A Vision for the Industry in 2020
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A VISION FOR THE INDUSTRY IN 2020 tiga.org 20/20 VISION TIGA’S MANIFESTO FOR THE UK VIDEO GAMES DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY 03 ‘Total War: SHOGUN 2’, developed by Realtime UK P.4 Forewords P.10 Introduction P.12 TIGA and the games industry P.16 Summary of proposals P.20 Power up small firms P.23 Build world winning games businesses P.32 Promote games clusters to boost regional growth P.36 Enhance skills and education, promote measured migration P.42 Footnotes ‘Split Second’, developed by Realtime UK 20/20 VISION TIGA’S MANIFESTO FOR THE UK VIDEO GAMES DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY 05 FOREWORDs THE UK VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY DAMIAN COLLINS MP “In my role as an MP I come across many “Representing numerous small businesses trade associations. TIGA is distinctive in its and comprising an industry of the future, focus, professionalism, and tenacity. TIGA TIGA’s is a voice which deserves to be IS IMPORTANT has campaigned relentlessly for Games heard. I welcome the publication of this Tax Relief over many years and played manifesto as one which I believe will shape a critical role in convincing first the UK the debate about how to sustain growth in ECONOMICALLY, Government to adopt this measure and the video games and creative industries in then enabling the Government to make the years to come.” CULTURALLY AND a successful case for Games Tax Relief to the EU Commission. TIGA’s successful campaign for Games Tax Relief will benefit INCREASINGLY both the games industry and the wider economy and I am glad to have been able EDUCATIONALLY. to advance this important measure. JUSTIN TOMLINSON MP This manifesto contains many sound The ideas in this manifesto should be taken “Representing numerous small ideas that I have discussed while working seriously as an important contribution to closely with TIGA in my capacity as Chair of public policy debate. The United Kingdom businesses and comprising an the Video Games All Party Parliamentary is a world centre of excellence in video Group. In that time, TIGA has done game innovation and we need to make sure a consistently good job of spreading that we continue to attract investment to industry of the future, TIGA’s is a awareness of this vital industry at these shores so that Britain remains in Westminster and elevating the industry’s the lead. I congratulate TIGA on devising voice which deserves to be heard. standing in Whitehall. a comprehensive, credible and coherent policy agenda for the UK games industry. I welcome the publication of this manifesto as one which I believe RT HON STEPHEN TIMMS MP I know from my time as a Minister in The video games industry is at the the Treasury what a good track record forefront of the digital economy. Its will shape the debate about how TIGA has in making well considered success, reflecting the creativity of the submissions to Government and just how country, is making a very important to sustain growth in the video persuasive TIGA’s arguments can be. That contribution to our economic recovery. is why the proposals in this manifesto The proposals in this manifesto will need deserve serious consideration by all those to be weighed carefully by the Government games and creative industries in the formulating policy proposals in advance of which takes over in 2015. the 2015 General Election. years to come.” 20/20 VISION TIGA’S MANIFESTO FOR THE UK VIDEO GAMES DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY 07 JASON KINGSLEY OBE TIGA represents developers, digital inspiring film, television and music. No “Games Tax Relief would not have CEO and Creative Director publishers and the service companies wonder that 86 per cent of British at Rebellion and TIGA Chairman in our industry. Our core purpose is to people believe that video games can strengthen the game development and be cultural products.4 happened without TIGA’s effective, digital publishing sector. We achieve this by fighting for the industry in the Video games are educational. All video passionate and vigorous 7 year corridors of power, championing the games have a rule set that has to be industry in the media and helping our learned before they can be played and members commercially. when a player starts a new game they campaign.” have to be taught how to play it. Many UK The UK video game industry is games businesses have made educational important economically, culturally and or serious games.5 A number of studies increasingly educationally. suggest that video games may help to promote skills such as visual and motor The UK video game sector makes a valuable skills, strategic thinking, relationship contribution to the UK economy. In 2014 JIM MCGOVERN MP “I have worked with TIGA for many TIGA’s manifesto contains a series of well building, computer literacy, collaboration, years to help introduce Games Tax thought out proposals which will receive the video games sector contributed £1.02 