TIGA: UK Developers Optimistic Despite Economy Flat Line

UK video game industry trade group TIGA has published its Business Opinion Survey for spring 2011, noting that businesses in the UK are facing pressure from rising costs due to the flat line in economy growth. The survey, which sampled 104 games businesses including independent developers, noted that, while 59 percent of games companies expect their workforce to grow, 53 percent expect their costs to rise, due to an economy that grew by just 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2011. However, in general respondents were still optimistic about their business prospects, with 54 percent noting that they felt better about their positions than they did six months ago. In comparison to the rising costs, 71 percent of developers sampled said that they do not expect to change prices on their releases over the next six months. Dr. Richard Wilson, CEO at TIGA, explained, "Despite the UK’s disappointing economic growth performance over the last six months, TIGA’s latest Business Opinion Survey shows that there are tentative signs of optimism in the UK games industry." "With the right support from the Government, the UK games industry has the potential to create more highly skilled jobs in the future." With regards to the tax breaks available in other countries, Wilson said, "The UK games industry is much more likely to seize a larger share of the market for video games if we can compete on a level playing field." "The Government should support the industries of the future such as games development. The introduction of Games Tax Relief would power our sector forward, creating many more high quality jobs in the process."