RDA funding for video games remains unbalanced

By February 8, 2010 Press Releases

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK video games industry, said today that the post code lottery in support for the video games sector remains firmly in place. TIGA made the comments after new information about Regional Development Agency (RDA) funding for the video games industry was revealed by the Government in response to a parliamentary question tabled by the Conservative MP Philip Davies.

Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:

“RDA funding for the video games industry remains very unbalanced. ONE spent £931,000 on projects specifically aimed at the video game industry in 2008-09, whereas the South East Economic Development Agency (SEEDA) spent just £58,000 and the East Midlands Development Agency apparently invested nothing over the same period. The existing funding arrangements mean that clusters of video game developers with potential receive minimal support. Some RDAs may be comparatively underfunded and so unable to back the video games sector sufficiently.””

Jason Kingsley, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion, said:

“We need a more rational system of support for the video games industry in England. More funding should be made accessible through national programmes that developers, wherever they are based, can benefit from. Additionally, RDA funded programmes for the video games sector should complement, not compete with the work of private sector organisations like TIGA.””

ENDS

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.

RDAs spend £2,586,000 on projects specifically aimed at the video games industry in 2008-09. See Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 3 February 2010, c336W).

Video Games: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much financial assistance was given by regional development agencies to the video games industry in 2008-09. [312993]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The following table shows how much has been invested by each RDA in projects specifically aimed at the video game industry.

RDA RDA financial assistance to the video games industry in 2008-09 (£000)( 1)
AWM 729
EEDA 288
EMDA 0
LDA 250
NWDA 135
ONE 931
SEEDA 58
SWERDA 0
YF 195
(1) To identify the financial assistance that has been provided from broader programmes (e.g. business support) would incur disproportionate cost.

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

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