Sponsored by
Leeds Digital Festival 2011: Talent and spirit helps games hub to flourish
PLAYING TO WIN: Jamie Sefton, MD of Games Republic.
Not many people think of Yorkshire as a hot spot for computer games – but the area’s developers are among the best in the world. Suzanne McTaggart reports.
WHEN you think of video games and where they’re designed, countries like Japan, China or America might spring to mind.
But, contrary to popular belief, Yorkshire is a hidden gem of the computer games industry, with the region contributing around £100m to the UK games industry last year.
Many well-renowned games development firms are based in Leeds and the surrounding area, including one which achieved global success with one of the top-rated games ever made.
Rockstar Leeds created Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars, which was released in 2009 and is now the top-rated game on the Nintendo DS – even above the legendary Super Mario.
One man who knows all about the hard work and talent that is part and parcel of Yorkshire’s games development industry is Jamie Sefton, managing director of Game Republic.
Set up by the games companies themselves, Game Republic aims to provide support and encourage more business for Yorkshire firms involved in the global games industry.
“A lot of people don’t realise how big the games industry is in Yorkshire,” Jamie said. “It’s a massive industry and we’re really quite blessed.
“There are great developers in Ossett, Otley and all around Leeds, not just in the city centre. Leeds has always been at the forefront of games development in this region and in the UK and around the world. Rockstar Leeds, which developed Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars, is just one well-known example.”
Computer games are just one of the many digital platforms being catered for by the YEP-backed Leeds Digital Festival, which runs throughout November.
One event which should attract games developers and fans alike is Get into Gaming, being held at The Adelphi in Leeds city centre on Wednesday. Jamie is one of the speakers at the event, which is themed on ‘Co-op’ – games where players have to work together – and involves guests playing games, talking about games and meeting like-minded people.
“I love being part of Game Republic and Get into Gaming is a really unique event,” Jamie said. “I don’t think there’s any other events like this in Leeds. A lot of the time, gaming conferences are held at massive venues and involve thousands of people, but this is very different.
“There’s been a real shift in people’s perceptions of the computer games industry. Now, when you’re into computer games, you’re not seen as a teenage boy or a bedroom geek.
“It’s seen as a very important, creative industry and that has been a huge shift which has been very important.”
Jamie’s love of computer games started as a child in the 1970s, when gaming machines like Space Invaders were at the height of their popularity.
However, he initally forged a career as an actor and director before deciding to move into the computer games industry.
“A family relation had a Tandy computer and I learnt to programme on it when I was nine or 10,” Jamie said. “I loved it. I did lots of different jobs but my passion was always computer games.
“Then in 1999, I applied for a job on a computer games magazine called Arcade.
“I got the job and I fell in love with it.”
Game Republic was set up in 2003 to promote the firms which joined the organisation, highlight the Yorkshire region as a place to come and work and help developers access funding for prototype games.
Until March this year, it was part of Screen Yorkshire, but was forced to become an independent organisation after the Government spending cuts.
“The aim of Game Republic is really to give companies in Yorkshire a bigger voice,” Jamie said. “When you’re a little developer in the middle of Yorkshire it can be difficult to get noticed.
“I’d been with Game Republic for a while when the spending cuts kicked in and I could have just left. But people kept coming up to me and asking if I was going to keep it going, and I thought ‘why not?’
“I love being part of Game Republic and the companies really back me. We exist simply because of the goodwill of the companies and Game Republic has always been their baby.
“I just think it’s a wonderful industry to be in. It’s creative, great fun, I’ve met a lot of geniuses and made a lot of friends. It’s a pleasure to be a part of it.”
For more information about Get into Gaming and the Leeds Digital Festival, visit: www.leedsdigitalfestival.com
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds United: Warnock calls for a united front
- Leeds United: Ex-Whites boss Grayson appointed new Huddersfield Town manager
- Leeds United: Whites ideal for Neil Warnock INTERVIEW
- Leeds United: Warnock’s appointment ‘best possible decision’ - Derry INTERVIEW
- Web poll: Who would be your choice as Leeds United captain? VOTE HERE
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.