June 28, 2012 - TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, has lent its backing to a documentary feature film which aims to tell the story of the UK videogames industry.

The organisation has pledged money to help fund From Bedrooms to Billions and it is calling on its members and videogame fans to do the same.

Produced by Anthony and Nicola Caulfield, the film is looking for $35,000 of funding via the crowd-funding website Indiegogo which offers those pledging money special perks including having their name in the film credits.

The documentary has generated a lot of interest among videogame fans and it has featured in magazines such as Retro Gamer and Edge. TIGA believes it is important the film is made since it will delve into the history of Britain's massive contribution to the videogame industry. The film will show the importance of the gaming sector in the UK and the many wonderful games which were created from 1979 to 1996.

Highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit which has underpinned the UK's gaming industry from the start, the 90-minute documentary will prove to be an inspiration, too, for today's generation of videogame developers. It is a documentary that TIGA is delighted to be associated with and it is urging developers, publishers and videogame players to help make the project a reality.

A host of big names in the industry are earmarked for interview in the film including TIGA chairman and Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley OBE. The producers, Anthony and Nicola Caulfield, are also interviewing Dizzy creators The Oliver Twins who now head up Blitz Games Studios, David Braben who famously made Elite, Codemasters founder David Darling.

Also included are other top names from the 1980s and 1990s, from Sensible Soccer's Jon Hare and Manic Miner's Matthew Smith to Ocean Software founder Gary Bracey and Crash magazine illustrator Oliver Frey.

Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“We wholeheartedly back endeavours which support and promote gaming and we are delighted to see this film is being planned. It is important to showcase the history of gaming so that it is never forgotten. Video gaming is not only creative and innovative but it is also built upon a entrepreneurial spirit which has proved so vital – skills and thinking which will stand the UK in good stead for years to come.

“We are committed to showcasing and celebrating British developers and we want to help this film in its aim of getting the message out that Britain has a proud history and much talent. We had no hesitation in backing the project and we would like to see our members get fully behind the film.”

Anthony Caulfield, writer, producer and director of the film, said:
“We are delighted to have support from TIGA. We aim to tell the remarkable, true story of the British video games industry between 1979 and 1996 and how the creativity and vision of a relatively small number of individuals allowed the UK to play a key, pioneering role in the shaping of the billion dollar video games industry which today, dominates the modern world's entertainment landscape.

“It promises to fascinate and evoke with its combination of insightful stories and compelling archive and it is a very British story that has never been told before. It is wonderful that today's video game industry is in such good health today and this is built on the remarkable stories, struggles and successes that saw our it go from quite literally nothing into a major force littered with original thinkers, innovators and eccentric characters.”

The film
Find out more about the film, pledge money and discover more about the perks of doing so, go to  http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/78873And