Today, the global videogame market is worth a staggering $93 Billion, far larger than the $15bn music industry, and bigger still than the $88.3bn worldwide film industry.
2014 has also proved to be a momentous year for the industry in the UK, with the sector getting back on track and witnessing the long-awaited introduction of Games Tax Relief. As such, this is an opportune time to review and reflect on the UK’s incredible heritage and role in creating what is now, the biggest entertainment business on Earth.
‘From Bedrooms to Billions’, a new two-hour feature length documentary film which tells that remarkable, true story of the British Videogame Industry from 1979 to the present day is out today.
‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ is a crowdfunded production, two and a half years in the making, that shows how the creativity and vision of a relatively small number of individuals allowed the UK to play a key, pioneering role in the shaping of today’s multi-billion dollar videogame industry.
Developments in computer technology in the UK of the late 70s early 80s helped inspire a generation of small teams of enthusiasts, hobbyists, school kids, bedroom coders and entrepreneurs to make and release some truly classic games. ‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ reveals some of the remarkable stories, struggles and successes that saw the UK videogame industry go from quite literally nothing to a major force littered with original thinkers, innovators and eccentric characters.
The film then looks at how the cottage-style early games business began to evolve into a fully-fledged industry which in turn inspired more young developers and publishers to enter the industry, before the appearance of overseas games platforms presented an all new challenge by the early to mid-1990s.
It also features interviews with key contributors to the UK story, including Peter Molyneux, Jeff Minter, David Braben, David Perry, Jason Kingsley, Mark Healey and many others from across video game development, publishing and journalism from over the past 40 years, combined with compelling archive footage.
‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ is the first to attempt to bring this amazing story together. Starting in the late 70s, spanning ‘Thatcher’s Britain’ of the 80s and culminating in the dramatic shift of fortunes for the UK Video Games Industry by the late 90s. The film celebrates the importance of this era and why it has become such a landmark period in the history of British invention, creativity and industry.
‘From Bedrooms to Billions’ is rapidly becoming regarded as one of the most comprehensive and thorough video game documentaries ever created and is essential viewing for anyone interested in video games, either as a player or as a creator.
The film is available now from www.frombedroomstobilliions.com
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