With so many developers crammed on to such a small island, you’d think Britain would have a capital for them. But what constitutes such a thing? Some kind of nexus, presumably, a virtuous circle of business and talent that produces more and better games than you’d find anywhere else. A first choice for hungry young studios and even hungrier graduates. But is that the reality?
Historically, you could argue not. London might be the most connected city on the planet, ideal for conferences, expos and meetings, but would you actually set up shop there? Or would you sooner look to Leamington Spa, Dundee, Newcastle or Brighton, where thriving communities feed startups with lower baseline costs? Stay small, stay cheap and stay together aren’t mottos commonly associated with life in the big city.
Times are changing, though. The more gaming comes to rely on talent from non-traditional backgrounds – web design, high-volume server management, economic models, performance capture, voice acting (the list goes on) – the greater London’s pull. And as outsourcing becomes an option not just for the big boys but even small, remote studios of no fixed abode, the market for London’s nomadic army of specialists grows.
Moreover, as the smart money continues to pile into social networking games, London’s mix of venture capitalists, user-interface experts and web developers becomes a killer combination. Few know that better than Playfish, the award?winning startup which, in November last year, was acquired by EA in what could potentially amount to a $400m deal. Joining teachers and employers from all corners of the capital, not least the enduring SCEE, the studio helps us explore this exciting new terrain.
