Tiga welcomes Media Programme recognition of games.

Tiga this week welcomed the EU's decision to include funding for games development in the Media Plus programme.

Media Plus has traditionally worked with TV and Film producers on many fronts, but lobbying by EGDF and its member organisations, which is lead by Tiga's Fred Hasson has ensured that games are included for the first time.

The first call for projects is now open and includes up to 60,000 per interactive project but up to 100,000 for prototype development on consoles and PC. The First call for projects is worth 1.5bn across all media.

Says Fred Hasson, Tiga CEO and Chairman of EGDF

'This is a definite step in the right direction. There is still a lot of misinformation and negative perceptions circulating Brussels concerning games, but Tiga and the other members of EGDF have held numerous meetings with the European Commission to help redress this perception'

'It seems ironic that the EU should take positive measures for games before the UK government does, who have been telling us that it is because of Brussels that they cannot do anything for the games sector'.

Details of the call can be found on:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/producer/develop/interactive/index_en.htm

For assistance interested parties should contact the UK Media Desk, based at the UK Film Council.

UK MEDIA Desk

c/o UK Film Council

10 Little Portland Street

LONDON W1W 7JG

T: +44 20 7861 7511

F: +44 20 7861 7950

E: england@mediadesk.co.uk