TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, attended an event on games development last week at the European Parliament that was hosted by Emma McClarkin MEP and proposed by the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF).
At the event Emma McClarkin praised the games development sector in her opening speech pronouncing it as “a sectorthat underpins the importance of digital markets for economic recovery and sustainable growth”. She continued noting positively the industry is spearheading “a drive towards a truly digital era by creating new platforms and methods of interaction, facilitating cooperation and dialogue on a scale never imagined before”.
The East Midlands MEP went on to raise the social and cultural importance of games before calling for the “specific needs of the European games industry [to be] addressed and taken into consideration by the EU institutions, especially in terms of the Common Strategic Framework for EU research and innovation funding”.
Dr. Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, commented:
“TIGA was delighted to attend the European Parliament event hosted by Emma McClarkin MEP to highlight proposals that would be of benefit to the UK games development industry. There are a number of issues facing the games industry but access to capital is one of the biggest challenges facing the UK and wider European games industries. Whilst we continue to lobby the UK Government to introduce proposals supporting the domestic industry, TIGA is keen to engage with policy makers in Brussels too.
“TIGA and our colleagues in the EGDF have called for EU policy makers to recognise the cultural value of video games and we have highlighted the need for policy makers to improve access to finance for developers. TIGA will work closely on behalf of our members with our European counter-parts to try and deliver changes from Brussels which will benefit the UK industry. We call on the European Commission to carefully consider the EGDF’s proposals.”