http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...in-crisis.html
Computer games industry faces 'brain drain' crisis
Britain's £1bn computer games industry is in crisis as many of the nation's best developers are leaving in a "brain drain" to Canada, industry leaders have warned.
Dr Richard Wilson, chief executive of Tiga, the trade body representing computer game developers, said "mammoth" tax breaks and subsidies in Canada are putting British businesses at risk and warned that thousands of jobs that could have been created in the UK are going overseas.
He said the Government has failed to help the industry despite junior minister Tom Watson saying the sector could play a "substantial role" in helping the UK out of recession.
The industry had expected a special mention in the Business Department's Digital Britain report released last month but computer and video games were not included.
Ed Vaizey, the shadow video games spokesman, said: "The Government's dithering has now been exposed as causing real damage."
Gareth Edmundson, head of Ubisoft's UK game development business, said he would like to create 1,000 jobs at the company's Newcastle offices but tax breaks abroad make the UK uncompetitive.
The computer games industry contributes £1bn to the UK's gross domestic product – more than the film industry, which receives generous tax breaks.
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Come back Bogeyman!
Computer games industry faces 'brain drain' crisis
Britain's £1bn computer games industry is in crisis as many of the nation's best developers are leaving in a "brain drain" to Canada, industry leaders have warned.
Dr Richard Wilson, chief executive of Tiga, the trade body representing computer game developers, said "mammoth" tax breaks and subsidies in Canada are putting British businesses at risk and warned that thousands of jobs that could have been created in the UK are going overseas.
He said the Government has failed to help the industry despite junior minister Tom Watson saying the sector could play a "substantial role" in helping the UK out of recession.
The industry had expected a special mention in the Business Department's Digital Britain report released last month but computer and video games were not included.
Ed Vaizey, the shadow video games spokesman, said: "The Government's dithering has now been exposed as causing real damage."
Gareth Edmundson, head of Ubisoft's UK game development business, said he would like to create 1,000 jobs at the company's Newcastle offices but tax breaks abroad make the UK uncompetitive.
The computer games industry contributes £1bn to the UK's gross domestic product – more than the film industry, which receives generous tax breaks.
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Come back Bogeyman!
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