Acting locally, thinking globally What’s happening Wednesday 16 March: 5.30pm-6.30pm: UK Growth and international trade seminar at the British Consulate, sponsored by UKTI and Fitzgerald & Law. Invite only. Ask stand staff for details 7.00pm-9.00pm: Ukie’s VIP UK drinks reception at B Restaurant & Bar, sponsored by UKTI, Northern Powerhouse, Bafta, Games London and Wells Fargo. Invite only. Ask stand staff for details
Ukie CEO, Dr Jo Twist speaking at ChinaJoy 2015
The UK games industry blends the best of British creativity with leading technology, creating successful games exported around the world. The UK games sector has always looked outwards: from producing cutting edge content and technologies for global customers, to partnerships with international investors, multinational publishers and world leading platforms and services.
Local support
But local ecosystems and clusters of companies across the UK need practical support as well as access to funding and opportunities for them to reach their potential as digital exporters. Over the last year, our activities as UK Interactive Entertainment, the trade network for the 21st Century games
industry, have ranged from helping to connect clusters with their local MPs and decision makers, their Local Enterprise Partnerships, promoting their businesses and connecting them to local press coverage, to recruiting companies for UKTI funded trade missions to Gstar in Korea and ChinaJoy. We also make sure that companies can recruit highly skilled people from overseas while securing the next generation of diverse game industry talent right from school level.
Growing fast
This has all added up to a rapidly growing sector in the UK. 2015 saw the UK’s consumer games market surpass £4.1bn – its highest ever. And there has been an explosion of growth in the number of games businesses, with latest figures
showing that there are now almost 2000 interactive entertainment and games companies making or selling games across the UK.
Global reach
We want to match this home-grown success with more international investment and partnerships, making sure interested companies from all over the world get all the insight they need about the UK, and have the chance to build those international deals, helped by our global trade and investment programme. By looking globally but acting locally we can maximise the potential of the UK sector in a digitally connected global marketplace – offering access to the best talent, content, technology and entrepreneurial spirit to a global audience.
Exclusive features inside: Why the UK is the Brand new London best place for games Games Festival >> page 4 >> page 5
UK Government behind games sector >> page 15
What’s on the UK Stand 41 UK games businesses on the UK industry stand >> page 8
Brought to you by
Come and visit us in the South Hall at stand 1016
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On the UK Stand: • Adrenaline Sports
• Milky Tea
• AppAttic
• Multiplay
• Applingua
• N.Ireland Screen
• Billy Goat • Black North
• Northern Powerhouse
• Boom Clap
• OysterWorld
• Cardboard Sword
• Playground Games
• Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce
• Polystream
• Creative Dialogue Tools • Cubic Motion • Dakko Dakko • DeltaDNA • First Touch Games • GameBench • Green Man Gaming • Inlifesize • Italic Pig • Jagex • Marmalade
Ukie staff at GDC
CEO
@Doctoe
• RETiniZE • Sold Out
Dr Jo Twist CEO
• Sumo Digital • suprAnuclear • SWRVE • Trailerfarm • Troll Inc • Ukie • UKTI • Vi-Ability • Vision Games Publishing • Wales Interactive • Welsh Government • Working Mill
@Ukiejenny
Jenny Brammall
Commercial Services Coordinator
@UkieSophie
Sophie Densham
Community & Communications Officer
• Mechabit
Turn to page 8 Stand opening times for full listing Wednesday March 16: 10am – 6pm Thursday March 17: 10am – 6pm Friday March 18: 10am – 3pm
Ukie Times
supporting the UK’s games industry ukie.org.uk
we help your business on the road to success
helping you do business in the UK speak to sam@ukie.org.uk
book now for
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The UK: the best place in the world to make and sell games Here are five reasons why the UK is becoming the key gateway to the rest of the world.
Video Games Tax Relief
Since September 2014 games companies have been able to claim Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR) on development in the UK and EEA. Available as either a relief against Corporation Tax or as a direct credit, the scheme will generally return 20% of a game’s UK development budget straight back to the company. Games have to pass a Cultural Test in order to qualify, which involves showing their game has links to Europe and the UK and is being made by people who are resident in Europe and the UK, and is actually being produced in Britain. VGTR has already had a big impact. In 2015, 237 games qualified for the relief, with a planned UK/EEA spend between them of £728.9m. Companies have not found the cultural test or other administration problematic, and Ukie can put you in touch with people who can help you through the process.
