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The UK market for video games reached 拢7.05 billion in 2022, a reduction of 5.6% on the previous year. Ukie's shows software revenue increased to 拢4.57 billion, an increase of 0.4% in comparison to 2021.

Within this varied industry, there are many different sectors of potential interest to business. These include:

• concept
• r&d in gaming and software sector
• product design branding
• marketing and selling your games product
• 91香蕉黄色视频 material - eg manuals, brochures and advertising
• translation and localisation of computer games and software
• programming
• testing
• publishing and broadcasting
• distribution
• fulfilment

To exploit business opportunities effectively, it is important you have a sound knowledge of different platforms - the architecture and framework which allows the software to run - and cross-platform development.

Cross-platform development involves the creation of a single program that operates on different computer architecture and operating systems.

You should also have a good understanding of:

• Proprietary software - software developed by a supplier and made available to users under a licence eg off-the-shelf software packages.
• Open source software - software made available under a licence that allows the licensee to make copies and pass them on to another individual. This gives you access to the source code, allowing you to develop and tailor the software to your own business requirements.

Read about the advantages of open source software for business.

For information on software licensing, see intellectual property in games and software.

Starting a video games business

There are a number of areas you need to consider when starting up a business in the video games and software industry. It's a good idea to ask:

• What is the unique selling point of your business?
• What are your strengths and specialities?
• What are your weaknesses?
• Where will you/your product fit into the industry?
• What partnerships can/should you create and maintain?
• What professional advice do you need?

Find guides to help you with starting a business.

For facts, stats and other useful information about the UK and global games industry, visit .

If you are considering starting up a business in the video games and interactive entertainment industry or software industry, it's important to carry out research and development (R&D).

R&D includes:

• ensuring that your product is both needed and wanted
• checking it is not available elsewhere under a different guise
• checking that it is not under development elsewhere - you can research this through industry networks
• producing a solid brand with real sales potential

Time spent on research is essential and valuable. It is important that you understand the industry and research, in particular:

• your target audience - determine what they want, what they will and will not buy, how their buying process works, whether they buy into a brand (eg a series) or a one-off product
• potential markets
• your competitors
• your unique selling point (USP)
• the history of the product life of similar or comparable products

It's always a good idea to take professional advice and consult those with experience in the industry. For more information, see how to manage your research, design and development.

Businesses in Northern Ireland may also be able to .

Good project management is key to the success of any R&D project. There are various models for managing projects, including agile project management - a method of delivering projects in a highly flexible and interactive manner.

Companies in the UK are turning to other regions such as China, India, and Eastern Europe to outsource operations. The benefits of outsourcing include increased efficiency and lower costs. However, you should consider the loss of direct control over a project and quality assurance.

Most computer games and software are developed in English. However, the globalisation of popular culture has led producers to develop software in other languages.

It's important to consider translating and localising the games or software you develop, to make them more appealing to other markets.

Software translation

Software translation involves extracting and re-integrating the translatable elements of your software, including:

• user interface - the program which controls the display and allows the users to interact with the system
• graphics, images and icons
• user guides
• audio and Flash files
• packaging
• marketing literature
• licences and legal disclaimers

Localisation

The linguistic translation is not the only thing to consider - you should also localise your product. Localisation involves modifying your product with the customs and culture of your target market in mind.

To ensure your software is compatible with your market, you should consider:

• cultural differences - eg some countries may be more sensitive to violence
• legal differences - eg age ratings for games may differ depending on country of release
• graphics identity - eg you may need to change the appearance of the characters
• music - this may vary according to national preferences
• packaging
• marketing material
• dialogue - the spoken word can be dubbed and the written text subtitled

It's important to take localisation decisions early, so the tools and structure for changes can be built into the development.

You should use native speakers to test localised material at every stage of development.

You could outsource, partner with a local organisation or sell the rights to localise your product and produce it in another region. However, you should ensure you retain control of your brand.

Innovation is key to the video games and software industry. Securing and protecting your intellectual property (IP) could be essential to the success of your business.

IP can apply to anything that can be legally owned - eg a brand, invention or design. This includes the copyright to your software and all information held on any digital format. For more information, see digital intellectual property and your business.

Your IP is a valuable asset which can:

• form an essential part of your marketing or branding, including your unique selling point
• set your business apart from competitors
• be sold or licensed, providing an important revenue stream
• be used as security for loans

In addition to ensuring competitors do not steal or infringe your ideas, you should also make sure you are not infringing the IP rights of others. For example, have you used someone else's platform/audio/branding within - or in order to create - your software or game?

You should carry out checks and seek professional advice, where necessary. Invest Northern Ireland can provide .

Software licensing

A software licensing agreement protects the author's copyright and IP rights by placing restrictions on the end-user in relation to the usage of the application. The software licence sells the use of the software, not the software itself. Most software is covered by copyright.

If you are considering becoming a software publisher, it is critical that you licence your software very carefully to retain your IP rights and to ensure you are able to generate revenue from your work.

A software licence usually comes in one of three major forms:

• a proprietary licence
• a free licence
• an open software licence

A licence can be an author licence that stipulates how the rights holder wants the software to be used. A developer licence allows the end-user to use a computer program to develop an application, eg for a smart or android phone.

Under the licence, royalties are payable. These are usage-based payments made by the licensee to the licensor for the ongoing use of software or an application.

A proprietary software licence is typically provided with commercial software and allows the user to use a program but the software developer retains ownership of the program and source code. Read about types of software licences for business.

An open source licence makes the source code available for everyone to use. Open source licences are also usually free and allow for modification, redistribution, and commercial use without having to pay the original author. See open source licensing and legal issues.

Getting your sales and marketing right is crucial to selling your product successfully.

Marketing

Creating a marketing strategy will help you identify potential customers, understand the market and target them with appropriate products or services.

When marketing your product, you should consider:

• which type of marketing is appropriate - eg digital and social media, viral marketing
• a unique event or venue launch/marketing event to tie in with your theme/content
• creating excitement around your product - especially pre-launch - and ensuring it lives up to expectations once launched

Sales

To increase the chances of your product being successful, you should ensure you understand and plan for the following at an early stage in development:

• the industry
• your target market(s) - eg whether they are seasonal or niche markets
• your competitors
• economic factors
• timing of bringing your product to market
• your unique selling point

You should look at developing the appropriate sales channels for your product to engage the customer through:

• direct sales
• franchising
• selling through agents - especially in foreign markets
• online selling - through your own or other established websites
• economic and logistical considerations - warehousing, supply chain, fulfilment - ensure you can provide stock levels to maximise your sales and profits - and returns

For more information, read about selling online.

Branding

You should carefully consider all elements of the branding for your product, including:

• packaging
• localisation - see translation and localisation of computer games and software.

Depending on your target market and audience, you should also consider designing, or redesigning, products, services, processes or systems to prevent or repair damage to the environment, society and the economy. 

For more information, read about branding for our business.

There are numerous legal and regulatory considerations that games and software developers need to bear in mind when developing their products, such as:

• intellectual property rights and licenses
• consumer protection
• age ratings and classification
• advertising laws
• data protection and privacy
• gambling legislation
• responsibilities concerning staff and employment practices

For detailed advice on regulations, you should seek expert advice. Search for .

There are also various trade associations, which protect the interests of businesses in the industry:

• the is the UK's leading video games trade body
• the is the trade association which represents the interests of independent games developers
• the  is the trade organisation representing the global commercial software industry
• the represents both software publishers and users, and aim to combat software piracy
• , the UK trade body for the digital technology industry aims to improve growth in the industry and to provide its members with knowledge and advice