TIGA celebrates 10th anniversary

A leading UK videogame organisation is hosting a party to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

TIGA, which is best known for its relentless lobbying of successive British governments for tax breaks, was formed by a group of independent developers.

It will be celebrating a decade of existence on Thursday evening at Channel 4's Central London studios.

Dozens of companies are set to attend - TIGA represents more than 140 UK organisations - and among them will be founding members Jason Kingsley from Rebellion and Philip Oliver from Blitz Games Studios.

Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said: “TIGA has made great progress over the last 10 years. We have strengthened the video games industry’s political influence; achieved high levels of positive coverage about the UK industry; and delivered new and improved services for our members."

TIGA has long claimed that hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds of investment would be generated if the videogame industry was granted tax relief.

The games industry contributes £1bn annually to UK GDP and some of the biggest titles in videogaming were created in Britain including Tomb Raider and Grand Theft Auto.

But the industry has faced financial problems and it was starkly felt at Realtime Worlds in Dundee which closed in September 2010. In February, US-based Activision closed its development studio, Bizarre Creations in Liverpool, despite it producing critically acclaimed titles such as Blur.