UK Games Fund
Ukie worked with the UK government to show how extra support for games
start-ups, especially at prototype stage, can help unlock the full benefits of VGTR in kick-starting a new wave of growth in our industry. In 2015 the government introduced the UK Games Fund to meet this goal. With £4m funding over four years, it provides grants of up to £25,000 to developers to prototype their ideas and help ready them for investment. Recipients are chosen through regular competition rounds and the Games Fund team is in place to help you apply. 24 grants have already been awarded.
Creative Europe funding
UK games companies can also apply for funding from Creative Europe’s MEDIA programme, which offers support to European developers looking to develop innovative games. The programme has around €2.5m every year to support 30 projects. In 2015, the UK received the highest share of the EU-wide budget, with €547,000. Successful companies receive non-repayable grants ranging from €10,000 to €150,000, which have to be matched with private investment. Ukie can offer advice and helpful contacts to companies looking to apply.
R&D Credits
The UK government offers support for companies innovating and researching new technologies in the UK. This includes software companies and games developers inventing new ways to build and offer games to the public, including work on game engines, analytics and more. Ukie offers advice and contacts with experts who can help you assess whether you can benefit from R&D credits.
The EIS schemes are just part of the reason that the UK has such a strong and growing investment community looking to find the next great opportunity in games. Combined with the strong support from government, the welcoming games community, the fantastic talent pool and more, it’s clear why the UK is the best place in the world to make games. For more info contact jo@ ukie.org.uk.
Enterprise Investment Scheme
The UK is a great place not just for the games industry, but for start-ups more generally, with a thriving mix of creative talent in film, animation and VFX, and a very strong tech sector. A major government intervention in recent years to strengthen this has been the Enterprise Investment Scheme and its younger offshoot, the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme. These offer attractive tax reliefs to investors helping start-ups to get off the ground. Under the Seed EIS, investors can get up to 50% tax relief on the first £100,000 they invest in companies meeting the requirements – and those companies can each raise £150,000 under those generous terms.
Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Video Games, Chris White MP
London Games Festival Make sure that you’re in London in April for this year’s London Games Festival – a 10 day celebration of the cultural and economic impact of the UK-wide games sector, that includes the first ever Games Finance Market. Ukie is partnering with Film London on the 2016 London Games Festival. The new festival takes place 1 April to 10 April, and will include 15 official events across 10 different venues in the capital. Highlights include: •
The brand-new Games Finance Market (5 April - 7 April), a first of its kind event that recreates the successful formula delivered by Film London in matching film finance to film projects during the London Film Festival. The Games Finance Market will connect interactive content talent with global investors and partners from across sectors
•
Now Play This (1 April - 3 April), a weekend festival of games and play at Somerset House, as part of Utopia 2016: A Year of Imagination and Possibility
•
A series of insightful LGF @ BFI talks (4 April) programmed and presented by London Games Festival in partnership with BFI Southbank
•
The inclusion of already influential global events: British Academy
Games London Festival Director, Michael French
Games Awards (7 April) and EGX Rezzed (7 April - 9 April)
•
An inspiring cultural programme that helps change perceptions of video games and champions the medium as a cutting-edge art form - plus a London Games Fringe of alternative and exciting smaller events
The Games Finance Market
Running as part of the London Games Festival, the Games Finance Market is open to developers and publishers who are seeking investment for their next project. For investors, the event welcomes international financiers who are looking to support exciting new games and digital interactive products. This is an essential industry event for people trying to get their games made – from encouraging new business relationships to securing investment, equity funding, co-production and distribution deals. Thanks to the way the event is supported, we are also able to help with accommodation costs for a number of delegates, making for a cost-effective two days of invaluable meetings. If you wanted to find out more about the Games Finance Market please contact us at market@games.london or call +44 (0)20 7613 7676. Alternatively speak to Festival Director, Michael French at the UK drinks reception on Wednesday.
