Governments should do more to help European game developers, say European game developers.
March 24, 2005
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Brussels, Belgium, March 24th 2005 - The European Game Developers Federation, representing the video game creation communities in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark and Netherlands, call on the Governments of its Members to financially support the video game creation industry.
"Video game has become the cultural medium of choice of the younger generations for the past twenty years and has influenced every other medium, from cinema to music to graphical arts" stated Antoine VILLETTE, a board member of EGDF and president of APOM.
"Productions appealing specifically to the European public or national audiences have existed for two decades but are now struggling because of increasing production costs, and global market consolidation. If we want to maintain cultural specificity in video games in Europe we need intervention of the sort applying to other creative audio visual sectors" said Fred HASSON, a board member of EGDF and CEO of TIGA.
The Federation calls the Governments of its Members to quickly adopt financial-support systems of specifically-European productions through fiscal incentives and similar schemes.
"Without proper support, Europe will with no doubt lost its edge, creativity and business position in a field recognized as strategic for the cultural battles of tomorrow" said Malte BEHRMANN, a board member of EGDF and a director of G.A.M.E. in Germany.
"Governments should also reflect the policy in other non-European countries where investment in our creativity is encouraged and where attractive location incentives are readily available" said Malene RAFN of DANISH PRODUCERS.
"Developers are fully conscious of the need to improve their best practices in order to enhance their competitiveness" said Herman HULST of TIGA Netherlands, "but the international pressure to lower costs and improve quality is going faster."
The European Game Developers Federation regroups the representative trade groups of video game creators in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark and Netherlands. It has been founded in 2003.
Contact:
Romain POIROT LELLIG
European Game Developers Federation
Tel.: +33 6 14 64 70 75
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