The UK's vaunted organ of business-speak, The Financial Times, has been talking to Hitman and Tomb Raider publisher Eidos/Sci Entertaniment's chief executive, Jane Cavanagh. The august organ states that Cavanagh wants the UK government to give tax breaks to games companies, "as it does to the film industry".

The problem, of course, is that with government help inevitably comes tighter regulation. The UK games industry might be growing up, but is it ready for the likes of Keith Vaz to have more than vague 'moral' arguments to call on when assessing the content and form of video games.

Cavanagh, who's company recently announced a new studio in Montreal, said, “The UK still has a good talent base, but other places are making a concerted effort to draw talent.”

She should know. Eidos is (according to the FT) currently the UK's biggest games publisher, but as well as starting up its 210-developer-strong Montreal studio it's looking towards locations such as China for further expansion.

According to the FT:



Over the last six years the UK games industry has more than halved in size, dropping from 400 independent studios to 150.

It's not that the government doesn't appreciate the games industry, though. Prime Minister, Tony Blair, heaped praise on it last month at a speech for representatives of the creative industries. It's “contributed to the renaissance of British culture,” apparently.

Eidos' creative director, Ian Livingstone, received the praise coolly, however, saying, “We make original and innovative games that sell around the world and whilst we have achieved most of this without significant contribution from government.”


^{Sources:
The Financial Times
MCV}