competition, multi-tasking and experiential Relief in 2014. This measure will help serious consideration by many politicians billion to the UK’s GDP and generated £419 learning.6 Video games have the potential 1 to create jobs, boost investment and and policy makers and it will help to million for HM Treasury in tax revenues. to play a valuable role in mainstream grow businesses. Yet we need to do influence the policy debate concerning 28,000 people work in the games industry, education,7 in training and in workforce more to ensure that the video games the creative industries. I look forward to including 9,896 in games development. development.8 industry continues to grow. So I am working with TIGA in the future to help Game development sustains knowledge delighted that TIGA has prepared this advance this important industry.” based, graduate employment. A typical The games development and digital well considered manifesto. game development studio will have 80 per publishing sector is a success story. The cent of staff qualified to degree level or introduction of Games Tax Relief in 2014 above. The industry is export focused: 95 – a measure which TIGA successfully per cent of UK games development studios campaigned for over the last seven years export at least some of their games.2 – will have a significant positive impact. Yet if the games industry is to achieve Video games are increasingly embedded its full potential and make a significant LUCIANA BERGER Games Tax Relief would not have I am confident that this important measure in UK culture and society. 73 per cent of contribution to UK employment and growth, Labour and Co-operative MP happened without TIGA’s effective, will have a major positive impact on jobs, the population regularly play video games, for Liverpool Wavertree passionate and vigorous 7 year investment and projects in the UK games then we need to do more. In particular, including two-fifths of people aged over campaign. During this campaign TIGA industry including in Liverpool and across we need policy makers to build an 50.3 Video games are cultural, audiovisual has successfully convinced four political the North West. I am pleased that TIGA environment that is favourable to start-ups products on a par with film, television and parties, three governments and played has now developed this comprehensive set and the growth of sustainable studios, the animation. They draw on artistic disciplines a critical role in persuading the EU of policy proposals to help the UK games promotion of regional development clusters such as music and art, and sometimes Commission to authorise the introduction industry to build on the success of Games and further improvements in education and involve narrative. Video games also interact of Games Tax Relief. I am delighted to have Tax Relief. This is an important contribution skills. This manifesto shows how we can with other forms of media, for example, been able to work with Richard Wilson, as all political parties consider their achieve these goals. TIGA CEO, in successfully lobbying for manifestos for the general election to be Games Tax Relief. weighed carefully by the Government which takes over in 2015. 20/20 VISION TIGA’S MANIFESTO FOR THE UK VIDEO GAMES DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY 09 tiga.org ‘Total War: SHOGUN 2’, developed by Realtime UK 20/20 VISION TIGA’S MANIFESTO FOR THE UK VIDEO GAMES DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY 11 INTRODUCTION THE UK NEEDS A STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH. HIGHER GROWTH AND HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVES LIVING STANDARDS AND WILL IMPROVE THE GOVERNMENT’S FISCAL SITUATION. The central economic theme of the current Broadly speaking the UK needs to promote Parliament (2010 – 2015) has been to reduce a more balanced economic recovery which the Government’s fiscal deficit which arose is less dependent on financial services, because of the financial crisis, damaging consumer expenditure and an expansion of recession and sluggish recovery. The private borrowing to buy houses, and more economic crisis caused significant economic, reliant on investment and exports. This social and political damage and undermined will be a significant challenge. UK gross the UK’s standing in the world. Although the investment as a percentage of GDP was economy has returned to growth there is 14.2 per cent in 2012.11 Capital expenditure still a long way to go.9 remains 20 per cent below its 2008 peak.12 The UK’s trade performance continues to The Parliament and Government which is disappoint. Despite a 25 per cent depreciation elected in 2015 need a different emphasis. of sterling between 2007 and 2009, there The UK needs a strategy for sustainable was minimal impact on the UK’s trade in economic growth. Higher growth and higher goods and services.13 The total trade gap in productivity improves living standards 2013 remained virtually unchanged on 2012 and will improve the Government’s fiscal at £108 billion and exports grew just 1.4 per situation.