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10 days of play across the UK capital B2B, consumer and cultural strands Includes brand-new Games Finance Market, industry summits and innovative Somerset House event Now Play This Plus world-renowned events like EGX Rezzed and BAFTA Games Awards
London Games Festival DPS - 274mm x 345 - 20.02.16_London Games Festival 22/02/2016 14:50 Page 2
1 April FRIDAY
2 April SATURDAY
3 April SUNDAY
4 April MONDAY
5 April TUESDAY
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6 April WEDNESDAY
7 April THURSDAY
8 April FRIDAY
9 April SATURDAY
10 April SUNDAY
Games Finance Market
Now Play This LGF @ BFI VR Summit LGF @ BFI
Games Finance Summit
Rezzed Games Culture Summit
eSports Summit BAFTA Game Awards
London Games Festival Fringe
Find out more! www.games.london Or email Michael.French@games.london
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Exhibitor listing 8
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D = Developer
M = Media
P = Publisher
Set up to launch Football CEO gaming application, available on all platforms from 11th March 2016 Goal is for players to make their club, community and themselves (as CEO) more stronger & successful; through sound decision-making in both their professional & personal life. Game is being developed in partnership with Vi-Ability and Deloitte. Web: footballceo.co.uk
Web: appattic.co.uk
Twitter: @footballceo
Twitter: @appattic
Telephone: +44 (0)7725 576997
Telephone: +44 (0)7730 595648
Address: Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9SW
Address: 46 Hill Street, Belfast, Bt1 2LB
D
D Applingua Ltd started in December 2010 aiming to help developers the world over translate their games and apps into different languages and reach new markets. Since then we’ve evolved into a market leading localization service that offers clients quality unrivalled by our competitors.
AppAttic produces games to engage users with their wellbeing, provide health insight, and promote positive behaviour change. AppAttic is an award winning startup company with experience working with large multinationals and government departments. AppAttic was named Belfast Startup of the year 2015 and won Invent 2015 Creative Media category. AppAttic is currently running clinical trials in NHS with their Medicines Management Game. Internally, we optimised the creation, development and deployment of software to maximise efficiency. This enables us to develop and deploy novel apps/concepts with minimum time investment. Our ethos is similar to a Venture Capitalist, we invest with time and effort on ideas and concepts. We are looking to meet: Health and wellness gaming companies, people interested in gamification. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: Raise awareness of our health and wellness games and associated gaming platform for data processing. BillyGoat Entertainment is a Belfast based video game developer currently working on “Her Majesty’s SPIFFING”, a jovial, space themed adventure game. HM SPIFFING follows the exploits of a crew of astronauts tasked by Her Majesty the Queen to scour the solar system for new planets in a quest to establish a new Galactic British Empire. Her Majesty’s SPIFFING will launch in Q2 2016.
We are looking to meet: Developers interested in translating their games into different languages. Web: applingua.com
Web: billygoat.tv
Twitter: @applingua
Twitter: @officialgoat
Telephone: +44 (0)2921 250140
Telephone: +44 (0)7860 617928
Address: #210 Creative Quarter, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, CF10
Address: 51 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RY
S
S = Service
D
We are looking to meet: Publishers and journalists to show the game we are currently developing. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To generate press interest in our game.
Ukie Times Blacknorth has shaped itself into Northern Ireland’s finest and most stimulating digital media company by maintaining a mature and robust pipeline, providing a reliable and highend service within the creative sector whilst generating in-house intellectual property.
Web: blacknorth.tv Twitter: @blacknorth Telephone: +44 (0)2890 233774 Address: 25 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FF
D
In 2015, Blacknorth launched Blackmarket to allow Blacknorth to be dedicated to providing a high-end service for work-forhire. Concentrating solely on intellectual property, Blackmarket produces award-winning, innovative and exciting media content for the film and game industries. We are looking to meet: Publishers. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To show our property.
Telephone: +44 (0)7889 728071
Boom Clap Games formed in 2015 with the goal to make music focused gaming experiences for mobile and beyond. Their first professional endeavor “Beat Bugz” is a mobile game that fuses casual gameplay with simple music technology. The game is a 2d mashup of a drum machine with funny characters and arcade style action, it is currently under development with support from the Microsoft Ireland Greenshoots programme and NI Screen. The core team of David, Andy and Kris have a combined professional skill set that spans; design, UX, audio, music, animation, programming and project management.
Address: 21 Wallasey Park, Belfast, BT14 6PN
We are looking to meet: Global publishers.
D
Cardboard Sword is a video game developer and service provider. Formed of experienced and veteran developers, we have recently transitioned from providing Design, Production, and QA consultancy and outsource, to developing our new IP: ‘The Siege and the Sandfox’, a stealth-focused Metroidvania, realised in an evocative 2D art style.
Web: cardboardsword.co.uk Twitter: @CB_Sword
We are looking to meet: Games companies.
