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BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Games industry welcomes first generation of pensioner gamers
Companies in the East of England are preparing to welcome the first generation of pensioner gamers, more than half a century after the first home video game hit the market. People who have grown up playing games are hungry for new, more sophisticated games, which has prompted start-ups in places including Norwich to compete with more established companies like Jagex, Ninja Theory and Frontier Developments, all based in Poole, chief executive of Ukie, the trade body representing the UK's gaming industry, said: "It's been the most incredible 50 years."We're about to see the first-ever generation of pensioner gamers.. it's amazing." Part of the recent success is down to what he describes as the "crossover" phenomenon, with TV and film adapting video games like The Last of Us and Fallout."The transformation of the role of games in people's lives as a form of entertainment has been beyond anything we could have imagined 40 years ago," he said."I think the reason is if you love the world and you enjoyed playing it in-game, then you want to spend time watching and living it in other media as well." Rich Newbold is a game director at one of the country's biggest gaming companies, Frontier Developments in began working in the industry in the early 2000s."We've been around for 30 years, growing from a team of people working on a farm in Ely to where we are now," he said."When I joined the company there were only 70 of us. Now, there are about 600."Frontier makes several different types of games including Planet Coaster 2 and Planet Zoo, where players can run their own F1 team, explore space, and build theme parks and his time in the gaming business, he has seen demand grow cites the Covid pandemic as a turning point."Appetites have grown. Video games can bring joy but more than that, they fulfil a need as people prioritise leisure time," he said. Figures from Ukie reflect the boom in estimates 2,400 people worked in the games industry in the East of England in there are more than 3,105, across 160 games industry in the East contributes about £212m to the economy, up from £122m in 2016. Iz Head, 23, is one of those who has entered the competitive industry in that co-founded Moss Monkey in their final year at Norwich University of the Arts, after their mother suggested gaming as a career."The gaming scene is growing massively in Norwich at the moment," they said."I absolutely love it. We're at a point where tonnes of new studios are coming through; tonnes of new games."Their current game, Outclaw, features a spirit cat called Giblet which travels around the world, causing chaos wherever it goes."It's been brilliant to work on, but a lot of hours have been put in applying for grants," they added that there had been periods where they had considered other sources of income such as part-time jobs, but then it would take twice as long to get the game out there. Their story chimes with Mark Backler, founder of Sketchbook Games, also based in Norwich."Gaming can give you a broad, diverse career and while there's a good degree of support for start-ups, more could be done," he said."France and Canada have world-class support and tax relief for the games industry. Any more that could be done would make a huge difference, especially against our main competitors in the US and Japan."His current video game, Lost Words, is based on a book written by Rhianna Pratchett, daughter of Discworld series author Terry Pratchett, and is about a character who uses the fantasy world to deal with Backler believes the growth of the industry could explode as games become more sophisticated."There are lots of different roles that you can do within games," he said."It's not just programming. There's composing the music and making the sound effects."There's writing the story, there's production, there's marketing and as games evolve, you never know, economists might play a part, or even architects." Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Frontier Developments plc's (LON:FDEV) Fundamentals Look Pretty Strong: Could The Market Be Wrong About The Stock?
