To qualify for GamesTax Relief in the UK, games will need to pass a cultural test, as required by
the EU. TIGA is working with the UK Coalition Government to help determine the
details of this test. TIGA wants the views of developers, digital publishers and
the wider UK gaming community on the content of this test.
The fundamentals of
the cultural test for video games will be similar to the one that exists for
the Film Tax Credit, but TIGA would like the input of members and of the wider
industry to help influence a cultural test that is suited to our industry and
which will capture the cultural elements of videogames. Games will secure
points if their content meets fundamental features of the Cultural Test.
The
Fundamentals
Cultural
content: British or European locations, characters,
literature, film, and language.
British
heritage:
British or European cultural heritage or mythology.
Creativity: Innovations in gameplay,
graphics, AI, audio, physics or functionality.
Cultural
hubs: Development within the UK.
Cultural
practitioners:
Creative input of UK or EEA nationals.
TIGA believes Games Tax Relief (GTR) will
give a powerful boost to the UK games sector. There is a huge opportunity for
the industry at large to have their say in the future for the UK games industry,
which because of GTR should be very prosperous indeed. Have your say by tweeting us or commenting on our facebook page and tell us:
Would you expect
the test to focus on the creators or the content of a game?
What elements of
British culture would you like to see represented more in games?
Our diversity
and regional differences are as important as our wider shared traits and
heritage.
Would you expect to see this reflected in the cultural test?
Do you think
that science fiction and fantasy games can reflect British culture?
Do you think
that innovation in game design should be rewarded in the test?
Do you think
that art involved in games production should be rewarded in the test?
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“TIGA’s
aim is to strengthen the UK games development and digital publishing sector and
to ensure that the industry contributes to economic growth. Video games can be
cultural products and provided that the cultural test is designed to reflect
the nature of video games, then the culturally based Games Tax Relief will give
a powerful boost to the UK games sector.
“British
video games developers can generate iconic characters like ‘Monty Mole’ and
‘Dizzy’, cultivate new game innovations like Little Big Planet’s “Play Create Share’ ethos, use narrative in new
ways as the Fable series did and
convey the humour that has delighted people of all ages in the Lego games
franchise. “Games
can be educational too. Denki was involved in the design and production of InQuizitor, a revision tool primarily
aimed at high-school children, while PLA studios are developing a training game
for the Army (Royal Armoured Corps, Signals).
“Games
draw upon many artistic disciplines. Typically, 30 – 50 per cent of the cost of
game development is spent on artists, animators and designers, with studios
such as Frontier Developments creating beautiful art. Music is also an
essential element of many games. Driver
San Francisco, developed by Ubisoft Reflections, involves 80 licensed
tracks. Similarly, the compose Richard
Jacques used a live symphony orchestra in the video game soundtrack for Headhunter.”
Video games have a major
impact upon other creative media. Video games have inspired films, (e.g. Tomb Raider, Silent Hill, Final Fantasy),
television programmes (e.g. Lost),
and music (e.g. EMI has organised a orchestral tour series called Video games
Live featuring music from video games). Video games have also had an influence
on literature, fine arts, design, museum exhibitions, academia, children’s
industries, radio, newspapers and the Internet.
Jason Kingsley OBE, TIGA Chairman and CEO and Creative
Director at Rebellion, said:
“TIGA’s
members include small and start-up studios. These developers and digital
publishers in particular need as much certainty as possible before or during
the prototype phase that their game will pass the cultural test.”
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 games publishers, outsourcing
companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA
was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’
at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been
named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National
Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding
Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an ‘Investors in People’
accredited organisation.
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 further information, please contact Dr
Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO
on: 07875 939 643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.