A TECHNOLOGY-focused communications agency, which has worked for Marvel, Disney and Warner Brothers, has opened its first office in Scotland, drawn to the heritage and potential of the country’s “nascent” gaming industry.
Founded by communications entrepreneur Jacki Vause in 2011, Dimoso has opened its doors in Edinburgh – home to famed video game developer Rockstar North, creator of Grand Theft Auto.
And it’s off to a flying start with a contract to promote Scottish Games Week, which takes place from 24 to 28 October.
Ms Vause, whose headquarters are in London, said Dimoso has come to Edinburgh at a booming time for the game industry in Scotland, where key players are Dundee-based 4J Studios, best known for developing the Minecraft game. console edition. Significant investments have also been made in studios such as Build A Rocket Boy and Ant Workshop.
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Figures published in May by the gaming industry organization TIGA showed that there are 147 active game development companies in Scotland, supporting 2,269 permanent and full-time equivalent creative jobs.
Ms Vause predicts Scotland could be a “powerhouse” of the gaming industry around the world.
She told The Herald: “The games industry is burgeoning in Scotland. As an agency, we are firmly anchored in games and mobile games, but also in technology. I’ve worked with Scottish clients in the past, but I’ve never had an office there and I’ve always felt it was something that really mattered to clients.”
When asked why she thinks the Scottish games industry is in such good health, Ms Vause highlighted the country’s ‘creative and narrative’ heritage, which ‘lends itself to the games industry’.
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She also highlighted the quality of academic courses in gaming in Scotland, and the Scottish Government’s support for the sector as a “driving force” in the wider technology industry.
But Ms Vause said gaming faces a skill shortage. “It’s such a fast-growing industry – it’s growing exponentially year after year. And especially in lockdown, the mobile games industry has been booming in terms of growth. When it comes to recruiting, getting really talented people is a tough job, so it’s even more important to promote education and also get more women in the game industry.There is a lot of good movement for women in technology and games.”
Asked if the skills shortage has been exacerbated by Brexit, she said: “Yes, because you see a lot of talent powered by the European Union.
“I don’t mind saying I’m a staunch anti-Brexiter. I mentored students from different schools all over Europe, but also in the US. Our ability to persuade these students has been completely curtailed, which is extremely frustrating.”
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Scottish Games Week will feature a range of events across Scotland, from the major cities of Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh to venues in the Highlands and Scottish Borders. The events will each explore different aspects of the Scottish gaming ecosystem as part of an overall ambition to promote gaming as a major contributor to the country’s technology sector.
Brian Baglow, founder of the Scottish Games Network and a key figure behind Scottish Games Week, said: “We are delighted to have a team as dedicated, knowledgeable and creative as Dimoso’s to work with us on the first-ever Scottish games. Week. The team’s passion for games and enthusiasm for the event really shines through. We know having them on board will take SGW to the next level. The fact that Dimoso is settling in Scotland shows that the industry is on the cusp of real change and is something they are really passionate about. I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
Ms Vause said: “It is an incredibly exciting time for the games industry in Scotland. It’s a country with an incredibly rich video game history, with names like DMA Design and Rockstar, but now it’s time to really take it to the next level.
“We are delighted to open an office in Edinburgh and have Scottish Games Week on board as the perfect first customer. We look forward to supporting Scottish game developers to improve and grow their profile for the whole world to see.”
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