Games Consortium seeks UK indie devs

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) has announced The Games Consortium, a new organisation that aims to help independent UK game developers exploit their games through digital distribution.

Headed up by Mastertronic boss Andy Payne, The Games Consortium wants up to eight UK indie developers working in social, mobile and traditional gaming to establish the Consortium. The idea is together, the developers will attract funding and keep more of any profit made in the UK.

If you've got £20,000 lying about, are a UK independent developer, have fewer than 250 staff and a turnover below £50 million, then you could be right for the Consortium. Head over to the NESTA website to submit your application. Doors close on 14th February.

Game developer legends were unanimous in their support for the project.

"With a wealth of experience from both a games development and publishing perspective, Andy is the ideal person to lead the establishment of the Consortium," Charles Cecil, Founder and Managing Director of Revolution Software, said. "Blessed with boundless energy, Andy commands admiration and trust from all sectors of the games industry."

Ian Livingstone, Life President of Eidos, had this to say: "Content owners today access global markets via high-speed broadband. A consortium of independent developers launching new IP online will benefit enormously from shared marketing, publishing and financial expertise. Andy Payne is the right person to spearhead the development of the consortium. He is experienced, respected and trusted, and will get the job done."

So, who is Andy Payne? He runs Mastertronic, which recently signed a deal to publish Popcap games such as Plants Vs Zombies in UK shops. He also led the transitional change of trade association ELSPA into UKIE.