Politicians greeted the news that computer games firm Realtime Worlds had called in the administrators with “shock” and “sadness” and vowed to do everything in their power to minimise the job losses.
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie said, “This is a sad day for Dundee, to see our biggest computer games company go into administration.
“We will be doing everything we can to help them. I will be making the strongest representations to the UK Government to support Scotland’s video games industry which is so important to Dundee.”
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick added, “It was with some shock I heard the disappointing news. The people at RTW have worked tirelessly to lobby both the current and previous UK Governments for tax relief and other measures to help the industry, but their calls have fallen on deaf ears.
“It’s not clear whether tax breaks would have prevented today’s announcement but the UK Government need to sit up and pay attention to what is happening in Dundee.
“We have contacted the Minister for Enterprise, Jim Mather MSP, and the First Minister to see what support the Scottish Government can give to minimise any job losses.”
Shona Robison, MSP for Dundee East said, “Our thoughts are with the staff and their families who must be really concerned about their futures.
“We will be meeting the management tomorrow to find out what the implications are and what we can do to support the staff and company.”
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern said, “This news is absolutely disastrous for Dundee this a huge loss of highly skilled jobs at a time of economic strain for the country and for the city.
“It is companies like Realtime Worlds that are central to rejuvenating Dundee and which provide much needed work and investment.
“The Lib-Tory Coalition in Westminster and the Nationalists in Holyrood must realise that in a global competitive market, if we want highly skilled well paid jobs, then we must support our industries. When other countries are rolling out the red carpet to new companies we cannot keep failing them.
“I have repeated time and again to this government about the need for support and a tax break for the games industry like they have for the film industry.
“I now urge them to stop delaying and start acting. If the Tories and Lib Dems wanted evidence of their dithering and indecision they now have it.
“We must see what can be done to support those who have been made redundant, and what can be done to further support the remaining games companies in the city and the fledgling companies that may result from Realtime. We must act now to ensure that more job losses are avoided.”
Dundee’s Lord Provost John Letford said he had heard the news with “absolute shock.”
He said he hoped the company could be kept as a going concern as it and the computer games industry as a whole was very important to Dundee.
“It is extremely bad news when any business gets into this kind of difficulty but especially when it’s one of the city’s sunrise industries like computer games,” he said.
“I am very saddened by the loss of jobs, which is a devastating blow to the individuals and families affected.”
Administration leader Ken Guild said, “This is a difficult and uncertain time for the many talented, creative people who work for Realtime Worlds in Dundee.
“They and the company have been put in this position by the couldn’t-care-less attitude of the Westminster government, whose point-blank refusal to create a level playing field for the computer games industry in the UK, focused on Dundee, has brought about this situation.
“Realtime Worlds’ competitors in Europe, Canada and in Asia have access to tax breaks that allow crucial breathing space during the long gestation period needed to create top-selling games.
“Dundee’s games’ industry has not been afforded such an opportunity and the administration is one inevitable result.
“When the administrators have been appointed, officers from the council’s city development department will be seeking an early meeting with them to find out if there is any help they can offer.”
Jim Murphy, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, said, “I cannot understand why the government has scrapped the tax relief scheme Labour announced in March.
“If Scottish Secretary Michael Moore doesn’t understand the importance of this he should visit Dundee and learn why the manufacturers desperately need the very support he is taking away.”
“We must see what can be done to support those who have been made redundant, and what can be done to further support the remaining games companies in the city and the fledgling companies that may result from Realtime. We must act now to ensure that more job losses are avoided.”
Dundee’s Lord Provost John Letford said he had heard the news with “absolute shock.”
He said he hoped the company could be kept as a going concern as it and the computer games industry as a whole was very important to Dundee.
“It is extremely bad news when any business gets into this kind of difficulty but especially when it’s one of the city’s sunrise industries like computer games,” he said.
“I am very saddened by the loss of jobs, which is a devastating blow to the individuals and families affected.”
Administration leader Ken Guild said, “This is a difficult and uncertain time for the many talented, creative people who work for Realtime Worlds in Dundee.
“They and the company have been put in this position by the couldn’t-care-less attitude of the Westminster government, whose point-blank refusal to create a level playing field for the computer games industry in the UK, focused on Dundee, has brought about this situation.
“Realtime Worlds’ competitors in Europe, Canada and in Asia have access to tax breaks that allow crucial breathing space during the long gestation period needed to create top-selling games.
“Dundee’s games’ industry has not been afforded such an opportunity and the administration is one inevitable result.
“When the administrators have been appointed, officers from the council’s city development department will be seeking an early meeting with them to find out if there is any help they can offer.”
Jim Murphy, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, said, “I cannot understand why the government has scrapped the tax relief scheme Labour announced in March.
“If Scottish Secretary Michael Moore doesn’t understand the importance of this he should visit Dundee and learn why the manufacturers desperately need the very support he is taking away.”