While I don't believe in extreme tax breaks for the rich, this is important for the creativity of media. Without providing tax breaks of some form to gaming companies, there may be stagnation in development. Granted, it is easy for me to say this as an American who has never been to the UK, but gaming is international and will have international repurcussions.
What seals the deal for me is that the UK is being selective in games that receive tax breaks, as "Games with a primary focus of gambling or advertising would not qualify, and titles involving pornography or other 'extreme material' would also be excluded" per the BBC article.
In other words, games such as the Harry Potter Lego games are eligible for tax breaks. This game does not promote sex or violence, but creativity. Why halt a good thing? If this were Rockstar Games getting a tax break for Grand Theft Auto, I would not want my tax dollars going there. However, eligible games that are meant to inspire creativity in players is worth it for me. I say this and I'm not even a gamer.
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| Tiga, a UK video game trade organization, is reportedly disappointed in the tax break for quality games (games of action without gore) being called into question by the EU. |
While some have concerns that enabling these tax breaks can actually reduce jobs, as with relocating the business and employees to tax-subsidized areas, it is worth a try in order to get incentives behind quality games that are better for youth than promoting killing prostitutes and stealing money. If there is a true concern over having to relocate in order to receive tax incentives, with enough backing, there can be accommodations in the future once it has been established. These difficulties will not last forever provided that we establish them and show it is a positive thing. This way, there may be incentives throughout all of the UK if the public sees it as a positive through establishing it in the first place.
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