UK indies need a Weinstein figure, says GameCity boss

The UK's independent games talent could benefit hugely from a single unifying personality or brand, helping to bring together overlooked games coherently and promote them to much wider, accepting audience.

That's according to GameCity founder and director Iain Simons who said in an interview published today that the region already boasts the games and creativity, but lacks the central figure to evangelise the scene.

"For years, we've been banging on about how the games industry needs this Reservoir Dogs moment, or Sex, Lies and Videotape moment - we've got to find the new Tarantino," said Simons. "We'll have some kind of moment where some indie title really hits the public consciousness, where everybody's playing and there's a whole new scene formed around it.

"I kind of think we've already got the Tarantinos, we've got the developers, we've got the talent. We've probably already got the games. What's missing is the Harvey Weinstein figure. None of those films would of made anything without Miramax.

"What we don't have, in any kind of cohesive way, is a producer almost. I don't mean that in the sense of a producer of an individual game, but at the studio or brand level. There's no Miramax, no Rough Trade, no Factory Records pulling these things together to give it any sort of scene. So you get these isolated, brilliant pieces of work, but they're a little bit... disconnected, maybe?"

The UK indie scene has seen some triumphs in recent months, both critically and commercially - particularly in the form of Hello Games' Joe Danger, Zombie Cow's Privates project for Channel 4 and Just Add Water's PSN title Gravity Crash, but Simons believes that a unifying personality behind games like those could see them reach even greater success with a larger audience.

Simons went on to say that, although he'd love for GameCity to play partake in that sort of project, it would have to be the responsibility of a large, established publisher in order to really get indie titles in front of consumers.

"I'd love us to play a part in that, but I think ultimately it's an opportunity for some kind of publisher. I think if that can tie in with things which happen on the street, that would be brilliant. But, that's the thing that's missing.

"And it's personality driven to a large extent, a Tarantino or a Weinstein we're back to the human thing of having that in front of people - this isn't just about coming up with a good brand. This is about it being followed through by some kind of amazing personality who's going to drive it on. "

The full interview is available to read now.