TIGA: UK and Finnish Developers/Digital Publishers Can Share Best Practice

By December 14, 2011 Press Releases

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, said today that both UK and Finnish developers/digital publishers and their governments can learn from one another. TIGA made the remarks at an event organised by the Finnfacts, Embassy of Finland in London and Nokia, on the theme of ‘What is the future of gaming in Finland and the UK?’

Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, is participating in a panel discussion at the event. Speaking in advance of the event, he said:

“The UK and Finnish video games sectors have impressive track records. Financially, video games are Finland’s most important cultural export. The UK is one of the largest producers of video games in the world and is the largest in Europe.

“Both UK and Finnish developers/digital publishers and their governments can learn from one another. Finland has a particularly strong mobile game development sector, a first class education system and its Government supports the sector and other high technology businesses via Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

“The UK boasts a substantial and highly qualified talent pool, some of the finest video games studios globally, technical as well as creative excellence, and an on-going ability to generate products that sell well globally and to create new genres. “Both the UK and Finnish games industries have seen an increase in start-up studios in recent years. Although competition is intense, it is possible to create a game and bring it to market in a very short space of time.

“Both the Finnish and UK games industries are export focused. 90 per cent of the Finnish games industry’s turnover comes from export activities. Similarly, 95 per cent of UK game developers export at least some of their games. In the case of the UK there is an urgent need to promote an export led recovery. We need to support more start-up independent studios and help them to grow.

At TIGA, we offer best practice information and advice, networking and discounts to help new studios grow. TIGA will also continue to campaign for the UK Coalition Government and for the Scottish Government to invest in the video games industry to enable our sector to make a significant contribution to export led growth.”

Notes to editors:

Tekes grants annually around EUR 600 million towards innovative projects aimed at generating new know-how and new kinds of products, processes, and service or business concepts.
 
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. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum.
 
In 2011, TIGA won six business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum and ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered Management Institute. Richard Wilson won the ‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association Forum and the ‘Outstanding Leader’ award from the Chartered Management Institute. 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: 07875 939 643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.

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