Professional Bodies in the games industry By Caolan Coleman

Introduction There are a variety of professional bodies associated with the games industry. Here are some of them. The Entertainment and leisure Software Publisher’ Association (ELSPA) UKIE Crime Unit The Independent Games Developers Association (IGDA) Women in games British Academy of film and Television Arts (BAFTA) The Mobile entertainment Forum (MEF)

The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publisher’ Association This is an organisation that was established in 1989 by video game software publishers in UK. They are known as Entertainment and Leisure Software Publisher Association. (ELSPA) Until 2002 it was known as European Leisure Software Publishers Association. It was one of the first and strongest trade bodies across Europe. ELSPA’s was established to be specific and collective identity for country’s video games industry and its membership includes virtually all the major game publishers in the UK. The ELSPA campaigned to bring PEGI as a single system age rating.

UKIE Crime Unit UKIE Crime Unit was established to safeguard the intellectual property rights of there members’ products. UK media regulators joined them in November 2011 to launch ParentPort which is a website that is aimed at parents so then there views are heard on the issues that are inappropriate for children. ParentPort is run by the UK regulators. They work together to enforce standards that have been set across the media to protect children from inappropriate content. On ParentPort people can find out about the standard is expected by the regulators from the media.

The Independent Games Developers Association IGDA is the largest non profit membership organization serving individuals who create video games. That brings developers together at conferences. They use the internet to connect on a wide range of projects. They want to improve the game industry by addressing the issues within the industry. This can be things like Quality of life, recognition of talent and also diversity in the industry. IGDA can help with learning game development through education programs.

Women in games They aim to Give women and men to voice there opinion in the games industry with interests in supporting and encouraging the role of women in the games industry. Support and disseminate research into games, games culture, games education, games industry, games technologies and other game related areas that reference women playing and developing games . Providing networking opportunities for women and men working in the games industry and researching game related areas.

British Academy of film and Television Arts BAFTA has an online channel dedicated to games. You can find out recent games feautures to hear from the biggest names in the industry. You can also visit the BAFTA video games awards pages to find out which titles have been rated by BAFTA members. There is also games new and events

The Mobile entertainment Forum They can provide new markets and sectors. They share data insights to help monetization and to create new opportunities They also inform of new market concept and also innovations They offer a market entry platform for business’s to expand globally.