081008: Nordic computer games do not fear the future

Press release:

Nordic computer games do not fear the future

Many of the applicants in this year's second round of funding for new Nordic computer games dare to take a creative approach to the possi-bilities the future holds.

63 Nordic game projects were submitted to the Nordic Game Program before the ex-piry of the deadline on 1 October. This takes the overall total for 2008 to 138 appli-cations – once again a new record, which shows that the Nordic games sector is growing constantly, but also that there is a great need for financing for many new projects.

- As always I am delighted to see the large number of applications, because it shows that the Nordic games industry is developing. At the same time it is interesting to see that a growing number of them are designed for the formats of the future like the iPhone, mobile phones and the new consoles, and are not just PC-based, which tradi-tionally has been the most common platform for developing games in the Nordic countries, says Erik Robertson, who manages the Nordic Game Program.

- The impression you get is of a dynamic industry that is remaining true to its value base but which is also good at adapting to the new possibilities offered, among
others, by the next-generation consoles with their online distribution, says Erik Robertson.
 
Of the 63 game projects sent in, 22 are from Sweden, 21 from Denmark, 11 from Finland, 7 from Norway, whilst 2 of the applications are from Icelandic games pro-ducers. In total more than 30.5 MDKK was applied for. In the next stage, a group of experts will evaluate the projects submitted, and then the 3 million crowns available in this year's second round will be awarded. In the first round in 2008, 10 projects were awarded funding.

The names of those granted funding will be announced in December on www.nordicgameprogram.org.

The Nordic Game Program was launched in 2006 and is in year three of a six-year period. The program aims to improve access to Nordic computer games for Nordic children and young people, and the funding facility is an important part of this. Read more on www.nordicgameprogram.org.

Press contact:
Jacob Riis
Tel: +45 2360 9422
e-mail jacob@nordicgameprogram.org