IT must be frustrating for Scotland-based games developers. Already world leaders, they are stymied by bureaucracy and ignorance. They are also hampered by the right-wing, unthinking, knee-jerk immigration laws.
It is incredible that most people in Scotland are not fully aware of how big this industry is, and how good Scotland is at it.
Plenty of journalists noticed when one national newspaper downsized from its Edinburgh building to be replaced by Rockstar Video Games.
Depressingly, yesterday’s meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee with video games developers was not the first of its kind. Both the committee and the developers have been here before.
Five years ago (before Minecraft), the committee released a report pointing out that the UK Government needed to make the industry a priority. They didn’t then. We are hopeful they will now.
If this industry was in any other country, government would be bending over backwards with tax breaks and all sorts of incentives.
If we do not treat it seriously then we are in real danger of losing it.
Minecraft developer warns: Scottish games industry is being hurt by UK immigration policy
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