Web: cw-chamber.co.uk Twitter: @cwcc_export
Telephone: +44 (0)7772 925898
Telephone: +44 (0)2476 654321
Address: 16 Bohouse, Sussex Street, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, TS2 1BF
Address: Chamber House, Innovation Village, Cheetah Rd, Coventry, CV1 2TL
D
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To facilitate introductions to 50 companies/ developers who are visiting from the Northern Power House area of the UK.
S Developer of Creative Dialogue Tools (CDT). CDT liberates dialogue content creation, from script to final integration: dialogue recording and editing, facial capture, mastering, localisation, script and asset management, and QA. Tested on over 500 titles CDT have evolved into a robust and powerful toolset for all involved with dialogue.
Cubic Motion solves some of the most challenging technical problems in computer vision and facial animation. We’re trusted by major game developers and studios to provide extremely high quality animation at unprecedented speed. We are looking to meet: Game developers embarking on AAA narrative projects.
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: We’re uncorking 10 years of distilled dialogue magic and a few bottles of very special whisky to celebrate with. Web: creativedialoguetools.com
Web: cubicmotion.com
Twitter: @omuk_london
Twitter: @cubicmotion
Telephone: +44 (0)2077 139000
Telephone: +44 (0)1618 203431
Address: Unit 2, 22 Pakenham Street, London, WC1X 0LB
Address: Rutherford House, Manchester Science Park, Pencroft Way, Manchester, M15 6SZ
S
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To meet global publishers interested in working with our smart phone music title Beat Bugz.
We are leading a UK trade mission to GDC. We are representing and supporting 50 games companies from the UK. The aim of the mission is to showcase the UK games industry and to connect with global games companies. Find us on the Ukie stand to see how we can help you.
We are looking to meet: Publishers. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To help with marketing, distribution, localisation, and QA.
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Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To demonstrate how we can enable developers to deliver the quality and volumes required through the use of our facial animation technologies and proven track-record of delivery and service.
10 Ukie Times Started by former Lionhead and Q-Games developer Rhodri Broadbent, Dakko Dakko exists to bring inventive, lively and rewarding video games to the world!
DeltaDNA is a game analytics and marketing platform that helps users improve player experience and monetization in their games. The platform uses the latest deep data technology to measure game and player data, predict player behavior, and optimize individual player experiences. Engagement, retention, and monetization rates can be dramatically increased.
Web: dakkodakko.com
Web: deltadna.com
Twitter: @dakkodakko
Twitter: @deltadna
Telephone: +44 (0)7772 697352
Telephone: +44 (0)1314 663690
Address: 44a Plymouth Road, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, CF64 3DB
Address: Greenside House, 25 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA
D
S First Touch Games are an awardwinning independent games development studio based in Oxford, UK.
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in the West of England, GameBench has become an industry leader in mobile performance testing tools. These tools enable developers, QA testers and engineers across the mobile ecosystem to quickly assess the fluidity, resource consumption and marketreadiness of the games, apps and devices they build.
We develop sports games for digital platforms, and have had over 175m downloads, and numerous App Store number 1s over the past 4 years. Our best known products are Score! Hero and Dream League Soccer.
Web: ftgames.com Twitter: @firsttouchgames Telephone: +44 (0)1865 793206
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To learn from the excellent talks and sessions, and catch up with other developers to share knowledge and experiences. The best things from GDC are always the unplanned or unexpected though.
Address: Thomas Hull House, 1 Bonn Square, Oxford, OX1 1LQ
Twitter: @greenmangaming Telephone: +44 (0)7780 671337 Address: Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9BB
P
We are looking to meet: QA teams from studios of all sizes. Web: gamebench.net Twitter: @gamebench Telephone: +44 (0)1173 705876 Address: Unit 116, Bristol & Bath Science Park, Bristol, BS16 7FR
D
Web: greenmangaming.com
We are looking to meet: Developers and publishers who want to improve the player experience and maximize the potential of their games by harnessing the power of deep data.
S Green Man Gaming is the fastest growing pure play digital eCommerce platform in the video games industry; and the foremost destination for millions of passionate gamers around the world.
Inlifesize have developed Humane as a solution to break through the technical complexity of creating a character and are delivering it to 3D content creators as a simple SaaS solution.
We are looking to meet: As the second biggest digital video games retailer, we are always on the lookout for new publishing partners, developers and industry partners.
We are looking to meet: Games Developers, Funders, and game engine developers Epic, Unity.
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: We are now publishing our own PC titles and are keen to discuss new games and projects with studios and dev teams.
