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We’ll tell digital success story
Apr 30 2008 by Andrew Hebden, The Journal
AMID the kind of hysteria usually reserved for the unleashing of JK Rowling’s latest instalment of the adventures of her young wizard, a new social phenomenon went on sale at stores around the world yesterday.
The release of an 18-certificate shoot ’em up video game might, on the face of it, lack the mass appeal of Harry Potter. But games enthusiasts were queuing outside shops at midnight on Monday in an effort to be the first to get their hands on a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV. And the event’s status as a matter of national significance was recognised by items on the BBC Ten O’clock News and Radio Four’s Today Programme.
Putting aside the controversy surrounding Grand Theft Auto – Hilary Clinton has labelled it “a threat to morality” – its predicted success is a telling indicator of the significance of the gaming sector in the business world. The game is widely tipped to break the opening week sales figures of Microsoft’s Halo 3, and pull in more than £200m.
The other significant factor in the GTA success story is that it is one that started in the UK. The firm behind the game is Rockstar North, formerly known as DMA design, and it is based in Edinburgh. Dave Jones, who originally dreamt up the idea and founded DMA, is now chief executive of Realtime Worlds, a Dundee-based company.
Dundee had in recent years become associated with spiralling unemployment and teenage pregnancy rates. Now it is rebuilding its economy and the gaming industry – with scores of small companies based in the city – is at the heart of that. GTA shows just what great things can grow from these tiny enterprises.
It is apt timing, therefore, that tomorrow we launch our exciting new business supplement focusing on the work of companies such as those behind GTA. The new weekly section – nedigitalbusiness – will feature four pages of news, views, reviews and features focusing on all aspects of digital technology companies in the North East. We will also be taking a look at national and international stories affecting the industry from a North East perspective.
This region can lay claim to being at the forefront of many of the most exciting developments in the digital industry. The Tees Valley, for example, is increasingly recognised as a centre of excellence in gaming. We look forward to telling many of these success stories in the pages of nedigitalbusines.
