2. The recent disruption to the Irish economy may provide a boon to this sector. Casual game development does not require large up-front capital costs. It is, however, affected by the cost of office space and relevant talent. The broad reduction in the Irish cost base will likely improve our competitiveness in this field.

3. Ireland already has a flourishing technology sector which can provide broad support to the games industry. The key platforms, such as Facebook, have large Dublin offices. Infrastructure, in the form of server farms provided by companies such as Amazon, is available locally. These businesses are, in turn, supported by a wealth of quality graduates and research being produced by third-level Game On! institutions. The universities have long realised the importance of this sector. Trinity College has arguably Philip Nolan (pic), Partner at Mason Hayes & Curran and Oisin Tobin, Mason Hayes & Curran led the way with a dedicated MSc in Interactive Entertainment Technology.

At Mason Hayes & Curran, we expect this The games industry can be broadly to facilitate multiplayer gaming across The game sector is one of sector to continue to develop and to go segmented into two distinct markets. the internet, was acquired by Activision from strength to strength. In this regard, the unsung success stories One market is for “hardcore” games. Blizzard in 2007 and now provides the recent Forfás report “The Games These are the big ticket, graphics- intense the technological backbone to the of the Irish economy. Sector in Ireland: An Action Plan for and expensive products which are multiplayer aspect of the record- Growth” provides much food for thought. Games have come a designed to be played on dedicated games breaking ‘Call of Duty’ franchise. The proposals to provide additional R&D long way from humble consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox 360 The other market, the one which is driving tax breaks to the industry and to reduce and Sony’s Play Station 3. beginnings as little more the increasing prominence of gaming as the income tax paid by employees in than electronic toys. The Hardcore games tend to cost in the region an entertainment medium, is for ‘casual this sector could help stimulate growth, industry now has annual of €50 to purchase and are often launched games’. These are games which tend to but it remains to be seen how feasible to much fanfare as part of expensive be relatively economical to make and are such proposals will be in the current sales in excess of €50bn. marketing campaigns. Ireland plays a key usually played on either mobile phones environment. However, the mere fact that The largest game release support role in this sector. or via online platforms such as Facebook. the games industry is beginning to get Key examples here would be “Farmville”, • Activision Blizzard, makers of the high-level recognition it deserves is in history, “Call of Duty: an online farming simulator played on the famous “World of Warcraft” encouraging. It may well be that fun and Black Ops” made over multiplayer game, have a significant Facebook and “Angry Birds,” a puzzle games, rather than toil, will drive the Irish $650 million in sales in presence in Dublin and Cork. game played on smart phones such as the a Dublin-based development studio. 1. A good balance has been struck economy forward. iPhone. These casual games are either Jolt Online, an Irish casual games between encouraging world leaders • The graphics found in many its first five days, more provided free of charge and supported by development studio was acquired by to establish their European base in blockbuster games are powered by a advertising or sold at low price and high Ireland and promoting homegrown than any movie or book renowned physics simulation engine GameStop, one of the world’s largest volume (€1 would be typical). has ever achieved. created by Havok, a Trinity College spin ‘bricks and mortar’ games retailers talent. The Industrial Development out. Ireland is quickly establishing itself in 2009. Agency Ireland has targeted this as world leader in this sector. Zynga, sector and has played a key role in • Bioware, the makers of the popular Reviewing the current state of play, the makers of Farmville, along with promoting Ireland globally. Enterprise Star Wars online multiplayer game we can see the emergence of a game many other Facebook-based games, Ireland has devoted much effort provide global customer support industry “ecosystem” in Ireland. A have opened a Dublin office. PopCap, to promoting and developing the from Galway. number of factors suggest that this domestic sector. Both bodies should the makers of many bestselling and industry is likely to see increased • Demonware, an Irish company be congratulated for their work in critically acclaimed casual games such as success in the coming years. specialising in the technology required “Bejeweled” and “Plants v Zombies” has this regard.

Mason Hayes & Curran • Page 6 Mason Hayes & Curran • Page 7