The lights are on
Developing video games is a difficult business, and for UK developers it’s not getting easier any time soon. For years Tiga, an advocacy group for game developers, has been calling for tax breaks to help the game industry in the United Kingdom. For years those requests have been rejected by the UK’s government – and this year is no exception. Today in a speech concerning the UK’s pre-budget report, Chancellor Alistair Darling called the argument for video game tax incentives unconvincing, leading to its exclusion from the budget.The report recognizes the “valuable economic and cultural contribution” the video game industry makes in the UK, but states the evidence that the necessity for a “tax incentive for the development of culturally British video games” was not “sufficiently compelling.”But the problem facing the UK isn’t the danger of their developers going bankrupt in this tough economic climate – it’s the danger of them leaving. Over the years an increasing number of UK developers have been packing up and moving to more developer-friendly countries that already offer massive tax subsidies. In an interview with Develop, Tiga’s CEO, Richard Wilson, calls the government’s decision a “colossal mistake,” stating, “It’s all very well that the government says that it feels our pain that Canada is getting our workforce and business with its generous tax breaks, but why isn’t the government actually doing anything about it?" Wilson says he believes the argument for tax breaks will only grow stronger in the future, and that Tiga will continue to fight for them.We’re interested in what our readers across the pond think: Is the Chancellor right for not dolling out more taxpayer money in light of the waning economy, or are video game developers just not being taken seriously? Let us know in the comments below.
[Via Develop]
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I dont think they are being taken seriously, but really... who cares what I think
@DOS XX
I care. Expand.
I can understande that the UK needs the money, but i would like it if someone would stop treating video games as if they are second class. I bet no one would dare do this to the movie business
video games are as much part of popular culture as music and movies are
Nearly everyone in the world is hurting for money, so I can't judge the U.K., but I do wish game developers would be given some more attention. And respect, for that matter.
I don't think that the Chancellor made the right decision. Video game devs should be taken more seriously.
I agree with everything already said here. Take them seriously.
Devs need to be treated with respect. That being said, the UK needs money as well, so I'm split.
apparently we are in that zone between gaming as a way of life and gaming as a toy (if you know what i mean). in a few years the devs we be given their credit and that is when games will be a HUGE part of our lives. that is when games will get better!
I don't think game developers are being taken seriously anywhere. I think that is the core problem. But the lack of money in the UK is probably another primary problem as well.
Think of it this way. What if Tiga was asking the British government not for tax breaks, but for subsidies, for "bailouts?" Then how would you feel? You would say that it was wasteful spending and socialist, btw they are socialist, and irresponsible.
Stop thinking of tax breaks as the end-all, be-all of economic policy. Tax breaks decide winners and losers just as much, if not more, than subsidies. They are essentially the same thing. One just has a better reputation than the other.
Don't be so quick to think that the U.K. is being prejudiced against game makers. They're actually being really fair.
I agree that business should pay up their share, but the point is the climate is not great right now. Businesses need all the help they can get if they are to keep jobs open (essential to an economy as we know). The UK is smaller in this industry and I think the government should foster it. Then again Video Games are still not taken seriously so this action or lack there of rather is not surprising. *remembers the day my grandparent refused to spend any money on games when I asked for one for Christmas* On the flip side, some real talent could hit the states and generate more (video game) jobs. I am sorry for Britain, but it is their lose.They will learn to regret it in the end.
V taxes == ^ profit
^profit == ^ jobs
^ jobs == ^ revenue collected from taxes
in other words...
government officials are unintelligent, nothing new here.
First britain had the brain drain and soon they'll have the game drain.
I want to see some of these "valuable economic and cultural contribution"s.
OF course they deserve it. It's a serious business.
I hope a large number of developers does leave the UK. It might prove to them that they are making a mistake, and if it doesn't, then I guess their economy will just have to take that hit. I'm perfectly fine with that.
since the game industry earns loads of money every year and now u want a tax break? its like help the rich getting richer... they need to be tax according to the law....
The video game industry is important to the economies of many developed countries ,but I'm against the government using our tax-payer dollars to fund private business.That's not their job.