My name is Rami Ismail, and I am the Government Relations board member of the Dutch Games Association. I’d like to give you occasional updates on the work we’re doing, behind the scenes, to ensure the government and the industry work together to ensure we all have the best opportunities to make games in the Netherlands.
It’s been a while, and I apologize for the radio silence. A lot has happened both in life (good things) and the industry (both good and bad) – and as such, I’ve been a bit more heads down and behind-the-scenes than I would like. I visited the Dutch Games Association Network Lunch yesterday, and was reinvigorated to see Network Lunch continue past the shutdown of its initiative-taker, the Dutch Game Garden. Continuity is a critical part of any community, and with our efforts to save Network Lunch, Games Monitor, and INDIGO (May 27-28) we’re proving that the Dutch Games Industry is resilient, even when things are tough.
As for projects and initiatives, the following has been keeping me busy:
The Games Monitor is a critical part of proving the size and scope, but also the opportunities and threats that affect the Dutch Games Industry. In collaboration with and with support from the ministry of Education, Culture, and Science the Dutch Games Association has created a new edition of this critical piece of statistics. The latest version of the Monitor will be available after being presented at INDIGO ‘25.
An appropriate positioning of ‘games’ as part of the future sector agenda for Creative Industries, with clear focus on topics that matter to us. This agenda informs the government of our hopes and needs for the financing mix in the Netherlands as part of the creative field – ensuring that our competitive advantages compared to our neighboring countries are not further eroded. It also tackles topics such as tender agreements, which might primarily affect our applied and serious members. If you have any questions, perspectives, or thoughts on topics you think the Dutch Games Association should be tackling on your behalf – do let me know.
There is now a proposal for a (slightly) improved SBI code for game developers. SBI codes are the reporting methodology Statistics Netherlands (CBS) uses to identify distinct economical categories. Right now, game development is scattered across codes with vaguely relevant titles as ‘software development’, ‘board games’, or any other code that a studio found “close enough” to fill in on their Chamber of Commerce application. As is, the new proposal is a massive improvement, but still falls short of the more incisive standards that have been adopted in many nations around the world with game development-focused policies, but the conversation will continue. Either way it pans out, it seems like our industry (and the government) will have a bit more clarity on our direct economical impact – which can guide more focused and targeted support and policy.
I’ve been forming new partnerships and strengthening existing collaborations with both public and private partners. While a lot is ‘in the oven’ right now, I cannot speak to any of them before they are locked in. The Dutch Games Association’s lobby remains a very resource-constrained effort, and I do not want to be announcing things we cannot make happen. Some of these efforts will come to fruition around INDIGO, and I hope to be able to tell you about (some of) them next time.
That was it for this time! Our mission is to help the Dutch games industry reach its full potential, and we can only do that with your support. My government relations efforts are just a small part of our work – with our efforts minimizing the impact of the closure of the Dutch Games Garden, we are tackling more initiatives than ever. I trust we are continuing to prove our commitment to our ecosystem, through our events, student mentorship programs, trade missions, community building, media availability, and other foundational support work. Let us know if there’s anything we could be doing better, or could be talking about more.
For now, if you have any questions, find me at rami@dutchgamesassociation.com or on the Dutch Games Industry Slack channel.
Until next time,
Rami