anywhere because the internet has allowed us to work where we want to work. There are no obstacles any more. “That’s the thing that makes it great to
work in Yorkshire, because we can live here because we want to live here, but we can still do the work we’d want to do anywhere else.” Albeck adds: “That wasn’t possible five
years ago, because if you were a small company, who would you contact unless you already knew them? The landscape has changed thanks to the digital age.” Game Republic’s Sefton concurs, although
he argues: “It’s still the personal introductions that can be the most helpful. Business is all about people working with each other, and you get on better with people that are good fun. All the companies I’ve worked with in Yorkshire are like that.” The changes to how we communicate, how
we develop and release games products and how the industry is structured has only benefitted Yorkshire. And local studios are confident that this is not about to change. “The bottom line is there are more people
playing games than there ever have been, so I only see the region continuing to thrive and grow,” Sumo’s Porter says. “There’s a great pool of talent here. The
more studios that are here, the more people will be attracted here, and the better we’ll all do as a group of companies.” Tuna’s Amsel adds: “I think a lot of the people that are left in the games industry – certainly in this area – are a lot more flexible than they were five to ten years ago. No one knows what will happen with this console transition, but I think everyone here’s flexible, from the indies to studios like Sumo, to be able to deal with that.”
Game Republic recently celebrated its tenth birthday. Some of its founders, including Insight For Hire’s Martyn Brown and Revolution Software’s Charles Cecil are still active members
work with. If you know local companies,
you can sub-contract to them. And there are five cities within an hour of each other, which makes it easier to exchange things, change jobs, meet up. It’s a good community.” Such collaboration is nothing new. It’s an attitude that dates back to the early years of Game Republic, says Craig Albeck, Sumo Digital’s head of business development and Game Republic’s project manager between 2004 and 2008. “When I was at the helm, it was run by its members for its members,” he says. “The list of our objectives and the things we’re still talking about don’t come from the government. It’s us thinking about what we need to make our businesses more attractive. “Back then, we were thinking about
how we could attract the big third-party publishers. The introductions we get are very valuable, and then that self-perpetuates because we pass it on.” Amsel adds: “If Game Republic hadn’t been
started, I’m doubtful that a lot of us would still be here. Obviously there would still be successes, but I think it would be much more disparate. You can see it in other places – the North West has studios going under and people not knowing what to do. I think Game Republic’s kept everyone together and nurtured the start-ups.”
32 | NOVEMBER 2013
We don’t need to be in London to speak to Sony. The internet
has allowed us to work where we want with no obstacles.
Stewart Gilray, JAW There is still some degree of Government
support. UK Trade & Investment fund a number of companies in Yorkshire, including those in the games industry, through grants. They have been particularly keen to help get local developers out to events like GDC in San Francisco to show off their projects. “We wouldn’t have been able to go to GDC in 2009 if it wasn’t for that,” says Gilray. “And while we were there, we met the Oddworld guys, and because of that we’re doing what we’re doing today. That’s four years of business for us already – and that can only be a good thing. “Right now, we’re dealing with Sony Europe
in London, Sony San Matteo and Sony in Tokyo. We don’t need to be in London to speak to these companies. We can be
ROCKSTARS OF THE NORTH It is the reception for Grand Theft Auto V that is perhaps the greatest cause for optimism. As Revolution’s Camody observes, the widespread coverage behind the game was largely positive, indicating a shift in the mainstream media’s perspective on video gaming and, by extension, the UK games industry.
And while that blockbuster was primarily handled by the Edinburgh-based Rockstar North, there’s still more than a little Yorkshire in its code. “Rockstar Leeds were involved in the
making of that game,” Carmody reminds us. “We really have got a lot to be proud about here in Yorkshire. “As an area, people work together and
support each other. That’s not just within gaming, it’s part of the Yorkshire psyche and it makes this a fantastic place to live.” Sheffield Hallam’s Habgood adds: “As a southerner who lives up north, a lot of my people have a very outdated idea of what Yorkshire’s like. If you get off the train at Sheffield station and walk into the city centre, you walk into a really modern city and it’s the same with other areas across Yorkshire. That’s not necessarily what people think of in London.” Sefton admits: “There’s a perception issue
that we need to still work on.” “You mean keep a secret?” Porter laughs.
“They can stay down there. We’ll have all the fun up here.”
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