A ‘Serious Games Institute’ (SGI) is to be set up at Coventry University Technology Park backed by £3.3-million funding from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.

Exactly whether the games developed by the SGI are going to be serious, or merely the institute itself is still to be seen - we await comment from the directors themselves.

The SGI, which will cost £7-million in total, is intended to be fully operational by autumn this year but will hold a “special serious games workshop” on Tuesday March 20 at the Technocentre Creativity Lab.
According to the Institute, “Computer games is a major part of the region’s IT sector with major names such as Codemasters, Blitz Games, Games Domain and 160 interactive media companies located in the West Midlands.”

Mark Abrams, Advantage West Midlands Director for Coventry and Warwickshire, said: “Serious games are a way of learning and working that is designed for the digital generation. More importantly, serious gaming is a tool that will continue to evolve as new communication and education technologies emerge in the years to come.

“NATO and policy heads for defence, education and health in the US and Europe have already invested heavily in this sector’s potential.”

David Wortley, director of the Serious Games Institute, commented, “The Serious Games Institute will champion the rich pool of skills and abilities of companies working across the whole digital media sector and has already attracted a lot of international interest in its activities. “

For more information on the events or the Serious Games Institute contact David Wortley at d.wortley@cad.coventry.ac.uk.