UK games industry
Serious games are a serious business, TIGA reminds us.
1st April 2010
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, said today that not only was the UK video games sector economically important and culturally embedded in society but that video games also had great potential to enhance learning and training. TIGA made the comments following the Game Based Learning 2010 Conference, in London on March 29th – 30th.
Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, spoke at the Conference on March 30th. Following the Conference, Richard said:
“The UK video games sector is not just important economically and culturally. The industry, especially through the use of serious video games, has the potential to enhance learning and training. Approximately 20 per cent of UK games businesses make educational or serious games. Developers such as Blitz, Caspian Learning, Digital 2.0, PlayGen and PIXELearning are already making fascinating, cost effective, experiential learning games. Serious games are being used in industries including defence and health. Research by Learning and Teaching in Scotland also shows that video games can be used in schools to positive effect.
“The Government made a commitment to introduce TIGA’s Games Tax Relief in last week’s Budget. Serious games have the potential to benefit from Games Tax Relief. TIGA will work to ensure that serious games businesses have an opportunity to apply for Games Tax Relief.
“The Game Based Learning Conference demonstrated the interest of educational institutions working with the games industry. TIGA will continue to strengthen dialogue and connections between industry and educational organisations.
“Graham Brown-Martin of Learning without Frontiers did a fantastic job in organising this Conference and is to be warmly congratulated. TIGA looks forward to working with Learning without Frontiers in the future.”
Serious video games are securing recognition by MPs. Ed Vaizey MP, Conservative Shadow Arts Minister, said:
“Video games are not just about leisure - although that's a very important part of what they provide. The technology is used across a whole load of different areas - health, education, military and so on. It's important that video games companies are involved, as the mixture of creativity and expertise they bring ensures that the experience works in all these sectors. Video games technology will be mainstream in all our lives very soon - at school, training for a job, learning new skills. It's another reason to support this vital industry.”
Don Foster, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:
"Learning-based video games are particularly good at overcoming the fear of failure that prevents many children and adults from engaging in education. Developments in this field offer enormous opportunities to adapt learning to individuals' specific needs and to improve students' motivation and enjoyment".
Jason Kingsley, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion Studios, said:
“It is a testament to the potential of learning with video games that two MPs attended the Conference: Tom Watson MP, Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Computer and Video Games Industry, and Ed Vaizey MP, Conservative Shadow Arts Minister.
“Separately, on March 29th Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, praised “the inherent strengths and creativity of UK developers” in the House of Commons and highlighted the technological spill-over effects that video games can have, citing how visualisation technology used in video games can be used for complex soil analysis.
“Serious politicians are giving the UK video games industry serious attention. This is an important achievement. TIGA will continue to highlight the economic, educational and cultural importance of video games to policy makers.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership.
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.
For Learning without Frontiers, see: http://www.learningwithoutfrontiers
For further information, please contact Eva Field, TIGA PR Manager on: 07814 039 983, or email eva@tiga.org.