Its hard to tell if thats true, no real info, nothing substantive. What exactly would the government gain from listening to a major publisher. What bribes? With our supposedly open governement and two parties together.
Although saying that it probably is true knowing the way the digital bill was pushed through in the most surreptious, blatant corrupt manner possible.
What exactly would the government gain from listening to a major publisher. What bribes?
That's just it - if this does turn out to be true, it's not as if the publisher in question would have to deal with the entirety of the coalition government. From the article:
"Insiders tell us that the publisher spoke to well-placed parliament allies to dissuade any legislative measures."
The very fact that we have a coalition government would likely make such an approach even easier for 'the publisher', as it would take even fewer members of parliament to affect the outcome of a vote concerning any potential legislative action.
That idea highlights another aspect of working in the UK (especially London) that's forcing skilled workers to seek employment overseas - the fact that, in comparable roles in terms of qualifications or skills required, companies in the UK pay substantially less than similar opportunities in other countries, despite the high cost of living here (referring to London specifically).
This disparity is especially apparent in other creative fields like graphic design. My wife, who has been working as a graphic designer for almost ten years and has a solid portfolio of work and several large international clients, was told by many (read: almost all) of the creative staffing agencies here in London (of which there is a seemingly-disproportionate amount, compared to other major cities) throughout the five years she lived here that expecting a position paying anything close to £30,000 a year was 'highly unrealistic', and that roles paying between £18-22k were more likely.
Upon returning to the States, she's interviewing for roles that are paying upwards of $60k, for the same duties and responsibilities expected of designers here in London - and this is in Boston, not Los Angeles or New York, either. The fact that advertisements for driving instructors, promising 'up to' £30,000 a year are broadcast on TV here just goes to show that the UK is facing a serious crisis in terms of all but the highest-level of creative media production, and not just in game development.
It seems like there's this unspoken societal attitude in the UK to expect less, and that seems to be pervasive across other industries, like nursing. I interviewed for an IT helpdesk support role earlier this year to bring in a little extra cash and ease the pressure on my savings, and the employer expected a degree in computer science, four years of experience and my own transport in order to work on-site at their client's offices, and they were offering £14k. Incidentally, this was for a considerably large organization based in central London, with many clients that are household names.
How someone living and working in central London is expected to live on salaries like that is beyond ridiculous - especially when you factor in the already-high cost of living, the exorbitant rates (and number) of taxes, the cost of housing, and on, and on.....
Major publishers Activision and Sony have expressed frustration with the UK's recent withdrawal of game tax breaks, as Activision CEO Bobby Kotick warns his company will not invest further in the UK without tax relief or other financial benefits.
Replies
Oh my
Although saying that it probably is true knowing the way the digital bill was pushed through in the most surreptious, blatant corrupt manner possible.
That's just it - if this does turn out to be true, it's not as if the publisher in question would have to deal with the entirety of the coalition government. From the article:
"Insiders tell us that the publisher spoke to well-placed parliament allies to dissuade any legislative measures."
The very fact that we have a coalition government would likely make such an approach even easier for 'the publisher', as it would take even fewer members of parliament to affect the outcome of a vote concerning any potential legislative action.
So yeah, bribes.
that - or try changing jobs to boost your pay.
That idea highlights another aspect of working in the UK (especially London) that's forcing skilled workers to seek employment overseas - the fact that, in comparable roles in terms of qualifications or skills required, companies in the UK pay substantially less than similar opportunities in other countries, despite the high cost of living here (referring to London specifically).
This disparity is especially apparent in other creative fields like graphic design. My wife, who has been working as a graphic designer for almost ten years and has a solid portfolio of work and several large international clients, was told by many (read: almost all) of the creative staffing agencies here in London (of which there is a seemingly-disproportionate amount, compared to other major cities) throughout the five years she lived here that expecting a position paying anything close to £30,000 a year was 'highly unrealistic', and that roles paying between £18-22k were more likely.
Upon returning to the States, she's interviewing for roles that are paying upwards of $60k, for the same duties and responsibilities expected of designers here in London - and this is in Boston, not Los Angeles or New York, either. The fact that advertisements for driving instructors, promising 'up to' £30,000 a year are broadcast on TV here just goes to show that the UK is facing a serious crisis in terms of all but the highest-level of creative media production, and not just in game development.
It seems like there's this unspoken societal attitude in the UK to expect less, and that seems to be pervasive across other industries, like nursing. I interviewed for an IT helpdesk support role earlier this year to bring in a little extra cash and ease the pressure on my savings, and the employer expected a degree in computer science, four years of experience and my own transport in order to work on-site at their client's offices, and they were offering £14k. Incidentally, this was for a considerably large organization based in central London, with many clients that are household names.
How someone living and working in central London is expected to live on salaries like that is beyond ridiculous - especially when you factor in the already-high cost of living, the exorbitant rates (and number) of taxes, the cost of housing, and on, and on.....
/rant over
Wasn't Activision then