Games Up? Warns Of Skills Shortage

Games industry group Games Up? has warned that British universities are failing to give graduates the skills that the games industries needs.

There are 81 video games degree courses now offered at British universities, according to games industry campaign group Games Up?, but only four of them are accredit by the government body Skillset. And that, they say, is one reason why universities are failing to equip graduates with the skills really needed by the games industry.

David Braben, chairman of Frontier Developments and a spokesman for "Games Up?", told the BBC:

"95% of video gaming degrees are simply not fit for purpose. Without some sort of common standard, like Skillset accreditation, these degrees are a waste of time for all concerned."

For instance, the degree course in Computer Games Engineering at Northumbria University demands an A-level in math to get in, and the course leader has claimed that many prospective students are put off by that requirement.

But the lack of good courses means that the British games industry is struggling to find good graduates. Britain is currently the fourth leading nation for games development, but that position could slip, according to Braben.

"We are facing a serious decline in the quality of graduates looking to enter the industry. The death of maths, physics and computer science graduates is hitting us hard."