Welsh Tech Company Wins Chance To Pitch At Europe’s Largest Interactive Games And Entertainment Event

A small Cardiff business specialising in interactive digital resources for the education sector is one of five international winners – and the only one from the UK – chosen to pitch at Gamescom in Cologne this week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gamescom (August 17-21) is Europe’s biggest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment and Eiry Thomas, founder of The Flitlits Ltd., will be given the chance to pitch her products to potential investors, publishers and concept licensees on License Day – the trade day for licensing and games development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She will also be exhibiting alongside Ukie – the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry – and the Welsh Government’s creative industry team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Eiry had support from the Welsh Government’s Digital Development Fund to create a series of bilingual interactive apps based on the adventures of The Flitlits /Y Sbridion – characters she created to help improve literacy skills in youngsters. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to have been selected through an international competition to pitch at Gamescom and will be flying the flag for Wales. It does present an amazing opportunity to introduce the concept of the Flitlits, the apps and a board, digital and classroom based games I am developing, to an international trade audience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have spent several years in researching and developing the concept and this opens the doors to potential collaborative partnerships and licensing deals with the potential to take it to the next level. I hope my ideas will be picked up as I believe there is massive potential although even presenting and attending the event will help build brand recognition and provide networking opportunities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is the first time the Welsh Government is sending a delegation of games and digital media companies to Gamescom – the companies will benefit from dedicated stand space, support from UKIE representatives and supported travel costs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Economy Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Creative industries is a key sector of the Welsh economy and we have a number of very clever technology businesses making their mark in the games and entertainment fields. We will be promoting Welsh expertise at Gamescom and the selection of Eiry Thomas’ company can only help raise our profile at this international event.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The apps, which were launched by Apple, are available in Welsh, English and U.S. English and could be translated and adapted for other languages and countries. There has already been initial interest from India and China while in the US they are certified for the school curriculum and won the Best Exemplar Apps Award from the US Teachers with Apps group. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They form part of a unique multi-modal package Eiry has developed that includes a series of print and e-books, interactive websites and classroom resources and educational games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welsh companies participating in the Welsh Government trade delegation include: Deceptive Games from Abercynon, Toxic Games from Cwmbran, Vision Games Lab from Porthcawl, Wales Interactive from Pencoed, and West Coast Software from Aberystwyth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​