Comments on: Game Over for UK developers?

By: Les T

Les T — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:39:07 +0000

That is, perfect article, not perfect situation.

By: Les T

Les T — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:49:27 +0000

Perfect!

By: steven g

steven g — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:10:10 +0000

I think it is very important to point out that these tax breaks are there at the point of development to encourage risk and investment. Should a project actually become profitable the government then recoups the ‘lost tax’ on top of any other company profit etc. So in effect its a system designed to encourage risk, but should the risk payout the government (and tax payer) doesn’t loose out. The problem of course is that many games don’t make a profit, and should the games be in the firing range of the daily mail then that too would complicate things.

I suppose the government’s logic is one where they argue, why games? Why not other industries too. However, I think there is a cultural and job quality argument with regard to games, similar to that of film.

By: Zoibie

Zoibie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:22:39 +0000

Fantastic article! I certainly agree that things are unlikely to change any time soon, not only is not very high on the agenda (especially with an election soon) but I’m a sure a majority of voters won’t care so long as they can keep swinging their Wii-remotes; there’s little potential for publicity.

Still, I guess we should count ourselves lucky that the issue of videogame censorship hasn’t been brought up as much as in some countries

By: LordVonPS3

LordVonPS3 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:28:19 +0000

“British developers have given the games industry an incalculable amount of revenue and kudos, and players an equal amount of fun, in the past. What can we expect from the UK in the future? The worrying answer is: possibly very little.”

The answer to the question is actually regarding the risk companies want to take in terms of brand and reputation.

How much are they willing to pay to get the job done – properly? The real answer is – quite a bit actually – especially when they don’t have the expertise, knowledge or skill to do it themselves.

Since you seem to be debating the inevitable rise in offshore development, let me put it this way. Offshore development has brought you…

* Broken online gaming.

* Broken single player gaming.

* No actual reduced cost in video game prices – but an increased cut in development skills, knowledge & expertise.

* Job cuts and unemployment.

The problem isn’t with politicians, it’s with private shareholders looking to make a quick buck and company executives taking home super fat pay-bonuses instead of paying their staff.

The net outcome will be more British developers being contracted to do specific work and being paid – what they’re worth – to deliver demonstrably superior games.

After all, if all your games are crap, (I’d hope) no-one will buy them.

By: rekonizakilla

rekonizakilla — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:19:23 +0000

i remember Keith Vaz (dodgey wanker). Lied about the circumstances of a school boys death to support his argument against the release of a video game.
Good site, Good read.

By: rekonizakilla

rekonizakilla — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:15:34 +0000

I re

By: Snezana N

Snezana N — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:15:57 +0000

Really, really interesting article. I keep being amazed by how you guys are able to pick out the most interesting and relevant issues, and write so passionately about it. This is an issue that is definitely worth being discussed about – kudo’s for bringing it to the light of the audience. I’m sure most people aren’t even aware of this issue. Here is Holland exactly the opposite occurs – game companies are very well supported, to the point even that some take advantage of it in a wrong way. Britain has given us some of the most brilliant games and especially in these times, support from the government is very much needed.