The Finnish Games and Multimedia Association (FIGMA) was a Finnish trade association for video game publishers and distributors founded in 1999.

FIGMA
Merged intoAssociation for the Nordic Game Industry
Formation1999; 25 years ago (1999)
DissolvedJanuary 1, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-01-01)
TypeNon-profit, self-regulatory
PurposeTrade association, Rating of video game content
Location
Area served
Finland
Websitefigma.fi (archived)

It also acted a video game rating board, to regulates video game content in relation to subjects such as sex and violence and assigns age appropriate certificates.[1][2][3] Figma published the best-selling video games every two weeks, and gave out platinum and gold prizes. It also kept yearly statistics on the size of the Finnish video game market, and organized the Finnish Game Awards from 2008 to 2013.[4]

FIGMA dissolved in 2016 when it merged with three other Nordic trade associations (the Swedish MDTS, Danish MUF, and Norwegian NSM) into the Association for the Nordic Game Industry (ANGI).[5]

History

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Figma was founded on 12 April 1999. Vesa Artman, Head of Nordisk Film's PlayStation unit, was the first chairman and was responsible for the practical activities. Riku Olkkonen was elected as the association's first Executive Director in March 2007.[6][7]

Organisation

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Figma was the Finnish representative for Association for the Nordic Game Industry (ANGI) in Finland, whose member companies in 2016 were Activision Blizzard, AMO, Bergsala, Electronic Arts, Game Outlet, Koch Media, Microsoft, Nordic License, Namco Bandai Partners, Nordisk Film, PAN Vision, Ubisoft, Walt Disney Company and Warner Brothers.[8]

Figma was a member of the European Games Federation (ISFE) and the Media Education Centre Metka. The organisation cooperated with the State Film Inspectorate in areas such as the control of age limits and had a representative on the advisory board that planned the activities of the Inspectorate.[9][10]

Figma's Board was chaired by Riku Olkkonen and its Executive Director was Thomas Westerberg.[11]

Activities

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The purpose of the association was "to improve the cultural policy status and legal protection of recorded music and the conditions for its production, import and distribution, and to develop the enforcement of the rights of rightholders under the law".[8]

Figma published a bi-weekly list of best-selling video games, awarded platinum and gold game prizes, maintained annual statistics on the size of the Finnish video game market and organised the Finnish Game Awards from 2008 to 2013.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "FIGMA ratsasi taas alaikäisille kiellettyjä pelejä myyvät liikkeet". www.v2.fi. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  2. ^ "FIGMA ry uusi webbisivustonsa ja visuaalisen ilmeensä". 4 November 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Maailman suurimmilla pelimessuilla oli ennätysyleisö". Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  4. ^ "The Finnish Game Awards honoured the best in the Finnish game industry - Neogames". www.neogames.fi. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  5. ^ Riis, Jacob (2016-02-11). "Nordic trade associations band together in ANGI". Nordic Game Community. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  6. ^ "Lehdistötiedote". Figma ry. 2007-03-01. Archived from the original on 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  7. ^ Riot (2007-08-20). "Suomen pleikkarigurut lähtivät". Pelaaja. H-Town Oy. Archived from the original on 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  8. ^ a b c "Figma.fi, etusivu". 2016-02-21. Archived from the original on 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  9. ^ Manu Pärssinen (2009-11-26). "FIGMA ratsasi taas alaikäisille kiellettyjä pelejä myyvät liikkeet". V2.fi. Alasin Media Oy. Archived from the original on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  10. ^ "VET – Valtion elokuvatarkastamo". 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  11. ^ "FIGMA-peliyhdistyksen toiminnanjohtajaksi Thomas Westerberg". Figma ry. 2011-08-16. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-09-24.