John Lucas' Blog

When some people think of videogames, they tend to see it as still largely a business centered around kids whether actual or in adult bodies. At best the industry is seen as a popular pastime in a niche audience. Don't diminish videogaming's impact to Don Foster of the United Kingdom's Parliament though.

What's this? A legislator defending the merits of the videogame industry? Keep reading...

Foster, a Liberal Democrat member of UK's legislating house from Bath, spoke to UK-based publication The Guardian about how the videogame business fights for tax incentives against industries like fashion and tourism most likely due to its stigmatic image. Hear him speak on the subject at hand revealing a surprising taste of trivia:

"I hardly play any games – I'm not from that generation – but because of my job, I had to research the industry. The vast majority of my parliamentary colleagues are always wanting to ban the latest game, but they don't know the details of the industry. Few people in this country realise how important it is to the UK economy."

TIGA (The Independent Game Developers Association) of the UK have a friend in the House of Commons in Don Foster. Their fervent push to gain tax breaks for the UK videogame industry over the years has seen them team up with the ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) to promote the business to the government and media this past May. The campaign was known as Games Up? and it addressed a point agreed upon by Foster that besides the refusal to accept the business as legit, it also suffers from lack of skilled university graduates who could potentially enter the field. Foster knowing his government said that the campaign would have to make its case "robustly."

Perhaps the dark clouds of the global economic turndown may generate a silver lining for the UK videogame industry seeing as its vital to the economy and all. Games may be up robustly if the parties play their cards right.

Credits to TheGuardian.co.uk through Gamasutra.com.