Video games in Ireland explained

Video game development is a developing industry in the Ireland, with some government attempts made to encourage investment via tax breaks.^{[1] [2]} Of the approximately €206 million spent by Irish people on video games in 2015, Irish game developers "[saw] little of this spend".^[3]

Video gaming in Ireland grew from the 1970s and, for example, the Atari 2600 was manufactured in Limerick to meet demand for both Irish and export markets.^[4] By 2020, video game companies in Ireland included Keywords Studios, Havok and Romero Games.^{[5] [6] [7]} A video games festival was held in Dublin in 2018.^[8]

In 2007, the Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) was one of four European classification organisations to ban Manhunt 2.^[9] The ban, later lifted, was the first video game ban in Ireland.^[10] Under the 1989 Video Recordings Act, the head of IFCO "may prohibit a video game" if it is deemed "unfit for viewing".^[11] Ratings and classifications in Ireland are otherwise applied through the (voluntary) Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age-rating scheme, of which Ireland is a member.^[11]

Video game companies of Ireland

Active companies

• Demonware (networking code)^[5]
• DIGIT Game Studios (mobile games)^[5]
• Havok (company) (middleware engine)^[5]
• Keywords Studios (game development, localisation, audio, art, QA, etc)^[5]
• Romero Games (independent studio)^[6]

Defunct companies

• Eirplay Games (founded 2002 and defunct 2009)
• Emerald Software (founded 1988 and defunct 1991)
• Funcom Dublin Ltd.(branch; 1994 to 2001)

Publishers

• Playrix (Dublin HQ. Russian publisher & dev. Mobile games.)

External links

• Imirt - "Irish Game Makers" membership association

Notes and References

1. News: Ireland targets Scottish games industry. GameSpot. https://archive.today/20120729175115/http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6230655/ireland-targets-scottish-games-industry. dead. 2012-07-29. 2011-05-23.
2. News: Getting to the next level. Irish Times. 2011-02-25. 2011-05-23.
3. Web site: Ireland spent an estimated €206m on video games last year but how many were Irish. independent.ie . 12 February 2015 .
4. Web site: The History of Gaming in Ireland I: The Systems that Made Us Gamers. independent.ie . 9 August 2017 .
5. Web site: 13 Irish-led video game business to watch . thinkbusiness.ie . 26 August 2020 . 19 March 2021 .
6. Web site: Irish video gaming industry offers major possibilities . Irish Examiner . irishexaminer.com . 30 October 2017 . 19 March 2021 .
7. Web site: Lockdown takes games industry to a higher level . Irish Times . irishtimes.com . 28 May 2020 . 19 March 2021 .
8. "It's the unknown": Games festival to educate parents on gaming. November 22, 2018. rte.ie.
9. Web site: Ireland one of four states to ban violent game . Irish Times . irishtimes.com . 23 August 2008 . 19 March 2021 .
10. News: Ireland bans its 1st video game, calling it 'gross' . NBC News. February 19, 2015.
11. Web site: Censorship and classification . Department of Justice . justice.ie . 19 March 2021 .