We've been optimistic here on the gamesblog about the robustness of the games industry in the face of the economic climate. NESTA, the National Endowment of Science and Technology Arts is trying its best to burst our bubble with some well-research realism.
The results of Raise the Game, a cross-national long-term study, suggest that the UK is restrained in its "capacity to generate new games ideas and innovative genres". A key finding in the report:
This report shows that in spite of its high levels of technical and creative skills and its continued production of world-class games, the UK games studio sector faces important structural weaknesses. They include a lack of global scale publishers, limited access to finance and skill shortages.
Yet the UK industry is regarded around the world as a hub of technological expertise and innovation. It is a world leader in developing new genres, from God Games to Massively Multiplayer Online Games, and its 200+ development studios lead in many other genres.
What has changed? Well, Nesta proposes that globalisation in the sector has increased competition, and that other countries have put into place integrated support systems, like subsidies and tax breaks, drawing talent away.
Further, while the UK indie scene thrives - approximately 50% of British studios are independently owned, according to TIGA in 2006 - the major international players like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo - are scooping up the small fries, and assimilating them into their international scope. Indeed, one of the last bastions in British publishing, SCi, was the subject of takeover rumours last week by French company Ubisoft or Canadian stalwart EA.
Does this make a difference to the British gamer? Do you Brits have any national pride in the gaming output that comes from these shores?
