CROMWELL, Conn. -- A local award-winning company that develops video games for cell phones and other handheld mobile devices said it’s not feeling the pinch of the economy.

However, company officials said Wednesday at a roundtable with lawmakers and other industry professionals that they hope a Connecticut tax credit doesn't get cut.

Venan Co. President Brandon Curiel said video game statistics show double-digit growth over the last few years, which is a sharp departure from other industries, where layoffs and cutbacks have become the norm.

“I think every business owner sees what's going on and thinks, ‘When is this going to ripple through and hit me? So far, it hasn’t,'” he said.

Venan got in on the ground floor in 2003, Curiel said, developing games for mobile phones and devices.

In fact, he said the company's version of Monopoly just won an industry award.

However, at the meeting at the legislative office building, panelists discussed a special tax credit, which Curiel said is a key incentive for some digital companies in Connecticut.

With the state tightening its belt, lawmakers said the credit could be on the chopping block.

“Everyone recognized how important the tax credit program and how beneficial it is, and how do we get that communicated to the Legislature?” Curiel said.

Venan, for example, hopes to hire about six more people this year, he said, but it can’t without the tax credit.

Curiel said the Cromwell company hopes to eventually expand into bigger games for consoles. He said they have a few games in the works for the Nintendo Wii.