COMPUTER games companies in the region are forming an alliance to help raise their profile overseas, retain graduates and attract investment.

Codeworks, the Centre for Digital Excellence - one of the five centres of excellence in the region - will form the group to help games specialists exchange advice and build their profile.

Companies including Eutechnyx, whose Big Mutha Truckers game is number one in the Walmart chart in the US, will join forces with other companies including Brat Design and Pitbull.

The companies bring millions of pounds into the region's economy with each successful game they develop.

This month, a contingent representing the games industry in the region will travel to the world's largest computer games conference in Los Angeles to try to bring business and investment back to the North-East.

Herbert Kim, chief executive officer of Codeworks, said: "From the feedback we have received from all the games companies we have spoken to, the ability to simply have a network where they can discuss issues, such as comparing how they have dealt with particular companies, or negotiating legal terms, is important.

"The games industry is extremely competitive, so having someone come in to say we will help games companies network better together is invaluable.

"The nature of the business is that it is almost all export money. We can bring investment into the region through these companies."

Simon King, head of partnerships at Codeworks, said: "Everything we do is industry-led so we are just responding to demand from the digital companies themselves."

The alliance will see the public and private sectors working closer together, with Codeworks arranging work experience at the companies for undergraduates at Tees-side University.

The centre of excellence is setting up an office in Teesside to increase its presence among the growing number of digital companies in the area.

It already has branches in Newcastle and Sunderland. Mr King said Codeworks was still deciding where to base its headquarters.