National experts sign up for games event
Dec 18 2008 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal
WHILE the impact of the credit crunch on banks, retailers and car manufacturers has been much publicised, talk of the plight of the video games industry amid this financial mess has been non-existent.
Fortunately, for games industry players in the region, this will change next month as a major event aims to get to grips with the economic downturn’s impact on the burgeoning sector.
At the Beat the Credit Crunch event, experts will gather in Newcastle to pick over the bones of what has been a tough year for the sector which continues to play an increasingly important role in the North East economy and its job market.
Event organiser Codeworks GameHorizon – the business network for UK-based games firms – will bring together delegates from across the country to focus on how to games developers and publishers can prosper in these tough times.
Carri Cunliffe, head of sector development at Codeworks, said: “Codeworks GameHorizon is planning this event to ensure the North East’s companies are ahead of the game in terms of being armed with the knowledge and contacts to survive and develop through the economic downturn.
“The event will see national speakers looking at ways that companies can attract and manage finance and also develop their businesses in these tough times through better IP, contracts and money management. The aim is to see what is already a leading games cluster continue to expand and take advantage of opportunities in new markets to beat the credit crunch.”
Alex Chapman of London-based Sheridans Media Lawyers will head North to talk about the legal implications of structural changes to games firms, as well as the many business opportunities created by the economic downturn. He said: “In an uncertain economic climate companies have to make tough decisions and some companies are downsizing although others are using it as an opportunity to grow.
“We are looking to those companies that are still looking to grow and what they should do to make sure that they don’t take on too much risk. ”
Meanwhile Tobias Davis, senior FX dealer at Custom House, will focus on the impact of the UK’s currency crisis which has seen sterling fall 13% against the euro in the last two months.
Click here for more details on the event.
