Labour Party Conference

Tiga will be attending this week’s Labour Party Conference to raise the profile of the UK video games industry in political circles. Tiga is supporting the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWRDA) fringe event, ‘Celebrating the Gaming Industry’, on Saturday 20th September in the Usdaw Marquee. The Rt. Hon. Margaret Hodge, MBE MP, Minister of State Minister of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, and Iain Bennett, Sector Leader, Digital and Creative Industries at the NWRDA, will be speaking at the event. This is the first time that Tiga has actively participated in the party conference season.

Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, said:

“If we are to achieve Tiga’s vision of making the UK the best place in the world to do games business then we must engage with those who can influence the environment governing the games industry – politicians.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak up for the games industry in general and for developers in particular at the Labour Party Conference. The UK games industry is a world class industry that sustains over 20,000 jobs, makes a positive contribution of approximately £200 million to the UK’s balance of payments and generates much needed revenue for the Exchequer. The industry faces challenges but it remains a success story that more politicians need to know about.

“I am very grateful to the Northwest Regional Development Agency for organising the fringe event ‘Celebrating the Gaming Industry’ at the Labour Party Conference and for giving Tiga the opportunity to raise the profile of the industry within the Labour Party and within the Government.”

Ends

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 either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have outsourcing companies, technology businesses and university departments that are members.

2. 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.

3. ‘Celebrating the Gaming Industry’ takes place on Saturday 20th September at the Usdaw Marquee, starting at 18.30 p.m.

4. For further information, please contact: Dr Richard Wilson, Tiga CEO on: 0845 0941095; Mob: 07875 939643; or:

Email: richard.wilson@tiga.org.

For immediate release - Sept 19th 2008