A video game which has been sold across the globe is being used to drive investment back to Coventry and Warwickshire where it was developed.
The Forza Horizon 2 racing game was developed by Leamington Spa-based Playground Games for computer giant Microsoft and has scooped major industry awards and won two BAFTA Nominations.
And now Playground Games is allowing the game to be used to help attract investors to Coventry and Warwickshire.
It has donated two of the games along with Xbox One consoles to the Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership which represents the area at the largest commercial property development and investment show in the world.
More than 21,000 delegates will attend the four-day conference in France next month and there is stiff competition from cities and regions to draw people to their stands.
International visitors will be able to compete against each other playing Forza Horizon 2 on the Coventry and Warwickshire stand, with prizes for the best competitors daily and across the whole show.
Les Ratcliffe, of Jaguar Land Rover and the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board which helps promote the area, said: “There are two very strong reasons for using Forza Horizon 2 on the stand. Firstly, it will draw people in and allow our team to explain the investment and development opportunities which exist in Coventry and Warwickshire – which is the major reason why we attend MIPIM.
“Secondly, it will underline the strength of the creative industry sector we have here in the area and particularly in Leamington Spa.
“Around 1,000 people in the Leamington Spa area are employed in digital gaming and some of the most skilled and creative people in the global industry are based here.
“Playground Games is a perfect example of that. Forza Horizon 2 is a worldwide success and Microsoft came to Playground because of its creativity and expertise in the sector, and they are not alone.”
The Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership is made-up of leading companies and organisations which fund the area’s presence at the show.
Key development and investment opportunities are highlighted through a major stand at the event and also through a series of key events.
Trevor Williams, Chief Operating Officer and founder of Playground Games, said: “We established Playground Games in Leamington because of the digital expertise which is in this area and which has developed over 30 years.
“We were only too happy to lend our support to Coventry and Warwickshire in its bid to bring more investment to the area and if Forza Horizon 2 helps achieve that aim, then that’s great. It will be interesting to see how people perform!”
Playground Games was founded in 2010 and now employs around 150 staff at its headquarters in Newbold Terrace.
The Coventry and Warwickshire MIPIM Partnership is made up of private sector companies and organisations who fund the area’s presence at the event.
The partners are Friargate, Jaguar Land Rover, The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Barberry, Study Inn, CEG, The Coventry and Warwickshire Development Partnership, HOIRBA-MIRA, Coventry University, University of Warwick, City Fibre, Wasps, Deeley, Downing, Complex Development Projects.