Gaming
Gaming glitch: UK gaming industry hit by skills shortage as applications to creative courses down 20% in last decade
Following higher education funding cuts of 50%, falling applicant numbers for creative courses at UK universities have caused a skills shortage. Experts highlight an increasing reliance on international students to plug the creative skills gap.
The UK could be facing a creativity deficit, with 20% fewer applications for arts and design courses at UK universities in the last decade. In the last five years alone, there has been a 12% drop.
These courses play a key role in providing talent to creative industries, including gaming, fashion, film, photography and music, among others.
The greatest contributors to the decline are falling numbers of UK and EU applicants. Domestic applications are down 25% in 10 years, while EU applications have halved since Brexit.
By contrast, the amount of non-EU applicants for creative arts and design courses in the UK has more than doubled in the last 10 years. In the last five years, it has risen by 44%. Around one in six applications for UK creative courses now come from non-UK citizens.
The data was collected from UCAS through a freedom of information request, by high-resolution design textures specialists Ultra High Resolution. The findings show applicant numbers and diversity in demographics for all creative arts and design courses at UK universities.
Recent reports suggest that the booming UK film industry and related sectors will have 40,000 vacancies by 2025, with a severe skills shortage looming on the horizon.
A ripple effect
The UK government slashed higher education funding for art and design courses across England by 50% this academic year.
This prompted a wave of criticism that the cuts misunderstood art’s role in society, and predictions that the impacts would ripple across the economy. Industries that rely upon both technical and creative skills are reporting skills shortages post-Brexit.
The pandemic, a surge in games’ popularity and Brexit have caused a labour shortage in the gaming industry, which used to rely heavily upon EU talent. There’s a demand for those with animation, design and writing skills in the UK games market, which is more than double the size it was 10 years ago.
Meanwhile, the fashion industry – the UK’s largest creative industry – which is worth £35 billion a year, has warned of severe talent shortages, with EU workers leaving gaps post-Brexit. Architecture is facing a similar challenge: the RIBA’s Future Trends survey reports that one in five practices are struggling to recruit.
David Lineton, a still life photographer who heads up the digital specialist team at Ultra High Resolution, said:
“During the pandemic, we’ve seen the arts suffer greatly, with lockdowns keeping people away from galleries, cinemas and theatres. And funding has been another huge issue, with those in the industry sometimes struggling for their incomes, making the field more competitive than ever.
“What’s pleasing though, is that the UK’s international reputation for the creative industries is still shining through. And as the UK scene becomes even more diverse, we’re sure to see a truly vibrant industry emerge from the pandemic.”
Ste Bergin, film producer and lecturer on the film production course at the University of Salford, said:
“When George Osborne was Chancellor of the Exchequer, he brought in some major tax incentives for productions to shoot in the UK. This allowed the UK to grow further as a cultural powerhouse – and students want to study in that kind of environment as it simply may not exist at home. More international talent moving to the UK means that more art is created here, and we are more financially incentivised as a country to fund that talent’s art.”
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The post BTG Launches the High-Stakes Thriller, Millionaire Megapots™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
GodLike Esports star Sharkshe has revealed her newly upgraded gaming room, created in partnership with Red Bull to deliver a premium streaming and content production setup.
Sharkshe, one of India’s leading female gaming creators, boasts over 500,000 YouTube subscribers and is known for her lifestyle content and livestreams featuring games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).
The revamped room is designed to elevate both her streaming and content creation. It features moveable custom studio lights for flexible shooting angles, allowing Sharkshe to produce a variety of content without leaving her room.
Red Bull branding is integrated throughout the setup, including a Red Bull cooler, custom can holders, and a mesh wall for hanging memorabilia and personal items. The layout doubles as a fully functional content studio.
The upgraded space will now serve as Sharkshe’s central hub for livestreams, videos, and other creative content, enhancing the experience for her audience.
The post GodLike Esports’ gaming creator Sharkshe unveils upgraded gaming room powered by Red Bull appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Provider introduces an additional arcade game to its expanding collection, enabling operators to capitalize on the increasing demand for dynamic content.
A single action transforms everything in Mines, the newest virtual game from sought-after iGaming content creator, ICONIC21.
Mines operates on a clear grid where each successful uncovering of a safe location immediately increases the multiplier. Enabling the user to choose both the grid dimensions and the count of hidden mines grants them greater control over the unpredictability and possible expansion of their session.
This style of play focuses on the “Cash Out,” a moment of heightened control where the player chooses precisely when to lock in their progress before a mine resets the game board.
The essence of the experience is influenced by managing risk and timing. Players have the option to choose from 3×3, 4×4, or 5×5 grids, in addition to deciding how many mines can show up, effectively creating their own risk-to-reward ratio on the spot.
Mines secures complete market reach with one product, enhancing lifetime value as users revisit to explore new strategies amid various volatility levels, fostering deeper and more meaningful engagement.
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Edvardas Sadovskis, CPO at ICONIC21, said: “Mines is the perfect balance between simplicity and strategy. Players choose their grid, define their own risk-reward level, and decide how far they want to push their luck.
With the option to use autoplay for fast gameplay and the potential for extremely high multipliers, it creates a thrilling experience where every click matters.
In addition, ICONIC21 provides flexible real estate for custom branding, allowing operators to deliver a bespoke experience that aligns with their specific market identity and target audiences.“
The post Drive player engagement higher with ICONIC21’s Mines appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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