UK games development

Immediate release

March 11th 2009

Tiga, the UK’s games developers’ trade association, today called on all businesses in the games industry to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to the Secretaries of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Culture, Media and Sport, to urge them to introduce a tax break for games production. Letters should be sent well before the Budget, currently scheduled for April 22nd 2009.

Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, said:

“Tiga has advanced the case for a tax break for games production with the Government, with the principal Opposition parties and in the media over the last year. Our latest survey of Tiga members shows that 85% of developers support a tax break for games production.

“In the run up to the Budget on April 22nd, the games industry needs to emphasise to the Government how vital it is to introduce a tax break for games production. With a 20% tax break for games production in place, similar to the European Union approved scheme in France, the UK games industry can expect to remain one of the leading centres for games development in the world. If the Government fails to adopt this measure one of the UK’s critical knowledge economy sectors will contract, more creative jobs will be lost overseas, and our leading position in the global games development industry could be lost.

“So today Tiga is encouraging all games developers and other businesses involved in the games industry to write to Alistair Darling MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Mandelson, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Andy Burnham MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to urge them to introduce a tax break for games production in the April Budget.”

The addresses of the Chancellor and the two Secretaries of State are set out below:

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

2-4 Cockspur Street

London

SW1Y 5DH

The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling

Chancellor of the Exchequer

HM Treasury

Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

Rt. Hon. Lord Mandelson

Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform

1 Victoria Street

London

SW1H 0ET

Notes to editors

1. Tiga is the national trade association that represents games developers in the UK and in Europe. We have 150 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. For further information about Tiga, please contact: Dr Richard Wilson, Tiga CEO on:

E-Mail: richard.wilson@tiga.org

Web: www.tiga.org

Mobile: 07875 939643