The videogame and interactive entertainment industry is big business, a whopping $57 billion in worldwide revenue for 2009 was forecast by industry experts DFC intelligence, and the juggernaut which consists of online gaming, trophies, achievements, micro transactions and a rigorous keep fit regime gets bigger and bigger each year. We may never see such colossal sales in such a short period of time for one video game alone, ($1 billion since November 2009) like we did last year with Infinity Wards FPS sequel for a long, long time, if ever again? But you never know what can happen; it’s a funny old business, and that’s without adding on any zombie DLC!

Just the other week Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised the UK games industry saying that it is “Leading the way.” in Europe. This is a massive boost for the UK games industry when such a person steps out and speaks for the good that video gaming brings, and is simply not highlighting a media witch hunt that would ensue, when a “Not right!” happens to get in trouble because he/she likes playing Grand Theft Auto and other games of an adult nature.

It’s an industry surrounded by controversy and creativity, some of the most talented people such as artists, engineers, mathematicians, musicians, programmers and writers use their gifts to both entertain and drive the wheels of industry. As an industry, as a government and as a country that strives towards financial success and sustainability, an appraisal by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown should be the perfect incentive to go forward. CCP Games, the Swedish developer behind the highly successful EVE Online franchise and the forthcoming DUST 514 console spinoff have recently stated they are opening a UK based studio to concentrate on current and future titles.

Crytek, the German games developer behind such great titles as Far Cry and Crysis, stepped in and saved Derbyshire based Free Radical Design from the brink of extinction, now operating as Crytek UK, it’s only a matter of time before we see the fruits of their labour. Crysis 2, running on CryEngine 3 will take console games to a whole new level, and that just shows what high regard our European neighbours think to our wealth of talent, it’s definitely worth investing in.

This is where a UK games industry could vastly benefit from some kind of apprenticeship scheme, possibly funded or formed by the government and backed by the National Lottery and even other UK based game developers. Much like the UK Film Council operates, it could help nurture and give a wealth of information for those wanting to pursue a career in the games industry, but unfortunately don’t where and how to go about it. A UK based studio could be set up “UK Games Studio” “UK:GS” or simply the “UK Games Council” that develops games for multiple platforms; i.e. Sony’s PlayStation Network, Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade, Nintendo’s Wii Ware and other digital delivery systems such as Steam on the PC. Working alongside industry veterans newcomers can learn a craft or further their skills whilst developing a great brand of entertainment.

Games are played, enjoyed and challenged by millions of people throughout the world. It’s no longer a pastime for a group of people, branded “nerds or geeky” that spent their entire free time locked in a dark bedroom surrounded by Coca-Cola and pizza, it’s an industry that has surpassed the film and music industry combined, and we in the UK should be encouraged and rewarded.