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Computer games industry body TIGA has announced an online initiative to bring publishers together with game developers to be launched at The Bookseller Children’s Conference next month.
TIGA has launched Creative Industry Switch online (see www.tiga.org) to provide a first point of contact where games developers and publishers can get in touch with each other. TIGA project manager Lorna Evans said: “There is great enthusiasm within the games industry to work with other creative industries, particularly publishing, and this initiative will help to get them talking to each other.”
Games developers are keen to expand their audience among younger players with new storylines and other digital initiatives. Charles Cecil, managing director of games company Revolution, said: “Other people have great skills in the linear medium. It will do our industry enormous good if we can pull these industry parties in so they can teach us about their skills, but within the context of the interactive media.”
The convergence of digital industries was reflected in Walker Books’ recent appointment of Paul Rhodes as its head of digital from US video game producer and manufacturer, Midway Games. Rhodes, who also runs his own company Orb Entertainment, said collaboration between the industries “makes a huge amount of sense”, especially following recent shifts in the games industry.
Sony and Microsoft have also repositioned their PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in order to reach this emerging demographic, and cut their prices. Rhodes added: “Both have also revealed upcoming motion-sensing technology, indicating that all the major platform holders have the family audience firmly in their sights.”
The conference takes place on Thursday 1st October and will address a number of retail and digital initiatives, including publisher-driven websites and services, the potential for e-book sales, and opportunities for publishers through digital platforms, such as the iPhone and games consoles. To find out more, visit: www.thebookseller.com/seminars.
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