UK Games Industry Faces "Death by a Thousand Cuts"
Rebellion CEO talks up British brain drain
Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley has told the BBC that the British games industry faces "a death by a thousand cuts", if more isn't done to make it competitive against the likes of Canada.
"We used to be a net importer of brains", Kingsley said. "People used to come here to work in the games sector. Now people are thinking Canada's a good place to go to. Canada spends a lot of money marketing itself, positioning itself."
He went on to say that, "It's a situation where - if you were going to start up a company and you analyse all the different locations in the world for stability, quality of life - you would end up saying 'let's set it up in - probably - Canada'. It's a death by a thousand cuts."
Of course, there's more going on there than tax incentives. 'Stability' and 'quality of life' are issues that go beyond the games industry. Still, Tiga's head, Richard Wilson, asserts that Canadian studios are getting benefits worth 23% of their turnover. That, you will probably agree, is quite a bit.
Plenty more in the BBC's article.
"We used to be a net importer of brains", Kingsley said. "People used to come here to work in the games sector. Now people are thinking Canada's a good place to go to. Canada spends a lot of money marketing itself, positioning itself."
He went on to say that, "It's a situation where - if you were going to start up a company and you analyse all the different locations in the world for stability, quality of life - you would end up saying 'let's set it up in - probably - Canada'. It's a death by a thousand cuts."
Of course, there's more going on there than tax incentives. 'Stability' and 'quality of life' are issues that go beyond the games industry. Still, Tiga's head, Richard Wilson, asserts that Canadian studios are getting benefits worth 23% of their turnover. That, you will probably agree, is quite a bit.
Plenty more in the BBC's article.
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Comments
Tru Smiles 6 Oct 2011 12:25
1/7
This isn't surprising. When I was studying game design at Uni not too long ago, we received lectures and advice from people in the local games industry. Designers and producers for a major publisher, etc.
Their advice to all of us potential students was thus; don't bother with Britain, move to Canada.
Canada is certainly an attractive prospect in many respects.
Their advice to all of us potential students was thus; don't bother with Britain, move to Canada.
Canada is certainly an attractive prospect in many respects.
TimSpong 6 Oct 2011 13:26
2/7
Tru Smiles wrote:
Their advice to all of us potential students was thus; don't bother with Britain, move to Canada
Bloody hell, which uni was that?
Cheers
Tim
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Andy P 6 Oct 2011 15:21
3/7
It's entirely possible that people are draining out of the UK because there's too many companies around that treat their staff as badly as Rebellion do.
TimSpong 6 Oct 2011 15:26
4/7
Andy P wrote:
It's entirely possible that people are draining out of the UK because there's too many companies around that treat their staff as badly as Rebellion do.
Do you have any insider knowledge on that Andy?
cheers
Tim
majin dboy 6 Oct 2011 15:35
5/7
Slightly of topic but it's great to see companies like BioWare come to Ireland. Just got through to the second stage of Bioware Ireland recruiting process. good luck me :0)
TimSpong 6 Oct 2011 15:39
6/7
majin dboy wrote:
Slightly of topic but it's great to see companies like BioWare come to Ireland. Just got through to the second stage of Bioware Ireland recruiting process. good luck me :0)
Three cheers and fingers crossed for you man!
All the best
Tim
Serpream 7 Oct 2011 11:53
7/7
I am still in the situation of after graduation my degree is not even worth the paper it is printed on. Overseas however are more than willing to accept. The UK offered courses are mostly suited for ideal dreams than the requirements of the industry. The biggest mistake I ever made was to go onto a Games Design course when I should have specialised in animation :(