SCi Entertainment, owner of the Lara Croft computer game franchise, urged the government yesterday to consider introducing tax breaks for games developers.

Rob Murphy, finance director of SCi, said the games industry deserved the same fiscal benefits as those awarded to film-makers, who receive tax breaks from the Treasury. "It would be great to get some recognition of the fact that Britain is a major player in the games industry." Mr Murphy spoke as SCi, which bought its British rival Eidos last year, announced a first-half pre-tax loss of £10.9m due to a string of games launches.