Web: inlifesize.com Twitter: @inlifesize Telephone: +44 (0)7512 361462 Address: 19-21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HD
S
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: Meet and build relationships with game developers/software developers and funders.
BLACK ON WHITE
WHITE ON BLACK
COLOUR ON WHITE
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Web: italicpig.com Twitter: @italicpig Telephone: +44 (0)7979 726519 Address: 1 Old Mill Close, Crawfordsburn, BT19 1PP
D
Italic Pig is a kickass games company based loosely in the UK & Ireland,made up of a collective cloud of creative, talented and hilarious people. We live, work and eat by the phrase: “Nobody ever got anywhere by thinking medium.” Our debut release - Schrödinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark (published by Team17, available on Steam, Xbox & PS4) - is a platformer/puzzler/punch-up of PIG ONLY FOR SQUARES subatomic proportions created with the intention of teaching quantum physics to 8 year olds. As it turns out (a) it can be done, and (b) PhDs like it even better than the kids. We are looking to meet: Publishers, partners and funders for continuation of Mona Lisa production. Also, anyone looking to hire Italic Pig for writing consultation. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: (1) Explore potential publishers, partners and funders for Mona Lisa project (2) Promote Italic Pig as a games writing contractor (3) See and be seen.
Web: jagex.com Twitter: @Jagex Telephone: +44 (0)7557 745071 Address: 220 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WA
D
Marmalade Technologies Ltd is a fast growing software and services company that has gaming and games development at its heart. Games and apps made with Marmalade are able to be deployed to multiple platforms with minimal effort, saving the developer valuable time and resources. Supported platforms include iOS, Android, Amazon, Roku, OS X and Windows devices. Marmalade SDK provides a high-performance game development environment that’s open, flexible and suitable for large and small studios alike. Web: madewithmarmalade.com Twitter: @marmaladeapps @MarmaladeGames
We are looking to meet: Game developers and OEMs who are looking to build or acquire compelling mobile content.
Telephone: +44 (0)8456 434969
Liverpool based indie game studio. Our game first game, Kaiju Panic is released on Steam and Xbox One (PS4 soon). We’re currently working on some new VR games. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: Looking for funding for our next VR title.
Web: mechabit.co.uk Twitter: @mechabit Telephone: +44 (0)7833 973489 Address: 41 St. Annes Court, Liverpool, L3 3JP
Address: 200 St. John Street, London, EC1V 4RN
S
D Milky Tea is a UK based game development studio. Established in 2005, the studio has worked with some of the globes biggest brands and has developed a reputation for its character based art style and innovative storytelling, which has seen the studio nominated and win globally recognised awards such as BAFTA, EMMY, Banff, BIMA and DADI awards.
multiplay
Web: milkytea.com
Web: multiplay.com
Twitter: @milkyteastudios
Twitter: @Multiplay
Telephone: +44 (0)1517 080800
Telephone: +44 (0)2071 001337
Address: 12 Jordan Street, Liverpool, L1 0BP
Address: The Oak Barn, Whitefield Business Park, Lepe Road, Southampton, SO45 1XR
D
Jagex Games Studio is a MultiAward winning games developer and publisher based in Cambridge, England. Our studio has a globally recognised reputation for developing hugely popular, accessible, free-to-play games and for providing an unbeatable community experience for our millions of players around the world. We have developed and selfpublished over 40 online titles, including the Guinness World Record-holding “Most Popular Free Multiplayer Online Game” RuneScape. We are looking to meet: Experienced Mobile Game Developers and Publishers. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: Looking for mobile developers who would like to work on new exciting games as part of a growing worldwide franchise. Looking for potential publishing opportunities in Asia for new upcoming games.
S
Founded in 1997 by Craig Fletcher, Multiplay, now subsidiary of GAME Digital plc, specialises in Events and Online services, Esports tournaments, digital consultancy, systems development and more. Multiplay Digital specialise in managed hosting services for the games industry, blending the best of cloud and bare metal to power the worlds biggest launches. Multiplay’s services means that publishers and game developers can focus on making great games, whilst we look after how the game performs online. We are looking to meet: Developers and Publishers running online Multiplayer games.
