ELSPA echoes Eidos' government call

Following on from comments made by Eidos CEO Jane Cavanagh earlier in the week, the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association has said that it feels the government should offer more financial backing to the industry in the UK.

ELSPA director general Paul Jackson said, "Our impression is that government understand that there is a serious problem here and we have been invited back to discuss the issue further."

"However we are wary that historically government has never really given us the support we require when compared to other industries in our sector."

Specifically Jackson is referring to the film industry, which currently receives tax incentives for work undertaken in the UK, and he feels that the UK is in danger of falling further behind the likes of Canada, whose government does provide financial incentives to the games industry.

"The reality is that the market is financially doped in other parts of the world, making it incredibly difficult for the industry in the UK to compete."

And in an exclusive interview to be published on Monday, he told GamesIndustry.biz he feels that "We need programs and structures that are appropriate to our market."

"There are issues for our Government in talking to other governments about the predatory activities they seem to be carrying out."

"I don't believe British industry needs special help. We're very innovative and competitive. We need the Government to protect us from uncompetitive activities, to ensure that we're not being attacked by unfair practices elsewhere."

According to ELSPA the UK industry currently employs 22,000 people, and now stands fourth in the world rankings, behind the US, Japan and Canada.