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UK video games and special effects firms 'need support' | UK video games and special effects firms 'need support' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Poor education and bad publicity are damaging the future of Britain's hi-tech industries, according to experts. | Poor education and bad publicity are damaging the future of Britain's hi-tech industries, according to experts. |
A report published today argues that the country is losing crucial ground in video games and special effects. | A report published today argues that the country is losing crucial ground in video games and special effects. |
It found that many people did not realise Britain was a major force in such industries - and that those who did were not being well trained. | It found that many people did not realise Britain was a major force in such industries - and that those who did were not being well trained. |
But the review suggests applying a range of remedies could help Britain enjoy a "golden age" of success. | But the review suggests applying a range of remedies could help Britain enjoy a "golden age" of success. |
Industry giant | Industry giant |
The independent Skills Review was commissioned last year by the government as part of its investigation into how growing industries such as video games and movie effects could be supported. | The independent Skills Review was commissioned last year by the government as part of its investigation into how growing industries such as video games and movie effects could be supported. |
The report's authors identified several major stumbling blocks to success, not least a general lack of awareness of Britain's current gaming industry. | |
The UK is the world's fourth largest producer of video games, with an industry set to break £1bn in the next three years. | The UK is the world's fourth largest producer of video games, with an industry set to break £1bn in the next three years. |
Despite the fact that this makes it larger than the country's recorded music industry - which is famous worldwide - the study found that just 3% of young Britons realised that blockbuster titles such as Grand Theft Auto were developed in the UK. | Despite the fact that this makes it larger than the country's recorded music industry - which is famous worldwide - the study found that just 3% of young Britons realised that blockbuster titles such as Grand Theft Auto were developed in the UK. |
Similarly, awareness of the UK's important role in special effects - including production of the visuals seen in hit films such as Inception and the Harry Potter series - was low. | Similarly, awareness of the UK's important role in special effects - including production of the visuals seen in hit films such as Inception and the Harry Potter series - was low. |
"We need to transform young people's passion to play video games into a desire to make them, whilst equipping them with the right skills for the industry," said co-author Ian Livingstone, president of British games studio Eidos, which created popular titles including Tomb Raider. | "We need to transform young people's passion to play video games into a desire to make them, whilst equipping them with the right skills for the industry," said co-author Ian Livingstone, president of British games studio Eidos, which created popular titles including Tomb Raider. |
Lack of support | Lack of support |
The review also found a lack of educational support for the skills required to succeed in both industries, in areas such as maths and physics as well as art and design. | The review also found a lack of educational support for the skills required to succeed in both industries, in areas such as maths and physics as well as art and design. |
It found that only a quarter of graduates who studied video games design at university were taught maths as part of their degree - despite it being considered an essential skill by industrial leaders. | It found that only a quarter of graduates who studied video games design at university were taught maths as part of their degree - despite it being considered an essential skill by industrial leaders. |
"Growth in the UK is being held back by a lack of people with the right skills," said Alex Hope, the review's other author and managing director of leading visual effects company Double Negative. | "Growth in the UK is being held back by a lack of people with the right skills," said Alex Hope, the review's other author and managing director of leading visual effects company Double Negative. |
"We need people with the specialist skills, computer science, physics, maths and art on which our industry relies." | "We need people with the specialist skills, computer science, physics, maths and art on which our industry relies." |
To combat this growing problem, the review recommends a series of fixes that it says could help usher in a new period of creativity and success that could match similar creative booms in the 1960s and 1980s. | To combat this growing problem, the review recommends a series of fixes that it says could help usher in a new period of creativity and success that could match similar creative booms in the 1960s and 1980s. |
Among the ideas it puts forward are making computer science part of the national curriculum and breaking down boundaries that currently exist between creative subjects like art and maths. | |
Although the review was commissioned by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, it is not clear whether the recommendations will be turned into legislation. | Although the review was commissioned by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, it is not clear whether the recommendations will be turned into legislation. |
In the past, Mr Vaizey has rejected requests from the games industry for tax breaks - it claims they are necessary to help retain the most talented staff. | In the past, Mr Vaizey has rejected requests from the games industry for tax breaks - it claims they are necessary to help retain the most talented staff. |
As a result, industry leaders have said that the country is suffering a damaging "brain drain", where top British graduates are being tempted abroad by the promise of greater success. | As a result, industry leaders have said that the country is suffering a damaging "brain drain", where top British graduates are being tempted abroad by the promise of greater success. |
Last week, video games industry body Tiga renewed its request for assistance, arguing that it deserved greater attention than the heavily subsidised British film industry. | Last week, video games industry body Tiga renewed its request for assistance, arguing that it deserved greater attention than the heavily subsidised British film industry. |
"The video games industry is an industry of the future - hi-tech, highly skilled and export-oriented," said Richard Wilson, Tiga's chief executive. | "The video games industry is an industry of the future - hi-tech, highly skilled and export-oriented," said Richard Wilson, Tiga's chief executive. |
"If the coalition government is serious about its intention of rebalancing the economy, then it should invest in the UK video games industry." | "If the coalition government is serious about its intention of rebalancing the economy, then it should invest in the UK video games industry." |
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