Yorkshire game industry network Game Republic is to continue beyond the close of the financial year tomorrow, after securing funding from the companies and learning providers it represents.
The network, established in 2003 by firms in the region with the backing of trade association TIGA, was facing an uncertain future after the UK government’s round of spending cuts saw a number of regional development agencies - including Screen Yorkshire, through which Game Republic’s funding was channelled - shut down.
However, Game Republic has today announced that it is to continue as a private company following investment from member firms, including Sumo Digital, Four Door Lemon and Just Add Water, and its education partners, Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam universities, and the University Of Bradford.
Jamie Sefton, managing director of Game Republic, said: “I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible support from Yorkshire’s game industry and universities. Now we’ll be able to continue the work of the network to host regular events, access funding, encourage collaboration and bring major games companies into the region to help all our members – including our new educational partners.”
With public funding now a thing of the past, Game Republic intends to build on its educational partners programme, giving greater emphasis to its Student Showcase, in which the county’s final-year and postgraduate students have their works judged by staff at member companies.
An increasing focus on tightening the bond between the game industry and higher education chimes well with the recommendations made in the Livingstone-Hope skills review, published last month, which highlighted several deficiencies in the way the UK education system prepares students for a job in the videogame industry.