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Frankfurt’s Deck 13 team, who, when not synchronising bouncing, created Lords of the Fallen


glorified IT industry with an added ‘bad for my kids’ effect, we could be much further along as an industry.” Manuel Scherer, general manager of Rhein-


Main-based Uniworlds Game Studios, adds: “I think this is something we have to work on. The trade bodies know about the games industries, but there’s much to be done. This doesn’t necessarily mean tax breaks. I think public acknowledgement is one of the most important steps that have to be pushed forward more.” Frankfurt is by no means unsupported,


though. The aforementioned Gamearea association has been working with the Frankfurt Centre of Creative Industries to kick-start funding programmes for developers of all sizes in the region. Manuela Schiffner, director of the Centre of


Creative Industries, says: “We assist companies in many ways – no matter whether it’s a one-person business or a group; no matter if the goal is on a local scale or international level. Thanks to our excellent network with municipal authorities and the local business scene, as well as to our extensive knowledge about various industries, we can provide valuable support starting and running a business in Frankfurt. “The industry association Gamearea is a


strong partner of Frankfurt Economic Development. Together we offer the


DEVELOP-ONLINE.NET


networking and knowledge transfer platform Gameplaces, which is an integral part of the Frankfurt, Hessen and German video and computer gaming industry.”


We had great boom years with browser


gaming in recent years, while now everything seems to shift to mobile and new consoles.


Pierre Langer, Dynamedion Moreover, Frankfurt Economic


Development wants to encourage the development of innovative games and is urging developers to submit titles for its European Innovative Games Award. Schiffner adds: “The importance of video games as an economic factor cannot be stressed enough. The Frankfurt Economic Development and the City of Frankfurt are proud of this dynamic industry and offer long-term and individual support for the games industry’s needs. “Video games drive the creative and


technological industries to ever-new heights. They are a promoter of innovation, and in


this they are perfectly at home in the city of Frankfurt.”


ALL THAT WE NEED The struggle for new talent and a rising cost of living is a concern, but neither are uncommon issues for a city of its stature. “We have the same troubles everywhere,”


says Dynamedion managing director Pierre Langer. “Times are always changing and so are requirements by the market and audience. We had some great boom years with online browser gaming recently, while now everything seems to shift to mobile and new consoles. So this transition phase is exciting, but not different to any other game dev in Germany.” But perhaps such things are a stumbling


block to Frankfurt’s ongoing regeneration. “Frankfurt is an ever-evolving city that is


positively affected by being a melting pot for lots of different nationalities,” says Crytek’s Yerli, whose studio is soon to release Ryse: Son of Rome for Microsoft’s Xbox One. “That makes it a vibrant place to live and work.” Crytek, Deck 13 and others are making


great strides to ride the changes. Meanwhile, the region’s developer association Gamearea is helping to drive discussion and bring the issues that matter to the corridors of power. With the right actions, Frankfurt’s developers seem assured to have a thriving future ahead of them. 


Top-to-bottom: Keen Flare’s Pete Walentin, Jan Wagner from Cliffhanger, and Pierre Langer of Dynamedion


OCTOBER 2013 | 33


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