If you work in the games development industry we need to hear from you... and quickly!
As part of the Digital Britain report published this summer, the UK Government is currently looking at the possibility of introducing tax relief for the games industry to support the creation and retention of IP and technology in the UK and the emergence and growth of new games companies.
One of the methods being assessed is through a video games "cultural test" similar to the one introduced in France in 2008, based on the system for the UK film industry.
In order for this proposal to be given full consideration, DCMS is keen to consult the games industry and collect evidence to demonstrate both the need for such an intervention and the suitability of the proposed solution. This consultation is happening largely through a combination of direct engagement with key industry players and through industry bodies such as Tiga.
Following discussions with DCMS, Screen WM has produced an online survey to capture evidence from a broader mix of games developers who may not currently be represented - eg. developers of serious games, casual games, online/flash based games, ARGS, Pervasive Games, iPhone/mobile games, indie developers etc.
This is a golden opportunity and, if you are working in the games industry, it is crucial that your voice is heard and you register your opinions if any of the proposed government intervention is to be truly representative of the wider industry. There is a very tight timeline here, with completed surveys required to be returned online no later than midnight on Thursday 27th August. Please click on the link below to complete and return the survey and please feel free to forward this link as widely as possible to other games developers who you feel may like to contribute.
> Games Industry Tax Credits Survey