TIGA, the UK's trade association for the video game industry, said it would continue its campaign to achieve tax relief for UK developers. The organization will push the issue of fiscal reforms leading to the next general election and take the "opportunity to raise the industry's profile amongst parliamentary candidates of all major political parties" -- including the Shadow Lords.
Jason Kingsley, Chairman of the TIGA board and CEO of Rebellion Studios, notes a recent study by M2 Research about industry job losses. It found that of 11,488 positions were lost in the industry last year, with the US making up 71 percent, with Europe accounting for 13 percent. However, the UK made up 81 percent of that European total, which by our calculations is about 1,210 lost jobs. In comparison, Canada lost only 2 percent, or about 230 jobs. Kingsley believes Canada's favorable tax environment helped them weather the recent economic issues.
[Via Edge]
Reader Comments (4)
Posted: Jan 12th 2010 5:46AM Shinchi said
Yeh, I can vouch for this; I got made redundant from my Job working as a games developer just recently. The companies are in need of money to keep them afloat because of the massive cost to making to games. The problem for us is that where as before you could remain in the company for years and be a valuable asset between major projects, now your considered a burden on the finances. It's getting so hard to make money now, that games companies are looking at some very nasty areas that you don't even want to know about.
Posted: Jan 12th 2010 8:51AM (Unverified) said
You should tell us so we can preemptively make internet petitions and rage endlessly about it.
Reply
Posted: Jan 12th 2010 9:10AM EatMoreBread said
I hear internet petitions are extremely effective!
It's too bad, though, that video games still aren't seen as a legitimate entertainment industry. Funny thing is, I bet if you asked someone living in the turn of the century if they thought those moving picture things were a legitimate form of entertainment. Probably not.
It's too bad, though, that video games still aren't seen as a legitimate entertainment industry. Funny thing is, I bet if you asked someone living in the turn of the century if they thought those moving picture things were a legitimate form of entertainment. Probably not.
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM