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UK game industry laments lack of government support photo

British politicians don't understand or remotely like videogames. That is the impression most people have, thanks in no small part to sniveling leeches like Keith "Vadge" Vaz who'd rather talk about Manhunt than his dodgy expense account. The British game industry certainly feels that it has no support, so one can hardly be surprised that developers are quickly abandoning the country in search of greener pastures.

Canada and France are currently welcoming British developers with open arms, and the UK is losing talent fast to more culturally progressive nations. Electronic Arts' Matthew Boulton is a British developer who now works in British Columbia, and it seems he made the right move.

"Games are a lot more high profile here; it's recognized as an important industry," he explains. "Maybe that's true in the UK as well, but you never get that sense. You never hear politicians mention it – but here, it's one of the things that people know is strong and that you need to support."

Conservative MP Edward Vaizey is one of the few politicians who will voice their support, and he adds: "The only time [the game biz] gets mentioned in parliament is when Keith Vaz [chairman of the home affairs committee] is blaming it for causing some recent outrage. We were the second largest in the world, but we are slipping."

Videogames have been huge contributors to the British economy for years, and the government's lack of respect for the industry is amazing. I'm sure the sale of videogames helped Keith Vaz waste government spending money on frivolous expenses. We'll see how much taxpayer cash he can flush down the toilet when the games industry is no longer there to rake some in.


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12 comments | showing # 1 to 12

grasslunatic's Avatar
grasslunatic at 05/18/2009 11:11
Keith Vaz is an archcunt.
ChaosTeaCup's Avatar
ChaosTeaCup at 05/18/2009 11:16
I'd love: Headshot!
PhazonYoshi's Avatar
PhazonYoshi at 05/18/2009 11:16
I wish all this had come out back when "PS3 costs money" jokes where relevant, because you could make an awesome cross-subject joke about him claiming expenses for a second house after buying a PS3.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 05/18/2009 11:21
"I wish all this had come out back when "PS3 costs money" jokes where relevant, because you could make an awesome cross-subject joke about him claiming expenses for a second house after buying a PS3."

Damn, that would have been great.

We can dream of the world that could have been.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 05/18/2009 11:23
Good on them. If I were a developer, I wouldn't bother releasing my work in any territory that would dare touch them.
Mushman's Avatar
Mushman at 05/18/2009 11:27
Honesty, I am not surprised at all at this story. I never see or hear about the state of the UK videogame industry on the news, yet, sporadically, the (non-exsisting) UK film industry gets repeated mentions on the news. Or when a non-residing UK film actor/actress wins an award, the news publication go barmy and start singing the praises of people who primarily in the US and don't give a rat's arse about thier home country. Or the next celeb who is really a terrible excuse for a person.

It disguts me that the UK has fantastic game developers and companies (Rockstar North/Leeds anyone?) and everyone, including the government, ignores them to concentrate or less successful, less releavant media industries. I don't blame the developers wating to got to greener pastures, in fact I wish them all the best of luck, the more success they have, the more the game industry will benifit from British talent.

The British government is incompetent anyway, this is just another reason why.
CRAZYAPE69's Avatar
CRAZYAPE69 at 05/18/2009 11:34
I would laugh if his expense report showed he spent tax money on games.
Fury-Genesis's Avatar
Fury-Genesis at 05/18/2009 12:07
Not to mention the UK is an a gray and depressing place full of inbred chavs, with a sprinkle of that special brand of British ugly on top! ;P

It's good news as far as I'm concerned. I just finished my Games Art degree, and I'll be looking for jobs anywhere in the world except the UK.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 05/18/2009 12:22
British games are an important industry in the UK? Bigger than the American game industry? Or just bigger percentage?
CitizenErased's Avatar
CitizenErased at 05/18/2009 12:32
Someone get me out of this cunting country.
Takeshi's Avatar
Takeshi at 05/18/2009 12:52
Ask Labour to give some of the money back they stole from the people.
justiceface's Avatar
justiceface at 05/18/2009 16:26
Seriously why the hell are industries bound by laws. The logging industry gangraped my mom and I was fine with it. Just as long as those robber-coalitions are kept away I'm as happy as a clam
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