Video Games Industry Roundtable

July 21, 2009

TIGA board members and other senior games industry professionals today met with the newly appointed Minister for Creative Industries at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Siôn Simon to discuss how industry and Government can work together to deliver the commitments made in the recent Digital Britain report.

In calling the meeting Simon said he was keen to maintain the momentum established by the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP and Barbara Follett MP at the previous roundtable in April 09. In addition to Digital Britain other issues to be discussed include the perception of games, skills shortage and the protection of content creation.

Representing TIGA at the meeting was Gareth Edmondson, Managing Director, Ubisoft Reflections; Ian Hetherington, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer, Realtime Worlds and Philip Oliver, CEO, Blitz Games.

Speaking after the meeting Edmondson said: “As requested by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, TIGA is currently preparing detailed evidence for a UK tax break for games production, this will be submitted in August 09. We are also campaigning on crucial issues such as education and skill shortages and have presented a series of workable proposals to Government in these areas. This first meeting with Siôn Simon was very encouraging, he does appear to recognise the importance of the UK videogame industry both economically and culturally. However we are not complacent, this must now be translated into Government policy that provides real benefits for our members and the UK videogames industry as a whole.”

Notes to editors:

1. TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership.

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. See www.tiga.org

For further information, please contact: Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 0845 0941095; Mob: 07875 939643; or Email: richard.wilson@tiga.org, or, Eva Whitlow, TIGA PR Manager on: 07814 039 983, or email eva@tiga.org