TIGA,the trade association representing the UK games industry, today announced Simple
Lifeforms as its newest member.
Simple
Lifeforms is a games consultancy based in London and Dublin which specialises
in social games design, development and publishing. Formed in 2008 by Tadhg
Kelly and Alan O’Dea, it helps clients who are already in the social space, or
those thinking about getting involved in it, to make the best game they can,
understand the trends in the market and figure out the best business model.
Their
consultancy services have been used by clients from around the world, including
IPC Media, Two Way Media, Mudlark, Protégé, Paddy Power, Keas, MadBid and
Outso.
Tadhg
Kelly has worked as a designer and producer for companies like Lionhead, BSkyB
and Climax. He is a prolific writer on the subject of games through his own
blog, and contributes to industry-leading websites such as Inside Social Games,
Gamasutra, MCV and Gamesbrief.
His blog
(and forthcoming book), What Games Are, explores the intersection of game
making as an art and a business. With over 1,000 subscribers and 15,000 monthly
readers in the five months since its launch, it has become an important voice
in the debate about games, both creatively and commercially.
Alan
O’Dea has an MBA from the Bradford University School of Management,
specialising in the video game sector. He worked as the business development
director for Monumental, and publishing manager for Cybersports, as well as with
other companies such as Eutechnyx and Revolution. He has many years prior to
this as an executive in the Internet advertising and web design businesses,
including winning a Golden Spider award. He is currently leading a project
under the Propeller Fund in Dublin for Simple Lifeforms, and consults with
various social and online game clients on their business strategy and approach.
Tadhg
explains the reason why Simple Lifeforms joined TIGA:
“Games
are an evolving industry, and it’s difficult for many of our clients to find
the help that they need to navigate these complicated waters. TIGA struck me as
an excellent way to meet people from all across the sector, hear their views
and concerns, and get in touch with them.””
Richard
Wilson, CEO of TIGA, stated:
“At
TIGA we are proud to represent the diverse and talented companies, like Simple
Lifeforms, that make up the exciting video games sector. We are passionate about fostering greater networking
and knowledge sharing in our creative industry and look forward to working
closely with Simple Lifeforms in this regard.””
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 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 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
07875939643: or email richard.wilson@tiga.org; or contact David Hodges on
02070911653