North’s growing reputation for film, TV and video games is aiding economy

Could a virtual Queen of England and a trusty, over-confident space-hopping soldier be among the rising stars of the local economy in 2015?

Belfast based BillyGoat.tv certainly hopes so.

The start-up is getting ready to launch its new 3D space themed adventure game later this year after successfully securing funding on Kickstarter at the close of last year.

But the star of the game – Captain Frank Lee English – is unlikely to be the only artificial life form creating real profits and real jobs for the economy this year.

It is estimated that the creative industries sector delivers about £330 million for the local economy annually and has created more than 21,000 jobs to date.

Northern Ireland's growing reputation as a location for award-winning television shows such as Game of Thrones and its ability to reinvent itself as a good region for film production has delivered major economic benefits.

Not only have local media production companies, of which there are now 250, directly benefited from the North’s expanding profile as a television and film production hub but it has also helped attract investment from associated industries such as the investment project by the law firm, SmithDehn.

The film and television legal specialists teamed up with the University of Ulster to run a masters level course last year – and then hired students from the programme.

SmithDehn also opened a new European office in Derry and will once again help run the university’s “Law and Business of Film and Television” course from February to May this year.

According to Russell Smith, one of the company's founders, it intends to hire "dozens more" in the North to handle legal matters for blockbuster movies and TV series.

Setting aside the North’s award-winning performance in this sector, 2015 could be the year that other creative talent finally shines through, particularly game developers.

There is no one better placed to take advantage of new opportunities than Greg Maguire, the chief executive of Belfast-based InLifeSize.

Maguire, who is well known for his award-winning work on box office successes including Avatar and Harry Potter teamed up with Phil Campbell, a former creative director on interactive franchises like James Bond and Tomb Raider to create the firm.

Together with Barry O'Neill, previously president of a leading Japanese game developer, they operate from Belfast and San Francisco.

The first release from InLifeSize – a 3D app Fairy Magic – proved a hit and Maguire recently took part in the NI Tech Mission to Silicon Valley where he set out their plans to work with top game publishers in the US and secure new development funding.

It is not just industry veterans like Maguire who believe Belfast has the right local talent to support ambitious projects. Fledgling entrepreneurs like Conall Mac Canna and Dicky Li who set up their games studio – Pandara's Box – during a placement year from their Game Development course at Queen's University – can also see that the virtual world can deliver real profits.

They released their first mobile game Slimebow last March and its desktop follow-up is due shortly.

Local animation companies such as Flickerpix and Derry’s Dog Ears should also get a helping hand in 2015, thanks to a new UK tax break specifically for children’s television shows. Companies will be able to claim 25 per cent of qualifying production spending through the relief scheme.

Northern Ireland Screen, the government backed agency, also intends to use lottery funds to develop junior creators and animators in Northern Ireland this year.

The Creative Animation Scheme hopes to identify new emerging talent – it should have plenty to chose from.