ELSPA's Paul Jackson: Contact lenses ahoy?
Back in February this year the UK government - in the form of The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) - launched a paper entitled 'Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy'. This contained the useful piece of information that, "(The) Software and computer games comprise the biggest sector and contribute most to growth, accounting for over 50per cent of turnover growth between 1995 and 2005." It also made mention of tax credits.
Nothing much appears to have happened. This lead to Dan Spence to petition the government. This week the government finally responded to Dan.
(Must have made a nice break in between bringing in trial without jury and 42-day incarceration without charge, eh?)
Now ELSPA has responded to that response - although its take is rather less about tax and more about game rating. It says, "We appreciate comments from Government about its support and the work being done for the UK video games industry. We look forward to working closely with them in the near future to make good this commitment. Of immediate concern is the issue of age ratings where it is crucial that following the public consultation on games age ratings, the UK adopts the Pan European PEGI system for games sold in store and online.
"The facts are that any other conclusion from this process, including the proposed expansion of the remit of the film ratings body, the BBFC, will result in a significant and prohibitive logistical and financial burden on the games industry. This will lead to increased costs of bringing games to market and could also significantly de-stabilise the UK's influence and position within the European games industry. More importantly, it will have failed in its main objective - protecting children."
So, the concentration appears to be on getting the government to actually deliver on a promise - at least one promise, even if it's about a review of ratings. The language used in this response is also stronger than we've been used to with ELSPA in recent months - it appears that ELSPA may be becoming as exasperated as the rest of us when it comes to the continuing inaction - leading to talent drain - of the UK powers that be.
Nothing much appears to have happened. This lead to Dan Spence to petition the government. This week the government finally responded to Dan.
(Must have made a nice break in between bringing in trial without jury and 42-day incarceration without charge, eh?)
Now ELSPA has responded to that response - although its take is rather less about tax and more about game rating. It says, "We appreciate comments from Government about its support and the work being done for the UK video games industry. We look forward to working closely with them in the near future to make good this commitment. Of immediate concern is the issue of age ratings where it is crucial that following the public consultation on games age ratings, the UK adopts the Pan European PEGI system for games sold in store and online.
"The facts are that any other conclusion from this process, including the proposed expansion of the remit of the film ratings body, the BBFC, will result in a significant and prohibitive logistical and financial burden on the games industry. This will lead to increased costs of bringing games to market and could also significantly de-stabilise the UK's influence and position within the European games industry. More importantly, it will have failed in its main objective - protecting children."
So, the concentration appears to be on getting the government to actually deliver on a promise - at least one promise, even if it's about a review of ratings. The language used in this response is also stronger than we've been used to with ELSPA in recent months - it appears that ELSPA may be becoming as exasperated as the rest of us when it comes to the continuing inaction - leading to talent drain - of the UK powers that be.
Companies:
ELSPA
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