How the video games industry is booming in NI
Jordan Bradley’s childhood fascination with dinosaurs, combined with a creative spark during lockdown, has led her to develop what she hopes will be a successful video game. “Dinosaurs have been an absolute obsession of mine ever since I was a small child,” she shared with BBC News NI. “Everybody found dinosaurs interesting at one point, and that’s something I never really grew out of.”
Bradley, co-founder of Ambertail Games based in Belfast, recently launched her first game, Amber Isle. “Amber Isle is a shop-keeping and life simulation game,” she explained. “You run a shop, go about your life, gather resources, and craft items. The unique twist is that you play as a dinosaur in a world filled with friendly dinosaurs.”
The development of Amber Isle has created ten full-time jobs and thirty additional contracted roles, fueled by approximately £1.2 million in investment. Notably, Team17, one of the UK’s largest video game companies, has partnered with Ambertail Games on this venture.
The UK video game industry is a significant contributor to the economy, employing around 76,000 people and generating an estimated £6 billion annually. Northern Ireland’s gaming sector is also more vibrant than many realize, with about forty active gaming companies according to NI Screen.
Ambertail Games was founded in 2020 by Bradley and her co-founder Noel Watters during the pandemic. “The studio started in the spare bedroom of my flat, and I think we all needed something that was lovely, quaint, and happy during a time when we were all stuck inside,” Bradley recalled.
With a desire to create a meaningful game, she launched Amber Isle while still in her twenties. “At the time, I didn’t know anything about running a business; all I knew was that I wanted to make games,” she admitted. “I had an idea that was very meaningful to me. Noel and I decided, ‘Let’s take a shot; what else do we have to lose?'” Although the journey has been challenging—often requiring more effort than people realize—Bradley views it as an invaluable learning experience. “It was tough, but I wouldn’t have chosen any other path,” she said.
