The Games Industry in the Northwest
The Northwest is one of the three leading centres for games in the UK (alongside London / SE and Scotland). Principal strengths of the Northwest are the competitive cost of being based in the region and the diverse talent pool.
Vision and Media can put you in touch with the major networks in the region as well as offer advice on the sector and doing business in the region.
Market Opportunities
- The Northwest will become home to the National Centre of Excellence for computer games supported by BIS and due to open in 2011
- The Northwest has a legacy of ‘console’ games developer talent which provide an attractive talent pool for businesses setting up in the region
- There are over 8 undergraduate games related courses at Northwest universities
- The Northwest is the most productive region for games in the UK, generating over 33% more sales revenue per person than any other UK region
- The Northwest has a developed and diverse supply chain covering most areas of interest: Outsourcing (art, coding and management), Data centres and render farm. Developers across mobile, apps, PC Handheld developers (NDS, PSP, etc, Console developers (Wii, 360, PS3)
- In 2011 MediaCityUK will also house the Media Enterprise Centre which will host incubator space for new businesses and a Digital Content Lab, an industry-led, industry-supported “hothouse” for new talent and ideas aligned to opportunities in digital and convergence technologies
- In 2010 the Northwest will run a national £1 million GBP prototyping fund for emerging game platforms
- The Northwest is home to the NorthenNET network which connects concentrations of digital content companies across the wider North and via the backbone to London and International destinations
- Framework for Innovation & Research in MediaCityUK (FIRM): a world-class facility for media and digital and creative industries technology research with a physical base at MediaCityUK opening 2011
- Northwest Venture Capital Fund worth up to £190m GBP from mid- 2010
- Direct flights from Manchester International Airport to worldwide destinations
For more information about the range of support we offer to the regions Interactive and Games sector in the Northwest please visit the Game section of our website.