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Web: northernirelandscreen.co.uk Twitter: @NIScreen Telephone: +44 (0)2890 232444 Address: 3rd Floor, Alfred House, 21 Alfred Street, Belfast, BT2 8ED
S
Northern Ireland Screen is the government-backed lead agency in Northern Ireland for the film, television and digital content industry, driving global growth through boosting our economy, celebrating our culture and enhancing our children’s education. We are developing the interactive content sectors by providing project funding, skills development and finding complementary partners to content producers based in Northern Ireland. We also aim to establish Northern Ireland as an attractive place for international developers and publishers to invest. We are looking to meet: Developers, publishers and investors to discuss our range of support. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To match fund projects that are able to demonstrate clear commercial exploitation, relocate their development activities to Northern Ireland and contribute to building a sustainable screen industry in Northern Ireland.
We, The Northern Power House are leading a UK trade mission to GDC. We are representing and supporting 50 games companies from the UK. The aim of the mission is to showcase the UK’s Northern Power Housegames industry and to connect with global games companies. Find us on the Ukie stand to see how we can help you. We are looking to meet: Games companies.
Web: cw-chamber.co.uk Twitter: @cwcc_export Telephone: +44 (0)2476 654321 Address: Chamber House, Innovation Village, Cheetah Rd, Coventry, CV1 2TL
S
OysterWorld is a world class developer and publisher of online and downloadable games.
Playground Games is an independent game development studio. Established in 2010 by some of the most experienced and talented developers in the UK industry, our mission is to make genre-defining video games for a global audience. We’re proud to be the creator and developer of the awardwinning Forza Horizon series. We’re currently working on an unannounced project.
The studio has built a team of over 65 employees and is expanding rapidly. With funding support from the Welsh Government, it is moving Garden Party online children’s virtual world game to 3D and bringing its Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure products to Wales. Oysterworld is passionate about its work, understands children’s brand values and always aims to surpass audience expectations. Web: oysterworldgames.com Twitter: @Oyster_World Telephone: +44 (0)7836 630093 Address: Suite 6, Unit 3, Melin Corrwg Business Parc, Cardiff Road, CF37 5BE
D
P
We are looking to meet: Publishers, partners and investors. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: Introducing exceptional world-class games to publishers, partners and investors as well as our outstanding work for hire facilities and unique casual slots.
Web: playground-games.com Twitter: @weareplayground Telephone: +44 (0)1926 338338 Address: Newbold Terrace, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 4EA
D
Polystream is leading the next generation of fully streamed interactive entertainment.
RETìníZE creates cinematic virtual reality using state-of-theart 360 video, 3D stereoscopic vision and binaural sound. At heart we’re experienced storytellers, with an intimate knowledge of the tricks and tech required to create truly unforgettable immersive experiences.
Founded by Adam Billyard (formerly Criterion, and EA) and Bruce Grove (formerly Tellme, Dell XPS, and Onlive), Polystream uses virtual GPU technology running on public cloud services such as Azure, AWS, and Google to deliver a complete gameplay experience on any device.
Web: polystream.net
We are looking to meet: Potential partners, investors and interested parties in the cloud gaming space.
Web: retinize.com
Telephone: +44 (0)7538 623355
Twitter: @retinize
Address: 105 Oyster Lane, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7JF
Telephone: +44 (0)7411 813041
S
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To facilitate introductions to 50 companies/ developers who are visiting from the Northern Power House area of the UK.
D
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Web: soldout.uk.com
Sold Out combines a wealth of experience mixed in with youth to form its close knit team. Publishing for physical and digital distribution Sold Out has had the joy of working with Team 17, Rebellion and other indie developers.
Sumo Digital is a World class Independent video games develop based in Sheffield UK. Established in 2003 we now employ over 250 staff and our current clients include Microsoft, SCEE and Disney.
We are looking to meet: We’ll be looking to meet with American and International Press.
We are looking to meet: Sumo are looking for partners who are interested in working with a AAA developer on interesting, high quality titles.
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To expand our networking overseas.
Web: sumo-digital.com
Twitter: @SoldOut_Games
Twitter: @sumodigitalltd
Telephone: +44 (0)2034 054257
Telephone: +44 (0)1142 426766
D
P We are a company using the tools employed by the Games industry to produce clinical simulators that train medical professionals. Set up in Cardiff we currently have a neuroophthalmology simulator released on the iPAd.
The mobile app is changing the world. Responsible for over $100 billion in revenues, and influencing over a third of all retail purchases - the mobile app is at the heart of today’s brand / consumer relationship. At Swrve, we make that relationship work for you. Swrve is used by some of the world’s largest and smartest digital businesses to deliver awesome experiences on mobile: the kind of personal, relevant and timely campaigns that mean greater user engagement, greater user retention, and most importantly of all: mobile revenues.
