Yesterday marked the re-launch of Ukie’s UK Games Map, an interactive tool designed to showcase the companies, service providers and academic institutions that deal with games across the country.
Originally launched with the help of Nesta in 2016, the map has proven to be a useful decision-making tool for students, development studios, and even government policy-makers.
Fresh Coat of Paint
Developed by research agency The Nursery, alongside software developer Kieran Darcy, with support from BFI and the National Lottery, the new map aims to provide a more visual and up-to-date view of the UK games industry.
Using data provided by Discover Uni, the new map provides an in-depth look at the academic institutions throughout the UK that deliver games courses, even including student feedback among the data shown.
This comes alongside a new machine learning-based approach to company listing, which gives up-to-date location info, and lets companies register and manage their own data once verified by Ukie.
Data Deep Dive
All of this information is presented via improved tools and features; digital boats to help users navigate the data seas. These include heatmap, choropleth and list views, letting users see the data their way.
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, had this to say of the new map: “The UK Games Map once again shows that the video games industry is a truly national success story and an engine of growth. It shows that the industry’s contribution to the economy benefits communities across the country and underlines why the sector is a leading success story on a global stage. We now encourage games businesses to claim their company record or create their own if it isn’t on the map, to help us tell that story.”
Harriet Finney, BFI Deputy CEO/Executive Director of Corporate & Industry Affairs, added: “The UK’s video games sector has grown at a phenomenal rate in recent years, creating opportunities for investment and contributing to the sector’s creative and economic global success. Supporting the UK Games Map has been helpful to the BFI and industry partners in providing evidence and undertaking policy work to benefit the sector but crucially it is there for businesses to use for their development and for individuals seeking pathways to jobs.”
You can view, and contribute to, the map for yourself here. For more information on Ukie, check out their website here.