Federal Government to invest $200 million in Screen Australia managed game development fund

Minister for the Arts, Simon Crean has announced that the Federal Government will invest $20 million in a games fund over the next three years.
Crean made the announcement of the new Australian Interactive Games Fund at the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) Conference in his keynote address.
The announcement follows lobbying by the screen and gaming sectors for games companies to be included within Screen Australia's Producer Offset scheme, as indicated in SPAA President Brian Rosen's opening speech on Tuesday.
Minister Crean made the announcement of the new Australian Interactive Games Fund at the Screen Producers Association of Australia Conference in his keynote address.
Crean explained "this $20 million fund will help build a sustainable base for the Australian interactive entertainment industry to respond and grow in a global market expected to reach $90.1 billion by 2015.
"Australian games studios are recognised internationally for their skill and originality in developing interactive games played all over the world but the local industry is coming under increased pressure in the midst of a major market shift.
"This fund will assist the sector to reclaim their competitive advantage and support the development of games in Australia, investing in the intellectual property of our creative businesses to give them a stronger position internationally."
Screen Australia will administer the fund and develop the funding guidelines with the games sector, as the government's key agency for support to the screen production sector.
Screen Australia Chief Executive Ruth Harley stated "we welcome the announcement from the Minister and look forward to consulting with the games sector to develop the best possible funding program."
Minister Crean recognised the increasing parallels between film and the gaming sector, pointing to Wolverine which as a franchise has been adapted for almost every gaming platform.
The fund will benefit both console games and mobile games with Minister Crean adding "the sector is a major employer and local start-up companies like Melbourne-based Voxel Agents have seen their Train Conductor series downloaded more than five mllion times. More established companies like Brisbane's Halfbrick Studios had their game Fruit Ninja downloaded 300 million times."
Game Developers' Association of Australia Chief Executive Tony Reed added "this announcement is fantastic news for the Australian game development industry. The games industry has gone beyond the entertainment space with games now used in education, healthcare and training. We look forward to working with the Federal Government to create a program that supports growth and stability, secures jobs, encourages innovation and creativity, and promotes investment in Australian talent and capability globally."
In 2011, Team Bondi, the producers of the popular and critically acclaimed console game LA Noire used a lot of similar techniques to VFX film-making, went under not long after the game was released.
The brains behind the game, Brendan McNamara was appointed to the interactive arm of George Miller's production company Kennedy Miller Mitchell, KMM Interactive where he is working on the game version of Miller's new Mad Max film.
The Fund will commence in 201213 delivering $5 million per annum in the first and second years, jumping to $10 million in 201415.

Article by Mumbrella.

http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au