With its stock down 12% over the past three months, it is easy to disregard Frontier Developments (LON:FDEV). However, stock prices are usually driven by a company's financials over the long term, which in this case look pretty respectable. In this article, we decided to focus on Frontier Developments' ROE. Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In short, ROE shows the profit each dollar generates with respect to its shareholder investments. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Frontier Developments is: 19% = UK£16m ÷ UK£82m (Based on the trailing twelve months to November 2024). The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. Another way to think of that is that for every £1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn £0.19 in profit. Check out our latest analysis for Frontier Developments We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a company's earnings growth potential. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don't share these attributes. To begin with, Frontier Developments seems to have a respectable ROE. Further, the company's ROE compares quite favorably to the industry average of 13%. As you might expect, the 47% net income decline reported by Frontier Developments is a bit of a surprise. Therefore, there might be some other aspects that could explain this. Such as, the company pays out a huge portion of its earnings as dividends, or is faced with competitive pressures. So, as a next step, we compared Frontier Developments' performance against the industry and were disappointed to discover that while the company has been shrinking its earnings, the industry has been growing its earnings at a rate of 28% over the last few years. Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. Doing so will help them establish if the stock's future looks promising or ominous. If you're wondering about Frontier Developments''s valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry. Frontier Developments doesn't pay any regular dividends, meaning that potentially all of its profits are being reinvested in the business, which doesn't explain why the company's earnings have shrunk if it is retaining all of its profits. It looks like there might be some other reasons to explain the lack in that respect. For example, the business could be in decline. On the whole, we do feel that Frontier Developments has some positive attributes. Yet, the low earnings growth is a bit concerning, especially given that the company has a high rate of return and is reinvesting ma huge portion of its profits. By the looks of it, there could be some other factors, not necessarily in control of the business, that's preventing growth. In addition, on studying the latest analyst forecasts, we found that the company's earnings are expected to continue to shrink. Are these analysts expectations based on the broad expectations for the industry, or on the company's fundamentals? Click here to be taken to our analyst's forecasts page for the company. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
We took a guided tour of the solar system in Elite Dangerous, and now you can too (interview)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. I'd hardly call most sci-fi like Star Trek or Mass Effect educational, but it's amazing how much actual science and space knowledge you can pick up from sci-fi entertainment. I've heard of Wolf 359, one of our neighbouring stars, not because of physics classes back at school, but entirely because it's where the Federation fought the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Still, despite the occasional nugget of real information that sneaks through, it's fair to say that most movies, shows, and video games are better left to inspiring our interest in the stars and planets, rather than teaching us about them … but Frontier Developments is looking to change all that. The developers of Elite Dangerous invited us down to the Science Museum in London for one of their 'Lates events' to attend a special live, guided tour of our solar system within the game, hosted by two of the senior staff at the Museum: Abbie MacKinnon, Curator of Space Technology, and Laura Joy Pieters, Curator of Mathematical Sciences. Elite Dangerous is a massively multiplayer space flight simulation game developed by Frontier Developments, and it just celebrated its tenth anniversary late last year. Within the game, you'll find a complete simulation of our Milky Way galaxy — 400 billion star systems, along with every known planet, moon, black hole, and celestial phenomenon that we know about (or rather, knew about ten years ago). And while we know a bit about our wider galaxy, there is nowhere more familiar to us than our solar system. After getting a little hands-on time with the game myself using a wicked flight stick and control panel set-up that did nothing to improve my terrible piloting skills, I sat down amongst the packed crowd for the tour. The event was MC'd by Arthur Tolmie, Head of Community, PR, and Communications at Frontier, and the ship itself was piloted by Max, a member of the development team. From there, Abbie and Laura introduced themselves and then started using Max's spaceship as their own personal extraterrestrial Uber, as they requested destinations for him to blast off to. The tour started