have skillset accreditation in the UK and most of the courses in our area have it.” Richard Smith, technical director at CCP
Games’ Newcastle studio, states: “One of the local courses has been a great source of talent for us. It’s all part of that self-sustaining ecosystem between the studios and the universities. We all make sure that system continues to work rather than having a ‘survival of the fittest’ attitude.” It is a testament to the quality of these
courses that most of the graduates end up in full-time employment at local studios shortly after university.
NORTH EAST NEWCOMERS The Government and local councils have also been supportive of the area – not just in terms of games companies, but also firms in related industries.
“The North East is a fantastic hotbed of
talent,” says Pitbull Games MD Robert Troughton. “It’s backed up by the support of local agencies, such as Game Kettle and Sunderland Software City, and of course the universities, most of which offer games development courses.” Coatsink creative director Tom Beardsmore
concurs: “The talent pool is fantastic. Our entire team is from various North East universities. The vast majority come from Teesside, but we have members from Newcastle and Sunderland, too.” And this focus on training new developers
isn’t solely led by universities, either. Local studios are keen to work closer with these academic institutes to help improve the quality of their students. “Our courses and the graduates that come out of them are entirely formed by the input of local developers,” says Mick Stockton, principal lecturer at Teesside University. “They tell us what they need and we try to provide that, which is the way it should be.” Ubisoft Reflections’ general manager Giselle Stewart adds: “Most of the other universities are working towards skillset accreditation – if they haven’t already got it – and it shows a determination to be seen to be the best. There’s only about 20 courses that
DEVELOP-ONLINE.NET
Ten years ago, everybody was a services provider or
working on console games. Now it’s very much about indie studios. It feels different.
Carri Cunliffe, Game Kettle “There’s been a lot of investment into the
IT sector in the region and a lot of council interest in making sure that IT companies can grow and prosper,” says Troughton. “With other industries slowing in the region, they’ve really tried hard to make sure that newer industries take hold.” James Mintram, MD of start-up Lemon
Moose Games, adds: “Gateshead council and Northumbria University have been instrumental in our progress so far. It is probably safe to say that without them, we would be at least a year behind where we are now.” The influx of new games developers has been a major change in the region and its community, observes Cunliffe. “Ten years ago, the landscape was very
different. Practically everybody was a services provider or working on console games. There
were a very limited number of companies who were focused on ramping up team sizes, and everything was getting more expensive. “Now, it’s very much about independent
developers. There are still console studios, but there are more people setting up smaller, boutique indie games companies and it feels very different.” But Game Tonic MD Phil Ward warns: “I’ve seen a lot of studios come and go in the last five years, so even though it’s a great area to be, it’s still a volatile market.”
LIFE UP NORTH To some, it’s no surprise that such a successful community of developers and universities has grown in the North East. Local firms say the benefits of the area make setting up in the region a no-brainer. “We have great rail and air links, we have a
lower cost of living than many major cities, and we have great universities and colleges offering great courses and producing some great potential employees,” says Hippo Entertainment MD Darren Falcus. Julie Dodds, senior investment manager at marketing and management agency Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, adds: “There’s a lot of skills and access to talent here in comparison to the rest of the UK and even Europe. Operating costs are lower, and there’s greater access to Government grants. And then there is the real sense of community – you don’t get that anywhere else. “I don’t think people realise the strength of the cluster here or the types of companies in it. Part of our job is to change that perception.” And the games developers that are already established here share one more thing: a sense of pride in their area. “I remember the buzz when people found
out you could drive around the Newcastle quayside in the first Driver,” Teesside University’s Stockton says. “A lot of us are still here because the
community has been built around passionate people who just happen to work in the same industry: making great games. And that’s driven from the top down. “We have a lot of start-ups here; some will fail and some will succeed, and the latter will help continue this community for future companies.”
Top-to-bottom: Game Tonic’s Phil Ward, Ubisoft Reflections’ Giselle Stewart, Eutechnyx’s Darren Jobling, Teesside University’s Mick Stockton, and Atomhawk’s Cumron Ashtiani
NOVEMBER 2013 | 27
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