While the UK Budget is normally a rather droll (surely dry? - ed) affair, among the usual suspects of more tax on this and more tax on that, chancellor Alistair Darling woke us from our slumber with a promise to 'offer help to the computer games sector'.

While there were no firm policies announced during the speech he did mention he was looking to take a similar approach to that which is currently helping the fortunes of the British film industry.

That’s tax breaks, then.

On the upside

Further detail was provided by Richard Wilson, CEO of trade body TIGA, who said that developers who create profitable games will be able to use the new relief to reduce the amount of tax they pay, while unsuccessful games will be awarded a cash tax credit.

"Games tax relief will increase employment, investment and innovation in the UK videogames sector," he explained.

"Our research shows that games tax relief over a five year period should create or protect 3,550 graduate level jobs, increase or safeguard £457 million in development expenditure, and encourage developers to adopt new business models and create new intellectual property."

The UK slipped out of the top three games-producing countries in 2006 after decades of success, being replaced by Canada - alongside the US and Japan - in terms of revenue generated by games.

[source: Gamesindustry.biz (registration required).]