EUROPEAN GAME DEVELOPERS FEDERATION FORMS TO
REPRESENT OVER 500 EUROPEAN DEVELOPERS
PARIS, France – 10 November, 2006 – At its meeting yesterday, the European Game
Developers Federation (EGDF) was officially formed by its founding members, representing
over 500 leading game development studios from ten European countries.
The EGDF, which will be based in Malmö, Sweden, issued the following mission statement
following its founding meeting:
The European Game Developers Federation is committed to the stimulation and
development of a stable, vibrant, and creative European games development sector
that is competitive globally and recognized culturally.
The EGDF will act to advance the political and economic interests of the European
computer and video games industry by providing a platform for collaboration and
discussion between the European Union and game developers
“The European games industry has had notable successes but faces stiff challenges from
rapid globalization,†said EGDF Chairman Fred Hasson. “A growing number of countries are
recognizing the importance of video games as both a cultural medium and an economic
sector that bridges creativity and advanced technology. Some are establishing long term
policies that include significant support for their local industry. The EGDF members believe
Europe needs to respond swiftly to remain in the race, in particular promoting the creation of
new Intellectual Property, updating workforce skills, and backing technological research and
development.â€
In the coming year the EGDF has three primary goals:
First, to establish itself as the representative body for European developers in order to
promote video games and foster their development as a popular entertainment, educational,
information, and training medium.
Second, to encourage sharing of best practice among the development sector in both
business and production matters, and
Thirdly, to use its combined bargaining power for the benefit of its individual member
companies.
Ends
EGDF members are Tiga (UK), APOM (France), GAME (Germany/Austria),
BGIn (Benelux), Producentforeningen (Dk), Spelplan-ASGD (Swe), and Neogames (Fin).
The federation represents about 500 studios based in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Great
Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Nordic Countries, which together employ over
15,500 people.
