Dundee’s video games industry could be in line for vital Scottish Government help.
First Minister Alex Salmond revealed he has instructed his officials to examine how a new fund could help encourage foreign investment for the crucial industry.
During First Minister’s Questions at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, he said: ”I have asked officials to meet (games industry association) TIGA at the earliest opportunity to discuss how this proposal might be developed.”
The move comes just days after the head of one of the city’s leading video games companies called for the measure (link).
Colin Anderson, managing director of Denki, said a fund that would provide developers with up to £100,000 would ”strengthen” the industry’s prospects.
TIGA is worried jobs and investment are being lost to other countries after the UK Government decided not to give the industry tax relief.
Dundee City West MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who had asked the Scottish Government to look at creative content fund proposal, welcomed Mr Salmond’s announcement.
He said: ”It is great that the Scottish Government is continuing to listen to this vital industry for Dundee and Scotland. I am currently in the process of establishing a cross-party group focused on the computer games industry in Scotland to maintain this support.”
He added: ”The Scottish Government has already showed clear leadership on this issue in the face of Westminster neglect, with £3.35 million direct support provided to the games sector as part of an overall £6.75 million given by the Scottish Government and its agencies in the last year.
”Over the last few weeks I have been in contact with TIGA to discuss this interesting proposal for a creative content fund to provide direct funding to games developers that can then be recouped from the profits made by successful developers and reinvested yet again to allow even more small businesses to flourish.”
The SNP MSP also reiterated his belief that Scottish independence would be beneficial to the industry. Earlier this week TIGA’s Richard Wilson claimed that independence could ”absolutely reshape” the industry and accused the UK Government of ”failing” to invest in it.
Mr FitzPatrick said: ”If the Scottish Government was given control over these vital tax powers then we would be able to get crucial support to these small businesses, enabling them to create jobs and fuel the economic recovery.
”TIGA and the industry recognise this but the UK Government is at odds with the best interests of the games industry’s needs in Scotland.
”The First Minister has promised a meeting between the SNP Government and TIGA to discuss the creative content fund and the best way to move forward.”
Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra, who had lodged a motion calling for the fund to be set up, also welcomed the news.
She said: ”Clearly my motion has touched a nerve. Only three days after it was lodged we have the First Minister saying he’ll get officials to get in touch with TIGA. However, better late than never.”
She added: ”By scrapping Labour’s tax break for the computer games industry it’s clear the Tory-led government has failed to understand how important the industry is to Scotland.
”But if the SNP Government wants to see Scotland’s computer games industry continue to flourish then it must do more to support the industry.”
Abertay University is a recognised centre of excellence in training students in the skills needed to support games development and numerous companies have been formed in recent years.
(Photo Tim Ireland/PA Archive)