Sharky Extreme: How do you think the British games industry is doing in the face of competition from large US and Japanese developers?

Fin Mc Gechie: Games is now a serious business and has proven itself as a growth industry. The British sector is up there with America and Japan and at the moment were keeping up, but as with the British film industry, Automobile Industry and I'm sure others, if we don't get the backing from the government we'll fall behind and once again America will dominate the industry or Japan and in twenty years the MPs will ask why we're so far behind, like its some big mystery. The British have been at the forefront of many new industries but it always seemed to taper off and the talent goes over seas. In Scotland starting up new Software houses is encouraged and that sort of thing should be something that the rest of the country observes if we're to keep on competing with the big boys...The talent is here I just hope we manage to keep it.

Fin Mc Gechie: Initially when I started it the Industry was run and consisted more of fans with a passion for game who all learned their trade in the bedrooms out of curiosity now we have degree courses in game design and people are getting taught in software that's relevant to the industry. When I arrived on Bullfrogs door I had a 3.5in disk and a couple of scraps of paper, now we receive videos, CDs, portfolios people from the movie industry turn up looking for jobs so the professionalism has increased and we're no longer thought of as a hobby industry.

Fin Mc Gechie: I really can't name one. I'd have to say any of the new start up companies out there. I have to respect that its not easy and takes a lot of commitment to do what they're doing that nobody gives them credit for... I take my hat off to them.

Thank you, Fin Mc Gechie of Mucky Foot Productions.

Pete Closs
Games Editor