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The Dunedin video game industry took a leap forward yesterday.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between Japanese video games company JP Games and the recently announced Centre of Digital Excellence (Code).
Dunedin City Council economic development programme manager Fraser Liggett said it was an exciting opportunity for Dunedin to expand its gaming industry and meet global players.
‘‘JP Games are a big company and it’s a real opportunity for us to meet and create a billion-dollar gaming industry, which is our goal.’’
Mr Liggett said the end goal was to have gaming studios in Dunedin, creating work and helping to boost the Dunedin economy and presence on the international gaming stage.
‘‘This could be the start of something big for us and provide us with some global connections.’’
Code working group chairman Murray Strong said the memorandum would provide a basis for developing links between JP Games and Code in computer game development.
‘‘The Code project team have met with the founder and chief executive officer Hajime Tabata, who has confirmed they have similar values to Code and an interest in Dunedin’s wider creative economy and institutions.’’
Code was looking to create sector networks and a national and international ecosystem which supported Dunedin and New Zealand game developers, critical to helping grow a $1billion industry, Mr Strong said.
JP Games founder Hajime Tabata said JP Games were interested in activities that involved taking on new challenges.
‘‘We hope our collaboration with Code presents us both with stimulating challenges to conquer.’’