UK Government Funding Backs Games Industry

The UK government will inject £3.5 million (approximately $5.7 million U.S.) from its Strategic Investment Fund into new facilities to designed to grow the videogame development sector.

The funding, which could grow to upwards of £10.0 million in total with additional funding from European Regional Development Fund Initiatives and the North West Development Agency, will be used to create special prototype centers at the University of Abertay in Dundee, Scotland and in Manchester’s MediaCity UK.

It is hoped that the investment will assist in the creation of 30 new companies with some 400 new career opportunities over the next three years.

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern (pictured left) was widely praised for his role in capturing Scotland’s share of the funding. Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy told The Courier, “While this announcement is down to the brilliance of the University of Abertay, it is also down to the doggedness of Jim McGovern. He met Peter Mandelson several times and pestered him about Dundee, it’s a job well done by him.”

Dave Jones from Scottish developer Realtime Worlds said in the Daily Record, “Using a prototype fund to provide computing and arts students with the opportunity to get hands on experience of real projects will help equip them better for working in our high growth industry and help feed the demand we have for talent."

Game industry groups were equally happy about the investment.

Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) Director General Mike Rawlinson, said, “The UK videogames industry is one of the country’s most dynamic and creative industries and a leading player in the videogames industry globally. I am sure that this investment will stimulate further innovation and skills training in the UK and help the industry maintain its current momentum.”

TIGA CEO Dr. Richard Wilson stated, “This is good news for the UK games industry. We particularly welcome the intention to use the funding to invest in prototypes to support new Intellectual Property (IP) development. Finding sources for finance for new IP is difficult at the best of times.”