Gaming Matters
I had a meeting with the video games industry yesterday. The last time I played a video game was space invaders in Kensington Market as a teenager, so the gaming revolution has passed me by. I probably won’t come across it at home again until Joseph is in his teens. So it was usefil - and important - to be reminded that the gaming industry in this country employs 22,000 people, generates sales of £1.36 billion, and a net balance of payments of £200 million.
We only really read about it when it is being kicked by an MP for some violent game - and it’s important it takes those criticisms on board. But it is equally important that we don’t simply think of the “creative industries” as film and music. Canada (Quebec really) gives huge tax breaks to its indsutry, which has decimate the French sector, and the French are planning their own retaliatory tax break. It’s interesting that in the UK films get a tax break but games don’t. When you consider that a successful game employs 500 people and can cost up to £40 million….