GTA mastermind to discuss the future of games

THE creator of the original Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has said there is “no limit” to the future prosperity of the games sector, as he prepares to chart the incredible worldwide impact of the franchise 20 years on from its release.

Dave Jones was speaking ahead of a discussion panel event, at Abertay University on November 25, in which he and other industry experts will look back at the achievements of the last two decades in games.

The university is marking 20 years of games courses and Jones, who was instrumental in setting up the first degrees, said the mainstream acceptance of GTA demonstrated the incredible pace of evolution in the industry.

Dave said: “GTA is the one game that shows how far the industry has come and what it went through was a phase of acceptance of the medium in the same way as music and movies had to.

“Initially, all games were for kids and because of the technology people weren’t thinking of the graphics and story. But then equilibrium was reached where games became like any other form of entertainment and we now we accept it.”

The free event, Next Level: A Conversation on the Future of Games, will also feature Jo Twist, chief executive officer of Ukie, Jude Ower, CEO of Playmob, industry journalist Will Freeman and computer arts lecturer Lynn Parker.

Other topics on the discussion agenda include creative industries funding, media relationships, games education, esports, YouTubers and new business models.

Dave said there’s no limit to what can be achieved in the sector and he praised the “nucleus” model that has proved the blend for success in his native Dundee. He added: “I travel to a lot of countries and I’ve never seen anything yet that I thought we couldn’t do in Dundee.”

Dave Jones