ScottishGames.biz

New Report Backs TIGA's Call For Tax Relief

A new report into the interactive sector in the UK backs the call from TIGA for tax relief for games development studios.

The report, produced by the Creative Industries Observatory (part of the London College of Communication), focuses on the games development sector within London itself.  The report covers a great deal of ground, introducing the games sector as a whole and providing history, background, context and the overall structure of the games sector, as well as a breakdown of locations across the UK where games related companies are present.

Dundee is listed as #2 on the list, with six games companies present.  London is listed as #1, with 23 different games companies within the city.

The report also points out that the capital is not the dominant power house for the games sector in the way that the television, film and music industries consider London 'home'.

All in all, it's well worth a read, if only to see how the industry is seen nationally.  As an academic report, all sources are provided and figures/statistics taken from other publicly available data.

TIGA CEO Richard Wilson is quoted as saying:

“This report confirms that the video games industry is fleet of foot, capable of locating and investing wherever there is access to a skilled workforce, universities and favourable fiscal conditions. Given the footloose nature of the industry, it is crucially important that public policy actively serves to retain and attract games businesses to the UK.

“This means that public policy should aim to provide a competitive fiscal environment, promote world class education and training and encourage knowledge sharing between businesses and universities.

“Tiga is actively representing the games industry in political circles, raising the profile of the industry in the media and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. Our aim is nothing less than to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. With the right policy environment we can make this vision a reality.”

Games Design Becomes Part Of The National Curriculum

This story was released on Monday and was picked up by quite a number of the gaming media, but outside the Herald, the rest of the Scottish media seem to have overlooked it.

Which on the one hand is strange, as it's a story which has a huge impact on the children of Scotland, the future of the interactive industry and the Scottish government's growing realisation that the business of creating games is a significant sector within the Scottish economy.

On the other hand, it's games, so why would they bother...?

However you can ALWAYS rely on your friendly neighbourhood SG.biz to carry the NEW and IMPORTANT information about anything related to the world of gaming...

We're already in the process of finding out more information about this new initiative and hope to be reporting more on it in the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, here's the official word from the government...

Scottish schoolchildren are to be taught how to design and develop their own electronic games as part of the Scottish Government's new approach to learning, Curriculum for Excellence.

Pupils will use software to create their games in a move which it is hoped will create dynamic young programmers of the future who will ensure the continued success of Scotland's games industry, which employs more than 500 and generates £20million annually.

Pupils will also be taught how to use computer software to create animations and feature films.

Some children across Scotland are already experiencing computer design and animation in class but this is the first time guidelines on what skills children should be equipped with have been presented.

Maureen Watt, Minister for Schools and Skills, said:

"A key aim of Curriculum for Excellence is to produce informed, skilled, adaptable and enterprising citizens of the future. Technologies have become part of every day modern life, whether in computer programming, engineering or craft and design - and we need to encourage children to be confident and competent when using them.

"The pace of change in the world means that we should be equipping young people with the skills to embrace and use all the tools of modern life.

"There is huge confidence that Scotland will continue to play an important part in the future of video games and interactive entertainment and we are focusing on establishing firm foundations for lifelong learning and, for some, specialised study and careers."

Learning technologies offers young people opportunities to develop their skills for life and skills for work within a creative and work related context, allowing them to see the links between the classroom and the world of work.

Guidance on teaching technologies forms part of the 'draft outcomes' which are published today as part of the Government's plans to introduce a more holistic approach to education for children aged three to 18.

Ms Watt said:

"The draft outcomes for our new curriculum are intended to help teachers make teaching more relevant, exciting and engaging. Technologies are important areas of the whole learning process and we are keen to receive feedback on the outcomes from professionals who will be working towards this transformation across Scottish education.

"It is vitally important that teachers read and react to these outcomes and think about how they can use this guidance to make their teaching as good as it can be."

Curriculum for Excellence aims to provide seamless education from age three to 18 and is taking a fresh look at what is taught in schools and how.

It aims to ensure that all young people can be successful learners, effective contributors, confident individuals and responsible citizens.

School pupils are already seeing changes in their classrooms through the groundwork that has been ongoing since 2004. The draft outcomes provide further tools for teachers. The plans are being firmed up in this school year and in 2009-2010 all schools across Scotland will be working on delivery.

Curriculum for Excellence will shift the balance between a teaching process that is heavily dependent on content to one that values new approaches that improve pupils' understanding of what is being taught. This is not a one-off change but the start of a continuous process of review to ensure that the curriculum remains up to date.

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How Politics Works #1

1.  Pick media form which features mature content
2.  Assert media causes violence/crime
3.  Seize upon any evidence, regardless of whether it supports your hypothesis
4.  Maintain position despite any evidence to the contrary