Shadow Culture Minister upset over lack of UK support for video game industry
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Oct 28th 2009 at 3:01AM }
Vaizey quotes research that finds the UK video game sector could shrink 16.5 percent over the next five years, resulting in a potential loss of "£180 million in external investment and nearly 1,700 jobs" – the same words of warning that UK trade association Tiga has been going on about. Vaizey concluded his speech at the London Games Conference saying, "Politicians need to take this industry seriously and promote [it] consistently. ... The industry needs a voice at the national level, and we will explore how best to effect this. There needs to be a renewed focus on the skills you need to continue to grow."
Then he warned the audience that the ability to destroy a planet was insignificant next to the power of the Shadow Lords -- kidding. Ah, good fun, but here's an explanation of the "Shadow Cabinet."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Apollo @ Oct 28th 2009 3:44AM
No......just no.............
kojo87 @ Oct 28th 2009 3:48AM
how awesome is that job title.
"hi what do you do?"
"oh hi i am the UK Shadow Culture Minister"
"oh cool beans"
TheTjalian @ Oct 28th 2009 4:18AM
FINALLY! It's about time someone in Parliament backed up the industry. Lets hope this leads somewhere. If the tories really are going to put a significant active effort in supporting the games industry, they can expect my vote come election day.
Aerothorn @ Oct 28th 2009 6:18AM
You're willing to override policies on things such as war, health care, transportation, the environment, and overall economic models in exclusive favor of theoretical financial support of the video game industry? Really?
Orion @ Oct 28th 2009 9:29AM
Yes.
TheTjalian @ Nov 1st 2009 2:17PM
Considering I'm fine with quite a few other Tory policies, and my career lies in the games industry, yes.
Mogster @ Oct 28th 2009 4:47AM
The Conservatives have just won the internet.
VyX @ Oct 28th 2009 4:47AM
Just a wild thought, but why do I get the feeling that wiki link to the Shadow Government seem like one big joke?
Aerothorn @ Oct 28th 2009 6:19AM
You'll have the same experience if you read a description of British parliament in general.
Or pretty much any British bureaucracy.
What I didn't realize until I came here was that Brazil is a documentary.
Ethan @ Oct 28th 2009 4:56AM
Well, their core voters still think of games as murder simulators for children, but seeing as their rise to power is somewhat inevitable, it's very heartening to hear the issue discussed. Although we'll see if it crops up again with a different audience.
Stupidiot @ Oct 28th 2009 5:22AM
Joystiq, have you been wiki-tampering?
"The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of Dark Lords and Ladies in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Hand of the Dark Lord (or the leader of other smaller evil factions) form a sinister cabinet that parallels the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government for eventual grisly demise."
I must say I lol'd heartily. My local MP is the shadow home secretary, by the by.
Godmil @ Oct 28th 2009 5:46AM
Finally a politician taking the games industry seriously in the UK. But I'm not in a awkward position that I *shudder* kinda want the conservitives to win now :( (For you Americans, the conservitives are the equivilent of the republicans)
Aerothorn @ Oct 28th 2009 6:34AM
Some days, I do feel better knowing that when it comes to voting, the British are trapped between the same rock and hard place that Americans are.
Except you guys at least have a semi-viable third party (Liberal Democrats). We don't even get that:(
LaughingTarget @ Oct 28th 2009 6:53AM
The usual economic mess, courtesy of one of Britains biggest morons, John Maynard Keynes. The only way a government can support an industry is to steal resources away from another. Governments don't produce anything, just take.
Supporting the games industry will ruin it. Certain developers will get favored status, others without political clout ignored. The entire pricing system gets corrupted with subsidies and resources are ultimately wasted, driving the industry into general decay. No government industry has ever done well.
If the UK really cares, it's best to just create a general environment that allows people to innovate and thrive without interference. This means no regulatory body and minimal taxation. If the UK does that, they can count on me leaving the US for their cold shores (that and get rid of universal health and social programs).
Stupidiot @ Oct 28th 2009 7:37AM
You're asking for pure free market and capitalist ideals from a country with a renowned (and admittedly broken) social support structure...
This is why I'm voting BNP.
Emophia @ Oct 28th 2009 8:58AM
If you;re voting BNP, I hope you get shanked and curb stomped.
I mean, I wouldn't do it myself, but if I knew were you lived, I could pass it on to some people that would be more then happy to.
Au @ Oct 28th 2009 12:33PM
You do realize that things like public education, public law enforcement, the military, housing market regulations, and even government bailouts to failing industries exist because of social programs right?
And that the health care system in the UK is ranked (a lot) higher than that of the USA according to the WHO right?
(http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~wgreene/Statistics/WHO-COMP-Study-30.pdf)
If you can't figure it out given information this blatant, then there's no hope for you.
Stupidiot @ Oct 28th 2009 3:08PM
Nah, in all likelihood I'll be voting lib dem on the opposite end of the scale.
I was just intrigued to see how quickly I could be downranked (not subtle enough to call it trolling ;D).
Fallen Heero @ Oct 28th 2009 8:53AM
meh its the conservatives, there trying to get as many supporters as they can by appealing to everyone. As the famous Wilson quote goes "promised much, delivered little". I think the conservatives will do just that...