Swedish Games Industry Formed As Unified Trade Body

Representatives from Sweden's two primary games trade associations, MDTS and Spelplan-Association of Swedish Game Developers, have announced that they have pulled together to form a new unified trade body known simply as Swedish Games Industry. The new organization, similar to the UK's ELSPA or TIGA, says it was formed as "one way of meeting our increasing responsibility and keeping a clear communication internal within the industry and external to our surrounding." The group says it will "inform about sales statistics, development questions, employment and computer and video games as culture." Per Strömbäck, former managing director of both Spelplan-ASGD and MDTS will act as the group's spokesperson. Swedish Games Industry says its "vision is for games to be a natural part of the culture and economy of Sweden," a country which employs over 1000 people in games development. Said Swedish Games Industry chairman Öjje Holt, "The progress of games is fast and it's important for industry to keep the pace. The new organization Swedish Games Industry The interest for games is very big and by uniting our resources we can increase our efforts."