at Abraham Lincoln Space Station, a fictional space station in Earth's orbit in the game. Elite Dangerous is set over 1,000 years in the future, so humanity has figured out some pesky little physics problems like building megastructures in space, and the potentially impossible issues of faster-than-light travel, too. From there, we took a whistlestop tour of the solar system, stopping off at the moon, Mars, Jupiter (and its moon Ganymede), and Saturn (and its moon Enceladus). We even got to take a mercifully long-distance peek at a black hole. Along the way, Abbie and Laura shared facts about our destinations and shared stories about everything from our prospects for colonies on Mars to the excellently-named JUICE mission to explore Jupiter's icy moons. It's an enthralling tour to listen to, even if you're already quite knowledgeable about space, and thankfully, it was not exclusive to those of us lucky enough to be in attendance. You can watch a video version of the tour below, but more excitingly, you can follow along in-game by selecting the flight plan while docked at the Abraham Lincoln Space Station. We also managed to sneak a few questions into Abbie MacKinnon's busy schedule to find out more about how and why this unique collaboration came together. "Games like Elite Dangerous allow people to visualize the universe and all that is in it (especially how empty it is)," remarked MacKinnon. "Being able to travel to different planets, moons, and star systems is also something that humans are not likely to ever be able to experience, so realistic games like this are the next best thing. It will hopefully inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and space enthusiasts." It's not all fun and games, though, as Elite Dangerous's view of our future poses some real questions about how humanity is going to treat space as we start exploring further and further afield. One of the latest free updates to the game has allowed players to claim star systems for themselves in order to expand humanity's reach throughout the universe. We asked MacKinnon where she'd like to plant her flag. "I know this is a playful question, and I will answer it, but it does bring up a serious issue about the 'ownership' of space, planets, and moons. Is it all about who gets there first?" There are treaties and laws governing the ownership of property and sovereignty in space, but as we progress further, and especially as government-funded agencies give way to private corporations like SpaceX and Blue Origin, the question of who gets to plant a flag and call dibs on celestial bodies will become increasingly important. Space colonialism aside, MacKinnon's top pick for a solar system trip is a surprising pick; Venus. "Getting crushed by the atmospheric pressure aside, I'd want to explore the hot and lifeless place that billions of years ago, maybe looked a lot more like Earth. It's not particularly far away, but fascinating how Earth and Venus — quite similar in a lot of ways — took such different paths in their planetary history. Perhaps there are some lessons we could learn as a species." Speaking of private companies, with the number of rockets these companies launch far outstripping the frequency of NASA launches these days, should we expect to see a Falcon 9 exhibit anytime soon? Maybe. MacKinnon explained that "As we look to add more space technology items to the national collection and tell stories about space exploration happening today, we are speaking to space agencies around the world, from the U.K. Space Agency to NASA, ESA and JAXA, as well as the private companies enabling lower-cost access to space and small, start ups, some of which are based right here in the U.K." Before the tour, I also had the chance to tour the Science Museum and check out all the awesome space history that's contained there. The U.K. isn't the first nation that comes to mind when you think of space travel, but as MacKinnon points out, that hasn't stopped the Science Museum from assembling an impressive lineup, including the "Soyuz spacecraft that carried astronaut Tim Peake into space and back, the Apollo 10 Command Module, which conducted the dress rehearsal in May 1969 for the moon landings, and a three-billion-year-old piece of the moon." While wandering around the exhibits, you can also see the British Black Arrow rocket and a United States Scout rocket suspended from the ceiling. You don't have long left to see this beautiful exhibit as it is now, though, as after forty years, the Exploring Space exhibit will be closing down in June to make way for a brand new space gallery. While many of the existing exhibits will remain, the redesign is giving the team a chance to perform vital restoration work and present the stunning spacecraft and other displays there in a new light. For those of you who can't make it to London, though, we'd highly recommend taking the tour in Elite Dangerous for yourself. And if you are interested in checking out the game for yourself and taking the tour, there is currently a 75% discount available on the base game and deluxe editions.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK Penny Stocks To Watch In March 2025
