Games trade associations to remain separate
Negotiations for a merger between Britain’s two biggest game trade bodies have broken down, Develop can reveal.
Tiga will today issue a statement to the press claiming it is no longer considering a merger with UKIE. It appears that Tiga, the association for developers, was the group most interested in walking away from the table.
“Tiga and its board would like to make it clear that we have no plans to merge with any other organisation,” the organisation says.
“We do not see value in distracting ourselves with talks towards such an end while the games industry faces pressing matters including Games Tax Relief, R&D tax credits, improving access to finance, migration policy, education and skills and IP.”
UKIE, the association for games publishers, recently realigned its operations to better represent the games development sector in the UK.
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Both groups have repeatedly been asked to combine forces and bring a unanimous voice to the games industry – though the plan does have its opponents too.
Eidos Life President Ian Livingstone recently said there was “a fundamental difference between the two organisations historically, but where we are today with online content, the differences between the two are disappearing.”
He added: “Over time there is going to be a greater coming together as the differences between the two organisations disappear.”
Culture minister Ed Vaizey had in recent years backed any merger between the two, though in early February at a public event he dodged a question on the issue.
I was in favour of this merger originally (two years ago), but outgoing chairman Ian Baverstock convinced me they had too different roles.
See: http://www.gamesbrief.com/2010/09/elspa-becomes-ukie-but-what-do-they-do-and-how-does-tiga-fit-in/
I agree with Nicholas - it strikes me that a unified organisation would just be splitting its focus. Despite UKIE's moves to represent the whole industry, it's still bankrolled by the publishers and that's where its emphasis will always have to lie.
Yes, there are areas of overlap, but not enough to justify getting rid of TIGA, which has done great work under its new leadership with NESTA and lobbying parliament. Why would we want to throw that away now?
Although I understand Ianīs view as it does make practical sense for
developers and publishers to be represented by different
organisations, I believe the industry as a whole is not helped by the
division. The distracting rhetoric of self interest does not help the
perception of the industry by those on the outside. A unified voice
would be of value. Maybe UKIE and TIGA ought to be branches of Games
Industry UK.
UKIE will not exist / be needed in five years. TIGA will. Discuss.
Its a question of relevance and therefore the ability to command subscriptions and therefore survive and thrive. I suspect another body will come along and everyone will say 'ah, now I get it!' Games associations need to wake up and smell the coffee.