Web: supranuclear.com
Web: swrve.com
Telephone: +44 (0)7812 524021
Twitter: @Swrve_inc
Address: 158 Whitchurch road, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF14 3NA
Telephone: 415-830-5650 Address: 55 Stockton Street # 400, San Francisco, CA 94108
D
Web: thetrailerfarm.com Twitter: @thetrailerfarm Telephone: +44 (0)7791 597802 Address: 1b Church Road, Brighton, BN3 2HA
S
We are looking to meet: Publishers & games studios that want to engage, retain, and monetize their users with personal, relevant messages at the optimal time.
S We’re a crack team of industry veterans and exciting new talent drawn from across the creative disciplines. We Are The Trailerfarm We’re dedicated to making game trailers that BRING THE AWESOME. The TrailerFarm was founded by Dan and Tony, two brothers who’ve worked on development teams that have made critically acclaimed, award-winning AAA titles – probably including some of your favourites – and have been lucky enough to work with some of the biggest and most exciting names in games creating fresh video content. And we LOVE games. Our work to date has had a combined total of 35 MILLION + views and counting. We’d love to help you get eyes on your game. We are looking to meet: Developers and publishers that who require kick Ass Game Trailers, TV Spots, CGI Cinematics and Developer Diaries! Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To broaden our already awesome client base and introduce our new services and to walk away with lots of great briefs.
Web: troll-inc.com Twitter: @Troll_inc Telephone: +44 (0)7761 603489 Address: Unit 7, Elagh Business Park, Buncrana Road, Derry, BT48 8QH
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Troll Inc is a Northern Irish games studio who develop our own games as well as undertake work for hire projects. Our previous experience includes PC, Console and mobile games. Our PC and console games are action/puzzler games with platforming elements; we are interested in showing our new concepts and demos to publishers at this stage. We are currently developing a new IP for PC and console that pulls all of our experience we have gained in the last 5 years into a unique experience in an imaginative world. Established in 2010 we now have a team of 12 people with separate teams for our own IP and the work-for-hire projects we undertake. We are looking to meet: Console/PC publishers interested in action/puzzler games with a Unique Visual Style as well as Mobile publishers interested in fun arcade and casual games. Brand managers and teams looking for developers. Our main aims and objectives of the show are: Connect with PC & console publishers and partners, Connect with mobile publishers. Connect with teams looking for experienced game developers.
14 Ukie Times The Association for United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment or Ukie (pronounced YOU-KEY) is a trade body that aims to support, grow and promote the whole of the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry. Founded in 2010 (although formerly known as ELSPA), Ukie’s membership includes all the major UK and global games publishers and the best of UK development talent from promising start-ups to some of the biggest, most successful studios operating in the UK today.
Web: ukie.org.uk Twitter: @uk_ie Telephone: +44 (0)2075 340580 Address: 21-27 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3NL
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Web: vi-ability.org Twitter: @Vi_Ability
Ukie works with government to champion a range of issues including age ratings, education and skills, access to finance and protecting intellectual property rights. It also works with the media to ensure true and accurate representation of the sector by raising awareness of the industry’s positive economic contribution and the societal benefits of gaming to policy makers, regulators and consumers.
Vi-Ability is the UK Social Enterprise of the Year (Company limited by guarantee) that was set up in December 2009, by ex-Arsenal, Liverpool and Welsh international footballer Kelly Davies. The vision therefore being: “For every community to have a thriving and financially stable sports club at its heart that can provide opportunities for people to broaden their horizons while developing employability and life skills.” Vi-Ability provides opportunities for people of all ages to develop skills by offering training, work experience and qualifications in commercial sports management.
UKTI works with UK based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports. We encourage and support overseas companies to look at the UK as the best place to set up or expand their business. UKTI is a nonministerial department.
Web: gov.uk/ukti Twitter: @UKTI Telephone: 415-617-1372 Address: 1 Sansome Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA 94104
Address: Vi-Ability@Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9SW
Vision Games Publishing LTD is the publishing arm of Standfast Interactive, a UK based production finance company for video games, investing across genres, business models and gaming platforms. Vision Games Publishing offers sales, marketing and production assistance, working closely with developers to help take their game to market. We are looking to meet: Local developers, marketing resources and press. Web: standfastinteractive.com Telephone: +44 (0)7771 571639
Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To extend our services to a wide development community by attending GDC through the prominent platform offered by Ukie.
