How the video games industry is booming in NI

A childhood love of dinosaurs and a lockdown idea led Jordan Bradley to develop what she hopes will be a hit video game.

"Dinosaurs have been an absolute obsession of mine ever since I was a small child," she told BBC News NI.

"Everybody found dinosaurs interesting at one point, that's something I never really grew out of."

Amber Isle from Belfast's Ambertail Games, a company Ms Bradley originally set up in her flat in 2020, has just been released.

"Amber Isle is a shop-keeping and life simulation game," she said.

"You run a shop, you go about your life, you gather resources, craft items.

"The catch is you play as a dinosaur in a world of friendly dinosaurs."

The development of Amber Isle has created 10 full time jobs - and 30 other contracted ones - and is the result of about £1.2m in investment.

One of the UK's biggest video game companies, Team17, has also come on board with it.

Overall, the UK's video games industry employs around 76,000 people and is estimated to bring £6bn a year to the UK economy.

The video games industry in Northern Ireland is also bigger than you might think.

According to NI Screen, there are about 40 gaming companies active in Northern Ireland.

Ambertail Games was set up in 2020 by Jordan and co-founder Noel Watters during lockdown.

"The studio started in the spare bedroom of my flat and I think we all kind of needed something that was lovely, quaint, non-urgent, happy at a time when we were all stuck inside," Ms Bradley said.

So she came up with Amber Isle, and started a company to produce it, while in her 20s.

"At the time I didn't know anything about running a business, all that I knew was I wanted to make games," she said.

"I had an idea for one, it was very meaningful to me.

"Myself and Noel, we decided 'let's take a shot, what else do we have to lose?'

"It was quite tough, people maybe don't appreciate how much work goes into just running the business.

"It was a learning process, but I wouldn't have chosen any other path."

It is companies like Jordan's that are growing the gaming industry in Northern Ireland.

Kerry Michelle O'Brien from NI Screen said that means there are more careers in the industry for young people.

"It's actually more than just a viable option," said Kerry.

"There is that step-up level into the industry and we also encourage companies to actually take on and take a chance with people.

"Through things like Play My Demo, which is a bi-monthly event, people can see what talent is out there.

"The talent is here, we're great storytellers here, let's keep that talent here."

Belfast Met offers gaming courses including foundation degrees in game art and design and Esports.

Tutor Michael Smyth said he had noticed more opportunities for students.

"All of the students have secured a placement within the island of Ireland, working with games companies and working with production companies," he said.

"A lot of students have gone on to work within the industry.

"Students are doing things like commentary, they're going out to do game design, they're doing some freelance work while they're doing their qualification as well."

Esports is growing in prominence on the world stage, after recognition by the International Olympics Committee.

Belfast Met student Adam Dzida has had his eye on the big stage in a career as a professional Esports gamer.

Hundreds of players recently competed in the Esports world cup, controversially held in Saudi Arabia.

"As soon as I saw the Esports scene, I wanted to get into it and get onto the big stage and play," Adam said.

"I see it getting bigger and bigger over time.

"From professional play you can get fans which can transfer to playing games, streaming the games online.

"That's how you can keep an income coming through that way."