TIGA,
the trade association representing the UK games industry, says estimates that
spending on Smart TV gaming will reach $1.6 billion by 2016 will open the
industry to the wider public.
Although there have been major strides towards making gaming a mainstream
pursuit with mobile phones and tablets – effectively putting games consoles in
the hands of millions – the ability to play direct through a television could
put gaming in every living room.
Analyst firm IHS predicts there will be 800 million TVs with internet and
gaming access over the next four years. Also with cloud gaming services such as
Gaikai and OnLive bringing console-style gaming to even low-power devices, the
future looks positive for games developers.
Although
developers are likely to be able to offer their games direct to consumers, the
platform holders could become super publishers and TIGA says it is important
that the talent of developers is recognised.
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“Gaming
is moving at a great pace with new platforms and ways of working emerging on a
regular basis. It is great that developers can publish their work direct to
platforms such as the App Store and Google Play where a 70-30 split is now seen
as a given but we must ensure that such weighting continues and spreads to
newer platforms.
“There is a great opportunity for developers to make the most of the Smart
TV space and it offers a market on an unprecedented scale along with the scope
to bring gaming to still more people.”
Patrick
O'Luanaigh, TIGA board member and CEO, nDreams Ltd, said:
“I think most UK
developers and publishers will welcome the growth of Smart TV platforms as
another exciting outlet for their games. I hope that as Smart TVs evolve, we'll
see less proprietary technology and more shared standards, and that the Smart
TV platform teams will work with developers and publishers to provide
information and support bringing their IPs onto interactive TV.”
Stephen Swan, CEO, Waterfront Entertainment Ltd, said:
“We have been making games for
direct play on TVs for more than 8 years and our colleagues at Denki for even
longer. Until now these games have been limited by the need to broadcast those
games over satellite but it has still been a successful market for us and the
broadcasters. Now that those same TVs are being connected to the internet the
options become bigger and bolder, making casual games more accessible to all.
“The trick to this market is to
remember the ergonomics of the living room. Not every household and certainly
not every viewer has access to tablets and smart phones. Games need to appeal
not just to individuals but be capable of engaging families and friends.
“We know that consumers will play
games wherever the medium reasonably supports it. Connected TVs open the door
for higher quality games to be played by wider audiences on the biggest screen
that most consumers have available to them.”
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. Since 2010, TIGA has won 12 business awards and has been nominated a
finalist for 9 other awards. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum. In 2011, TIGA
won eight business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered
Management Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards, including
‘Outstanding Marketing Campaign’.
Richard Wilson won the ‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association
Forum and the ‘Outstanding Leader’ award from the Chartered Management
Institute. In 2012, Richard Wilson won the IoD’s East of England Director of the Year Award. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation. Also in 2012,
TIGA won a Global Business Excellence Award for its ‘Outstanding Public
Relations Campaign’ for Games Tax Relief.
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.