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Are you developing growth, relocation or expansion plans? Explore what Wales has to offer at the UK Industry pavilion. Our business support, skills base, financial incentives, training support, flexible business space, digital infrastructure and minimal levels of red-tape are geared to meet the most improbable business set-up challenges.
We are looking to meet: Looking to meet investors and journalists. Web: walesinteractive.com Twitter: @WalesInter Telephone: +44 (0)1656 858412 Address: Pencoed Technology Park, Pencoed, Bridgend, Wales, CF35 5HZ
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We are looking to meet: Experienced UK companies looking to further grow their business in the Pacific Northwest.
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Address: 46 Jamaica Street, Liverpool, L1 0AF
Telephone: +44 (0)7725 576997
We are responsible for: • international trade and investment • helping UK companies achieve their potential overseas through exporting • encouraging investment in the UK by overseas businesses
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Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To promote our latest titles Soul Axiom (PC, Xbox One, Wii U & PS4) and Coffin Dodgers (Xbox One & PS4).
Web: justask.wales.com/sectors/ creative-industries Twitter: @welshgocreative Telephone: +44 (0)7805 819914 Address: Creative Industries Sector, QED Centre, Treforest Estate, Pontypridd, CF37 5YR
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Our main aims and objectives of the show are: To discuss with games companies why choosing Wales as an operations base can help you with your expansion plans.
Ukie Times 15
Working Mill is an independent developer and publisher of games and applications for the Smart Phone and Social Media markets. Since its launch 2012, Working Mill has aimed to produce engaging and easy to learn games, as well as innovative and unique applications that cater to the target customer groups.
Web: workingmill.com
Attend the UK Growth and International Trade Seminar on 16 March, supported by
Our goal is to enrich the daily lives of our customers by providing highly specific, entertaining and useful products.
Twitter: @workingmill Telephone: +44 (0)7835 251624 Address: 23 Hamilton Street, CF11 9BP
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Join us at Ukie’s VIP UK drinks reception on 16 March with thanks to our sponsors
UK Government fully behind the games sector The introduction of tax breaks and world-leading computer science being taught in schools - just two examples that show that the UK’s government recognises the importance of the games industry to the country’s creative and digital economy. Ukie is building on these strong foundations, through our recently published Blueprint for Growth
report which outlined more ways that the UK can become even more games industry friendly in the future. Today the UK is home to nearly 2000 games firms ranging from micro-studios developing games for the burgeoning mobile market, to internationally respected independent studios and large UK and international publishers.
Speaking for the industry
We make sure that these games businesses have their voice heard so the UK can be an even better place to make and sell games. The games industry, represented by Ukie and its members, is regularly heard right at the top of government, sitting on the government’s Creative Industries Council discussing IP policy, skills, access to finance and broadband infrastructure. We also help run an All Party Parliamentary Group to discuss video games growth across England, Wales and Scotland. We’re always showing politicians the latest games and technology that the sector produces and briefing Ministers on different issues that face the sector. The Westminster Games Day, organised by Ukie, took the sector to the heart of parliament in 2015 and featured speeches by Ed Vaizey MP and Baroness Neville-Rolfe and included a showcase of the latest innovation for MPs.
Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy, Ed Vaizey MP
All this helps lawmakers understand the need for light-touch regulation
when dealing with innovation, as well as understanding the need to attract the best talent.
More in the future
Looking forward, the games industry set out a series of recommendations to the new government in our Blueprint for Growth that will collectively lead to the UK games sector contributing another £1bn annually to the British economy. 1. Ensure effective public funding support alongside other creative industries 2. Support regional growth, FDI and exports 3. Grow, attract and retain the best talent 4. Create the best tax environment and digital marketplace to do business worldwide 5. Promote games-as-culture and celebrate cutting-edge UK innovation Get in touch with theo@ukie.org.uk to find out more about Ukie’s political work. Visit ukie.org.uk/blueprint to view the Blueprint for Growth.
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50 great reasons to visit the UK Northern Powerhouse stand
UKTI are supporting 50 of the UK’s brightest and best games companies. We have a range of companies from those with “AAA” experience to creative indie studios. Come and talk to us about the opportunities available for you in partnership with UK companies.
Meet the UK Northern Powerhouse representatives
UK INDUSTRY STAND # 1016 – SOUTH HALL
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