Tiga will continue to encourage the Government to introduce a range of measures that will strengthen UK based games developers, a sector that remains one of the country's economic pearls. UK games developers are hugely successful in international markets and in the darkening economic climate, game development remains an important source of export income for the UK. The UK is the fourth largest developer of games in the world in terms of revenue generation and the games development sector contributes 30% of the UK's media exports. The Government must support successful business sectors such as the games development sector if the economy is to continue to grow through these difficult economic times."

End

Notes to editors:

1. Tiga is the national trade association that represents games developers in the UK and in Europe. We have 157 members, the majority of whom are games developers, but we also have outsourcing companies and technology businesses as members who provide services to games developers.

2. For further information, please contact: Dr Richard Wilson, Tiga CEO on: 0845 0941095; Mob: 07875 939643; or: Email: richard.wilson@tiga.org.