Devs to face MPs at Westminster forum event

The future of the UK videogame industry will be a key talking point at the upcoming Westminster eForum event, with numerous politicians and industry members set to attend.

The likes of Tiga CEO Richard Wilson and Frontier founder David Braben will be joined by shadow culture secretary Ed Vaizey, as well as the controversial “Daily Mail baiting” MP Keith Vaz, to discuss various issues surrounding the sector.

The event takes place on Jan 21 with an opening address from game enthusiast and campaigner MP Watson. Immediately after, a panel discussion will approach the issue of the UK sector itself.

The Westminster eForum event is said will be impartial and free of party politics, with around 100 attendees expected.

For the opening session, Games Investor Consulting’s Rick Gibson will be joined by David Braben, University of Greenwich’s Jonathan Wilson, and Codemasters’ Chris Deering.

Later in the day, Develop’s Editor-In-Chief Michael French will join a panel discussion centred on the growth of digital distribution, as well as in-game advertising.

Agenda, and confirmed attendees, can be found below.

9.05 – 10.05
The UK computer and video games industry: past successes and future prospects
Rick Gibson, Independent Games Research & Strategy Consulting, Games Investor Consulting
David Braben, Founder, Frontier Developments
Jonathan Wilson, Senior Lecturer, Advertising & Marketing Communications, University of Greenwich
Chris Deering, Non-Executive Chairman, Codemasters

10.05 – 11.10
The growth of digital distribution, in-game advertising and widening the video games market
Graham Dunnett, Director for Testing, Support and Documentation, Unity Technologies
Michael French, Editor-in-Chief, Develop, MCV and CasualGaming.biz
Ed Bartlett, Vice President Publisher Relations Europe and Co-Founder, IGA Worldwide
James Brooksby, Studio Head, doublesix

11.10 – 11.15
Chairman’s closing remarks
Tom Watson MP, Member, All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Computer and Video

11.45 – 11.50
Chairman’s opening remarks
Paul Rowen MP, Member, All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Media

11.50 – 12.55
Options for government and supporting the sector
Ed Vaizey MP, Shadow Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries
Richard Wilson, CEO, TIGA
Dustin Chodorowicz, Partner, Nordicity
Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chairman, Home Affairs Select Committee
Keith Ramsdale, Vice President, EA Games Europe

12.55 – 13.00
Chairman’s and Westminster eForum closing remarks
Paul Rowen MP, Member, All-Party Parliamentary Group on New Media
Peter van Gelder, Director, Westminster eForum