According to a review by NESTA, over 1900 video games development companies were active in the UK in 2014, together contributing an estimated £1.7billion to the UK economy.
That’s a lot of video games. At Waterfront, our expertise in commercial contracts, technology, and intellectual property law combines when we advise gaming studios on video games law. Plus, to me, a gamer, it means I get a chance to see new games in development before they are released to the public which is particularly exciting.
One thing for which the gaming industry often receives negative media coverage is the “zero sum” win/lose nature of many games. While this has never been the only form of game out there it has often been the prevailing approach.
Against this background it is great to see a branch of the UN, UNESCO MGIEP, launching a competition for collaborative games themed around sustainability. The two games in the Semi-Final are “World Rescue” from Hungarian studio Pocket Scientists and “Once Upon a Tile” a collaboration between Italian studio We Are Müesli , Daniele Giardini, and Pietro Polsinelli.
I was lucky enough to get a quote from Claudia Molinari of We Are Müesli. She had this to say about the current state of gaming today, “we believe that video games are the most vibrant, popular and avant-garde form of expression going on today, capable of transforming complexity into a first person experience“.
I can’t help but agree. Gaming can be a powerful tool to help individuals step into other people’s shoes.
Each of the finalists takes quite a different approach to the brief. It will be interesting to see which wins out because even in this competition for a collaborative game there must be a winner and a loser.
It will also be interesting to see how the final games are used and received by the gaming public. The early images are striking (see below) so I will be keen to see and try out the completed game in time.
Although most users of your website will not read your terms, this is an important part of your business. Having to argue in court is expensive, so a little investment to avert the risk is a pragmatic approach. This article highlights some of the most common points which your terms should cover so that the risks explained below do not crystallise.
If your business involves sending personal data outside the UK and EEA, you may be aware of the need for a transfer risk assessment (TRA) to demonstrate that you have properly considered and mitigated any associated risks.
When it comes to commercial negotiations, they often don’t turn out the way you had hoped and then there is no going back. Instead of struggling on your own, losing a lot of management time and still not being sure you have got the best deal, let us negotiate for you.
Get it in writing – Commercial Contracts