Skip to main content

Serious Games: Bigger Than Movies In Netherlands

The Center for Advanced Gaming and Simulation is a leading edge research center that advances the state-of-the-art in gaming, simulation and virtual reality. Its goal is to create technology for highly effective learning and training experiences. For this purpose Utrecht University, the Utrecht School of the Arts and TNO combine their creative talents and unique professional skills in the fields of computer science, information science, psychology, liberal arts and game design.

Via: Sered Second Life - (Serious) Games Booming Business in The Netherlands

On Webwereld's yesterday news: "Nederlandse Games industrie groter dan filmbranche", which means: in The Netherlands games are bigger than movies - in some respects.

The article cites the chairman of the Dutch gaming industry organization NLGD, who claims that, in 2007, the game industry will employ over 1500 people and generate an annual estimated turnover of one billion dollars - more than the whole Dutch movie industry.

Of course the Dutch movie industry isn't exactly Hollywood, but it's still significant when something new overtakes the old.

What makes this really interesting, however, is that it's especially the 'Serious Games segment (training, simulation, education) that do well, creating tmost of the games economic activity.

One of the major universities in The Netherlands, the University of Utrecht, has created the Center for Advanced Gaming and Simulation (AGS) in partnership with the Utrecht School of the Arts and TNO.

The ambition of AGS is to be the most productive and most cited research center in Europe and to be the preferred supplier of knowledge for companies dealing with gaming and simulation for education, training, and entertainment.