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UK game industry trade bodies Tiga and UKIE have said they will support the newly formed Scotland-specific trade organisation Scottish Games Network.
Yesterday founder Brian Baglow announced SGN would become a non-for-profit trade body for all companies involved in the Scottish game sector.
Despite there already being two other trade bodies for the UK industry in UKIE and Tiga, Baglow insisted he was not trying to step on any toes and replicate effort, and wanted to support the two organisations with their work for the UK development scene.
Tiga CEO Richard Wilson said he was looking forward to working with the Scottish Games Network, and would look to be involved in SGN’s activities to further advance the interests of the country’s developers and publishers.
“Tiga, the network for developers and digital publishers, is looking forward to working with the Scottish Games Network," Wilson told Develop.
“We have been a lone voice in representing Scotland’s gaming companies for over ten years now, and have made significant progress during that time. Tiga works to inform the Scottish Government and Holyrood Parliament about the video games sector and discusses policies with them that can be introduced to enable the sector to grow.
“Tiga also has good relationships with Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland. In addition to this, we help Scottish developers build successful studios by connecting them with investors and publishers, saving them money through industry discounts and providing them with professional business advice.
“Yet there is still much more work to be done. As such, Tiga will aim to be involved in the SGN, to further advance the interests of our Scottish members and all other Scottish developers and digital publishers.”
UKIE CEO Jo Twist said the trade body would continue to work with SGN, but said it was vital the industry remains connected as it moves forward.
“It is very important that the industry remains as joined up as possible to help each other through practical and other issues that face the UK’s games companies," said Twist.
"We will continue to support and work with Brian and the Scottish Games Network, as well as all our Scottish-based UKIE members, and the wider Scottish games industry, in the way that is most useful for them.”
Creative Scotland meanwhile, already a member of Tiga, also said: "Creative Scotland appreciate the work of the Scottish Games Network and look forward to continuing to work with them to better support and profile the games industry."