The UK market has recently faced headwinds, with the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices experiencing declines due to weak trade data from China, highlighting ongoing global economic challenges. Despite these broader market trends, investors may find opportunities in penny stocks—an investment area that continues to hold relevance for those interested in smaller or newer companies. These stocks can sometimes offer surprising value and potential growth when backed by strong financial health, making them an intriguing option for those looking beyond established names. Name Share Price Market Cap Financial Health Rating Warpaint London (AIM:W7L) £3.40 £274.68M ★★★★★★ Foresight Group Holdings (LSE:FSG) £3.68 £418.58M ★★★★★★ Next 15 Group (AIM:NFG) £2.825 £280.96M ★★★★☆☆ Polar Capital Holdings (AIM:POLR) £4.245 £409.2M ★★★★★★ Begbies Traynor Group (AIM:BEG) £0.916 £145.98M ★★★★★★ Ultimate Products (LSE:ULTP) £0.799 £67.73M ★★★★★★ RTC Group (AIM:RTC) £1.00 £13.61M ★★★★★★ Van Elle Holdings (AIM:VANL) £0.38 £41.12M ★★★★★★ Luceco (LSE:LUCE) £1.374 £211.91M ★★★★★☆ Helios Underwriting (AIM:HUW) £2.06 £146.97M ★★★★★☆ Click here to see the full list of 444 stocks from our UK Penny Stocks screener. We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool. Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Frontier Developments plc develops and publishes video games for the interactive entertainment sector, with a market cap of £75.77 million. Operations: The company generates revenue from its Computer Graphics segment, amounting to £88.88 million. Market Cap: £75.77M Frontier Developments has recently turned profitable, reporting a net income of £4.4 million for the half year ending November 30, 2024, compared to a loss the previous year. Despite its profitability and no debt burden, its share price remains highly volatile. The company's short-term assets comfortably cover both short and long-term liabilities. However, earnings are forecasted to decline significantly over the next three years. While Frontier's Price-to-Earnings ratio of 4.7x suggests it may be undervalued relative to the UK market average of 15.2x, investors should consider its high volatility and projected earnings decline carefully. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Frontier Developments stock in this financial health report. Review our growth performance report to gain insights into Frontier Developments' future. Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: M.T.I Wireless Edge Ltd. is involved in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of antennas for both civilian and military sectors, with a market cap of £58.61 million. Operations: The company generates revenue through its key segments: Antennas ($13.55 million), Water Solutions ($16.50 million), and Distribution & Consultation ($15.98 million). Market Cap: £58.61M M.T.I Wireless Edge Ltd. shows promise in the penny stock segment with a market cap of £58.61 million, supported by a diversified revenue stream across Antennas (US$13.55 million), Water Solutions (US$16.50 million), and Distribution & Consultation (US$15.98 million). The company recently secured significant military antenna orders worth US$5 million from Israel, indicating strong demand in its Antenna division. Despite having low return on equity at 15%, M.T.I's debt is well-managed with operating cash flow coverage at 952%. However, its dividend yield of 3.52% is not fully covered by free cash flows, presenting potential sustainability concerns for income-focused investors. Dive into the specifics of M.T.I Wireless Edge here with our thorough balance sheet health report. Gain insights into M.T.I Wireless Edge's outlook and expected performance with our report on the company's earnings estimates. Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★☆ Overview: easyJet plc operates as a low-cost airline carrier in Europe with a market cap of £3.64 billion. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its Airline segment, which accounts for £8.17 billion, and its Holidays segment, contributing £1.52 billion. Market Cap: £3.64B easyJet plc, with a market cap of £3.64 billion, demonstrates stability and growth potential within the penny stock category. The company's revenue streams from its Airline (£8.17 billion) and Holidays (£1.52 billion) segments underscore its robust business model. Recent guidance indicates anticipated ASK capacity growth of 8% for 2025, alongside a projected 25% increase in holiday customers, suggesting strategic expansion efforts. Financially, easyJet's debt is well-covered by cash flow (70%), though Return on Equity remains low at 15.2%. Management changes are underway with Sue Clark assuming the role of Chair of the Remuneration Committee post-AGM in February 2025. Click here to discover the nuances of easyJet with our detailed analytical financial health report. Evaluate easyJet's prospects by accessing our earnings growth report. Discover the full array of 444 UK Penny Stocks right here. Are any of these part of your asset mix? Tap into the analytical power of Simply Wall St's portfolio to get a 360-degree view on how they're shaping up. Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Jump on the AI train with fast growing tech companies forging a new era of innovation. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include AIM:FDEV AIM:MWE and LSE:EZJ. Have feedback on this article? 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