mmyu@lemmy.zip 2 days ago
This is interesting, I wonder if these numbers about increasing tax revenue that TIGA is claiming are accurate.
This direct government support is always a little strange to me, like why aren’t they making enough money on their own.
Government support makes sense for things that everyone needs, but support for the video games industry specifically seems a little weird.
Maybe I’m just missing out on some important UK context though. And honestly I love video games so I don’t mind so much, just wondering why UK taxpayers are cool with this.
cybervseas@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Development of the arts is a common thing for the public to fund. Look at the movies and TV shows coming out of Canada, too.
ms_lane@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Development of the arts is supposed to be for arts that could never stand on their own feet commercially though.
Game publishers shouldn’t ever be getting a cent.
Game developers shouldn’t either unless the game is released for free.
Funwayguy@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Except countries don’t fund the whole game and certainly not without conditions and criteria.
This also ignores indie devs who often only get their start self funding their project via day jobs. We could have so many more new ideas in niche genres if actually gave two shits about supporting new devs and not some AAA mega corp churning out the same uninspired garbage.
Katana314@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It’s common for the government to push funds to many industries if they believe there’s a chance of growth, that private investors either won’t give enough for, or will solely benefit from. Meat, cars, farming, all get funding in the USA. Sadly, we don’t get free meat as a result.
ampersandrew@lemmy.world 1 day ago
All the investment in game development right now is going to where labor is cheapest, which I’ll bet does not include the UK. You’ve probably noticed more rising stars in recent years out of South Korea, China, Japan, and some EU territories. The reason a state might want to fund the arts is because that’s how its own culture spreads on the world stage.