New guide for academics and industry aims to boost understanding of video games to support UK’s world-leading sector
A new guide to support research and build a better understanding of video games is published today.
Video games are played by more than half of British adults and the sector is one of the UK’s fast-growing creative industries, contributing £2.8 billion to the economy and employing 27,000 people in 2019.
To support the potential growth and development of the industry, further research is needed to fully understand players’ experiences, and the impacts of games on individuals, communities and the economy more widely.
Last week at the Enders Conference, the Culture Secretary spoke about her desire to maximise potential within the creative industries - of which video games are a key part - with an ambition to grow the sector by an extra £50 billion by 2030; help create a million extra jobs in the sector by 2030; and deliver a Creative Careers Promise that builds a pipeline of talent into our creative industries.
The Video Games Research Framework, developed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in collaboration with academia, research councils and the games industry, aims to support researchers to build a stronger evidence base for future policymaking.
Minister for the Creative Industries, John Whittingdale, said:
Professor Tom Rodden, DCMS’ Chief Scientific Advisor, said:
The guide sets out a number of priority areas in need of stronger evidence to help academics and industry focus research projects. Priorities recommended by the framework include why people interact with games, their impact on physical and mental health and the effect of in-game features like spending and advertising on players’ experiences. The framework also suggests wider areas of focus, such as the economic potential of the industry and the role of video games in education.
The framework brings together guidance and examples of recommended research practices, including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) principles on research integrity, knowledge sharing and managing conflicts of interest.
The document also provides advice and information on data sharing, as academics identified access to industry and player data as a barrier to enabling better research. It outlines researchers’ legal obligations under UK data protection laws and directs users to guidance from expert bodies such as the Information Commissioner’s Office and UKRI on how data should be collected and handled during studies.
Publishing the framework delivers on the Government’s commitment to support better evidence on the impact of video games after the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games found that research in this area is still emerging.
Dan Wood, Ukie Chief Strategy Officer and co-acting CEO, said:
Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said:
Professor Peter Etchells, Professor of Psychology and Science Communication, Bath Spa University, said:
Professor Andrew Przybylski, Professor of Human Behaviour and Technology, Oxford Internet Institute, said:
ENDS
Notes to Editors