Tiga uppercuts the UK government

Game-development association tells politicians what's needed to make the UK the best place in- the world to do games business.

The words "games" and "government" have been in the British headlines a lot as of late. The fallout from the Byron review continues to have repercussions for the BBFC and ELSPA, while the topic of tax breaks and funding arises at nearly every industry event. Although the ratings boards still seem to be in disarray, industry body Tiga has presented its own set of suggestions to address the latter problem, which in the group's opinion can be used by politicians to make the UK the best place in the world to make games.

The key tenets in the outline include lighter business taxation, an increase in maths and science graduates and knowledge transfer between universities, the games industry, and other creative areas. Tiga also specifically called for the lowering of tuition fees for undergraduate courses in mathematics and computer science as a way to directly bolster the number of graduates in those fields.

Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, said, "Our industry will be world-beating with a policy framework that leads to lighter business taxation, an increase in the supply of graduates, and which supports knowledge transfer, and research and development."

Tiga particularly criticised the UK government for "its failure to appreciate the significance of the tax environment as a source of competitive advantage for business." The organisation claims that "lighter business taxation" can be achieved either through a tax break for games production and training or through lower corporation tax.

17 Comments

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 7:46 am PT

    Won't happen the government is too busy selling secrets on eBay

  • Billy_Lee

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 3:15 am PT

    What is the point in this if the game companies are going to continue to be stubborn with recruitment. I've been trying to get another job in the games industry for 6 months with no luck, having only had 2 interviews in that time. And I have almost 4 years of industry experience!

  • malachi

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    The only way I see this working if game companies stop closing down. I live by the centre of Birmingham and seen a number of game companies close down, not even relocating to anywhere else in the UK

  • andurilmat

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 4:05 pm PT

    i've just started a computer science course at uni focusing on games design, this news is music to my ears

  • SpareJesus

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 11:43 am PT

    Sadly, the only thing that interested me was the title of this article.

  • tyzwain

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 10:49 am PT

    We're doing okay, but we need to improve drastically. Maybe make it easier for us guys who have the ideas to break into the gaming market?

  • tomo90

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 10:22 am PT

    Had there been more available positions in the U.K game industry, I would have definatly done computer and software engineering, but there wasn't when I applied for university. Good luck to anyone that does go into the game industry though!

  • MonkeyWrench127

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 9:50 am PT

    Absolutely fantastic idea, although it won't work.
    Here in the UK, gaming is viewed by the press and the government as the thing that causes all evil in the world...

  • coruscant

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 8:51 am PT

    We need to make the UK better for games designers, this is a great idea.

  • bamir0

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 8:22 am PT

    jadeweapon: Let's have no forum be free of casual racism and ignorant political posturing. This is the internet after all.

  • the_sorrow_MGS_

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 7:37 am PT

    Mr_Ploppy_z: you took the words right out of my mouth

  • E-ROLE

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 7:22 am PT

    want to go into a Game design cource after my graphics BA, but it's all about money. if tuition fees are droppped alot then maybe i can afford it.

  • SpamU

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 7:11 am PT

    i agree with jadeweapon!

  • mAttthhheaLy

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 7:11 am PT

    I'm all for lowering the tuition fees - I'm applying for a maths undergrad degree this year. Haha

  • jadeweapon

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 6:20 am PT

    Stop paying dropouts to stay in school and use that funding on people who WANT to learn.
    Whats the point in paying idiots to mess school up for the ones who want to be there.
    To make the UK the best place for games, you need to teach the Imigrants how to make games. Then we'll be swimming in them.

  • Mr_Ploppy_z

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 5:47 am PT

    I'm doing a games development course next year... this would help me in later life indeed

  • Dragonahcas

    Posted Sep 30, 2008 5:35 am PT

    I think the suits forget/dont want to know about how lucrative this market can be.

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