NESTA plans UK developer-run publisher
Eight-studio consortium will see IP rights remain in developers' hands
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) is orchestrating a consortium of eight UK studios that will act as a new publisher.
UKIE and TIGA are backing the plan, which is intended to promote digital distribution and ensure partner studios retain all rights to their own IPs.
NESTA will fund the consortium over its first year, at which point it will hopefully have become self-sufficient thanks to digital sales.
Said UKIE chair Andy Payne, "UKIE wholeheartedly supports this new initiative.... This is an innovative new approach which can learn lessons from the past, whilst optimising the opportunities through technology to successful monetisation of the creative content."
Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Ed Vaizey also endorsed the consortium, stating that "We need a sustainable UK industry and this initiative will really help.
"Creative and innovative ways of working are exactly what the games industry needs to grow. By bringing companies together through this new initiative NESTA is helping developers get the most out of their Intellectual Property."
The consortium is hosting three regional meetings for interested developers in London (December 7), Edinburgh (December 2) and Leeds (January 20). Attendance may registered here.
NESTA is also seeking a CEO for the new publisher.