60% say ‘Yes’ to united UK games trade body

The unification of trade bodies Tiga and UKIE would be approved by four times as many industry professionals as those who oppose, new data suggests.

The results of a new survey, show that 58.1 per cent of industry respondents favour a merger of both groups, while only 14.9 per cent disapproved the idea. Twenty-seven per cent were unsure.

The data was taken from a recent survey issued in conjunction with the London Games Conference, a business forum and networking event for decision makers within the interactive entertainment sector, of which many attendees will have experience working with both UKIE and Tiga.

The London Games Conference takes place next Thursday 10th November at One Wimpole Street. It is the only event dedicated to examining how the video games business is seeing huge growth through online, connected and digital models.

Tickets cost £269 – with discounts for UKIE, Tiga and Game Republic members – but are fast selling out.

To grab one of the last few contact Hannah.Short@intentmedia.co.uk or call her on 01992 535 646.

On-off relationship

The question of merging Tiga and UKIE has been deeply considered in the past by both groups, but partnership talks between both the associations broke down earlier this year.

The argument for merging is that the UK needs a unified voice when lobbying Government and bringing light to issues affecting Britain’s games business.

Earlier this year, industry figurehead made the surprise recommendation a strategic alliance between both groups in his widely applauded Skills Review.

"There is a fundamental difference between the two organisations historically," Livingstone said at the launch event for the Skills Review.

"But where we are today with online content, the differences between the two are disappearing. Developers are becoming publishers, publishers are becoming developers. On an issue like skills it’s absolutely to the benefit [that both merge], and in fact I would be amazed if there wasn’t unanimity on this issue. Over time there is going to be a greater coming together as the differences between the two organisations disappear."

The key argument against a merger is that the UK games industry remains too factionalised for a single group to represent the needs for all. Publishers and developers, some argue, still work on different wavelengths with occasional opposing interests.

UKIE said in March that it was "deeply disappointed" that Tiga had riled out its proposed single trade body.

"We would like to thank the Tiga board for their time and consideration of the matter and their CEO for informal talks and meetings over the past six months," UKIE said.