TIGA Takeout: October 2005

Strategies for next Generation - Seminar

"Firstly, let me thank you for being part of it. I really enjoyed it and the contact with the development community - it took me back to my roots in the games industry and it was fun. I never stop learning about this business and I learnt from the sessions. The balance worked well, it was informative and interesting and I was fascinated with it all.

It takes a lot of thought and effort to put this on and I applaud you and your team for pulling it off. I was also pleased to see the support from the membership.

Hopefully I was value added to your debate and I look forward to contributing again at some future date.

Kind regards

Rod Cousens"

Just one of the positive comments we received from some of the 70+ members who attended the "Strategies for next Gen" seminar last week in Leeds.

Rodâs presentation warned about the competitiveness of the UK sector - the figures for global sales of content produced in the UK and Europe are still respectable - 14%, but down from about 40% some 10 years ago; however strip out the GTA franchise and the current figure is 4%! Those who glibly assert that we punch above our weight and are a success story be warned!

We were given a fascinating insight into next Gen development issues by EAâs Fred Gill who spoke frankly about team sizes, risk minimization strategies and new methods to break down the work.

Other highlights included the challenges that face independent developers from Ian Baverstock; the pros and cons of MMOG development from Nice Tech, along with an interesting look at development and outsourcing to China from Eutechnyx; IOMOâs story and what might work for you in Mobile from John Chasey and Tim Gatlandâs fascinating and humour filled presentation on financing, creating and finding value in Games companies.

MANY THANKS to all of our Seminar Speakers - it was your participation that made the Seminar such a success. The slides are available on the TIGA members side of the website.

R&D Tax Credits - Seminar

At an especially value added seminar held at Affiliate Members, S.J Berwin, on September 26th we heard a presentation from Bruce Braithwaithe on the more evolved and benign R&D Tax Credits regime in operation in Canada, giving members and TIGA some interesting pointers as to where we can press for better treatment and recognition in the UK.

This was followed by a presentation on the members R&D survey and concluded with a debate on how TIGA should respond to the questions in the Treasury consultation on R&D Tax Credits (closing date Oct 12th).

We were extremely privileged to have at the meeting, senior staff responsible for the credit from the Treasury and the Inland Revenue due to our previous ground breaking input into this debate in 2003.

The key message is to "think R&D" before you start a new project and to make sure your CTO is as well aware of the issues as your FD.

Slides available on the TIGA members area of the website.

Welcome to New Publisher Developer Members

Meanwhile the work TIGA has been doing on Best Practice and representing the development community is attracting new members. We are delighted to announce that in the last few months Sony London and Cambridge Studios, and Pivotal Games owned by SCi/Eidos have become members. Other publisher owned studios are in the process of joining.

Another trend is that studios being bought by publishers are opting to stay members of TIGA, such as, Iomo/Infospace and Swordfish/Vivendi.

The board of TIGA has therefore decided that the issue will be debated around a resolution at the AGM to change our constitution so that publisher owned studios have their own (minority) category of representation on the board. If you care about this, be there. Put it in your diary - December 14th TIGA AGM.

Other new Developer members to welcome include HotGen Studios, Strawdog Studios, Nice Tech, 4J Studios, Morpheme, Dynamo Games and Digital Jesters.

Best Practice Update

All parts of the Best Practice Handbook are in the process of being updated.

Model Contracts: East Midlands Media and Game Horizon (North East) have provided funding for the second part of the project to be completed, so that the section on Royalties already developed in 2004 will sit within a full model contract.

Outsourcing: the updated section on best practice in Outsourcing will be available shortly building in the proceedings of the debate that took place at the Outsourcing Conference held in Newcastle in July.

An updated section on R&D Tax Credits will also be available shortly.

There will be a new section on adopting the guidelines and supporting the PEGI voluntary age ratings code of practice. Do it or be regulated by government!

In the early part of 2006 the TIGA Best Practice Road Show will focus on all these areas. The Road Show will visit Nottingham, Newcastle and London.

Board Elections and TIGA Awards

All developer members have been emailed regarding nominations to the board of TIGA for 2006. Please follow the instructions carefully and respond in good time.

You are also reminded that it is time to send your nominations for the TIGA Awards. Last year, we had companies voting for themselves AND other studios as well — so more of this please! Respect for your peers who are capable of producing good work too!