Video gaming in the Netherlands

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This article is about the video game-market and -culture in the Netherlands.

As of 2008, the game industry in the Netherlands is worth nearly 1 billion Euro. In 2007, the Dutch game industry surpassed the Dutch film industry for the first time in history. The growth of the games industry in the Netherlands is about 50% higher then any other industry in the Netherlands' region. A significant part of the Netherlands's gaming industry is in serious games, in which Dutch companies make a significant part of the worldwide industry.[1]

In the Netherlands, an estimated of 1,500 people are working in game development in the Netherlands, and more than 100 companies are active in the industry.

Contents

[edit] Consumer availability

Although the first generation of video games were obtained by a select few, video games became first available during the second generation of video games, when a select few Dutch electronic stores carried the earlier systems. With the third generation, more stores started carrying video game related products, a trend that has been setting through ever since.

In the early 90's, independent video game stores first started to open in the Netherlands, with a fast expansion in the early 2000s. Since 2004, video games have gotten more important for general stores however, which has led to the closing of a number of game stores, and a merger of others.

Currently, there are about 1.200 stores, of which circa 75 independent, in the Netherlands that carry video games and related items, and numerous online stores.

[edit] Distribution

Distribution in the Netherlands is usually done by publishers that cover the entire Benelux, although most of the publishers' offices are located in the Netherlands, and only a few have offices in Belgium. Since not every publisher has a separate office for the Benelux, certain publishers take care of multiple labels, including those of other publishers.

Currently, there are only two actual Dutch video game publishers: Lighthouse Interactive and Playlogic Entertainment, although the actual distribution is done via wholesalers.
The game division of publisher Davilex, Davilex Games, was ended in 2005 because it was not profitable enough, and their games were generally not well-received..
Konami is the only publisher that does not have an office in the Netherlands, or anyone covering their label. The distribution of Konami's games is done via the European office in Germany.

[edit] The Netherlands' appearance in video games

The Netherlands is not often used as an originally created setting for video games, other then certain Dutch games as A2 Racer and Efteling Tycoon. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was planned to be a featured city in The Getaway 3, before its development was cancelled.

The Netherlands does however appear at times in several types of simulation games.

World War II-games

During the second world war, the Netherlands was the location of some of the heaviest battles between the allied forces and Nazi-Germany. Especially Operation Market Garden is a much-used setting for World War II-games.

Racing games

The TT Circuit Assen is by fans considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling, with the Dutch TT being one of the biggest event in motorbike racing. As such, the track is featured in many of the motorcycling racing games.
Circuit Park Zandvoort is a former Formula One racing track, which is currently still used for other racing classes. The track has been featured in its old Formula One-layout in the game Grand Prix Legends, and more recently in its current layout in TOCA Race Driver, TOCA Race Driver 2 and RACE 07 - Official WTCC Game. It is also a popular track in the modding community.

Sports games

In most of the international sports games, such as the FIFA football games and olympic video games, teams or players from the Netherlands are featured.

[edit] Video game development

[edit] Game developers from the Netherlands

Company Location Founded
Engine Software Doetinchem 1995
Triumph Studios Delft 1997
Guerrilla Games Amsterdam 2000
Two Tribes Harderwijk 2000
Codeglue Rotterdam 2000
Streamline Studios Amsterdam 2001
Playlogic Entertainment Amsterdam 2002
VSTEP (serious games) Rotterdam 2002
Team6 Game Studios Assen 2003
CrazyFoot Gamestudio The Hague 2004
Spellborn International The Hague 2004
Coded Illusions Rotterdam 2005
W!Games Amsterdam 2005
Tygron (serious games) Delft 2005
ZC Funcraft Nijmegen 2007

[edit] Defunct game developers

Company Founded Ended  
Ultra Force 1989 1993 moved to computer software development
Digital Infinity 1995 2000 merged into Lost Boys Games
Orange Games 1995 2000 merged into Lost Boys Games
Lost Boys Games 2000 2003 taken over and renamed Guerrilla Games
Davilex Games 1997 2005 Davilex continues without gaming products

[edit] Populair games from the Netherlands

See also: Category:Video games developed in the Netherlands

[edit] Education

Up until 2002, whoever wanted to work in the gaming industry was best of pursueing a computer programming or graphic design education. In 2002, Utrecht School of the Arts offered the first 'pure' game education in the Netherlands. Currently there are 9 schools offering specific game educations in the Netherlands, with a 10th starting in late 2008. Most educations are supported directly by Dutch developers, such as Guerilla Games and Playlogic.

[edit] Media

[edit] Print media

[edit] Defunct print media

  • n3 Nintendo Magazine; 2002 - 2003

[edit] Television and radio

  • GameKings (television)
  • Gammo (defunct television show)


[edit] European video game rating

The Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM) is the institute responsible for the software given for review for the European video game content rating system PEGI.

[edit] Notable people in the Dutch gaming industry

Henk Rogers

was born in the Netherlands, and was responsible for acquiring the license to Tetris for global distribution onto video game consoles.


Arjan Brussee

started his career in video games as the main programmer behind the first demo ever to use 3D imagery on the PC and later both Jazz Jackrabbit games, and is currently head of Guerrilla Games. He is often credited with being the first successful Dutch game developer, sometimes mentioned as "the godfather of Dutch game development".


Wouter van Oortmerssen

is a computer programmer notable for his work in game programming as well as having designed several programming languages. He has worked on Far Cry, and is the creator of a number of open source game engines, and a number of games from his own hand.


Arno van Wingerden

is the lead programmer of Triumph Studios, one of the first Dutch game developers. He is responsible for the Age of Wonders-series, and the recent console-game Overlord.


Ruud van de Moosdijk

is Vice President of Development, and one of the founders, of the Netherlands' oldest still working game developer, Engine Software.


Ed Wiggemans

was one of the first editors for Power Unlimited, and is currently head editor of the Netherlands' biggest and longest running game magazine.

[edit] External links

[edit] Development and distribution

Dutch developers
Dutch publishing houses
  • Contact Data - among other labels: Activision, LucasArts, Midway
  • Gameworld - among other labels: Playlogic, Ignition Entertainment, VSTEP
  • Global Distributie - among other labels: 505 GAMES, Zoo Digital Publishing, JoWooD
Belgian publishing houses that cover the Netherlands
  • Atollsoft - among other labels: Eidos, Sierra
  • Nobilis - among other labels: Capcom, Nobilis
Publishers with offices in the Netherlands

[edit] Game education