Video game development is a developing industry in the Ireland, with some government attempts made to encourage investment via tax breaks. [1] [2] Of the approximately €206 million spent by Irish people on video games in 2015, Irish game developers "[saw] little of this spend". [3]
Video gaming in Ireland grew from the 1970s and, for example, the Atari 2600 was manufactured in Limerick to meet demand for both Irish and export markets. [4] By 2020, video game companies in Ireland included Keywords Studios, Havok and Romero Games. [5] [6] [7] A video games festival was held in Dublin in 2018. [8]
In 2007, the Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) was one of four European classification organisations to ban Manhunt 2. [9] The ban, later lifted, was the first video game ban in Ireland. [10] Under the 1989 Video Recordings Act, the head of IFCO "may prohibit a video game" if it is deemed "unfit for viewing". [11] Ratings and classifications in Ireland are otherwise applied through the (voluntary) Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age-rating scheme, of which Ireland is a member. [11]
Video game development is a developing industry in the Ireland, with some government attempts made to encourage investment via tax breaks. [1] [2] Of the approximately €206 million spent by Irish people on video games in 2015, Irish game developers "[saw] little of this spend". [3]
Video gaming in Ireland grew from the 1970s and, for example, the Atari 2600 was manufactured in Limerick to meet demand for both Irish and export markets. [4] By 2020, video game companies in Ireland included Keywords Studios, Havok and Romero Games. [5] [6] [7] A video games festival was held in Dublin in 2018. [8]
In 2007, the Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) was one of four European classification organisations to ban Manhunt 2. [9] The ban, later lifted, was the first video game ban in Ireland. [10] Under the 1989 Video Recordings Act, the head of IFCO "may prohibit a video game" if it is deemed "unfit for viewing". [11] Ratings and classifications in Ireland are otherwise applied through the (voluntary) Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age-rating scheme, of which Ireland is a member. [11]