Manchester Games Network, a new business organisation, launches today to strengthen Greater Manchester’s international reputation in the games sector.
The business-led community aims to promote, connect, and advocate for the video games sector across Greater Manchester. The network will be led by a board with a broad spectrum of games industry knowledge and experience who share a passion for games and for Manchester and its unique place on the global cultural stage.
The board includes Stephen Hey, games marketing veteran; Laura Harper, partner at Lewis Silkin; Louise Andrew, head of studio at d3t; Michael Pattison, VP of global publishing at Lightspeed Studios; Carl Jones, games industry consultant; and Caroline White, creative consultant.
Andrew said, “I’ve lived in Manchester and worked in the games industry since 2001, including Acclaim, TT Games, and now d3t. But the region never really had a unified international voice and a network that could represent us, strengthen our members, and make them more resilient. Manchester Games Network will fill that gap and help claim our rightful place as one of the best places to make games in the world.”
Hey added: “Manchester has a huge legacy of game making that you can trace back to the 1950’s. Ocean and Software Creations in the 80s and 90s, followed by EA, Sony and Epic, who came here because we have world-class skills and talent.
“Today, companies like d3t, TT Games, Playdemic and Cloud Imperium are making games in Manchester that are played by the world. Manchester had the very first Computer Science degree, and today we have brilliant education in games at all levels. Add to this the publishers, outsourcers, animation companies, and marketing agencies, and you have a powerful ecosystem of games companies.”
Manchester Games Network will launch with an event this evening at Cloud Imperium Games’ headquarters in Manchester city centre. Through events, knowledge sharing, inclusion, and a strategic outlook, the network will position the city’s industry for global growth and make Manchester “an even better place to make games and nurture the very best talent.”
The organisation is encouraging anyone in the industry in the area to get in touch and get involved via the website.
