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Australian government retracts game dev support, reassigns funding
The Australian government will shut down the Australian Interactive Games Fund on July 1, reassigning nearly $10 million it had previously earmarked for local game development studios. Media funding body Screen Australia has awarded $10 million of the government's promised $20 million stimulus to Australian studios in a bid to stem industry employment drop and promote business sustainability. Screen Australia dispersed a $6 million grant to game developers in June last year, followed by an additional $2.6 million in September. The Australian government notes in its recently published 2014-2015 budget proposal that it will use the shuttered project's remaining $10 million to "repair the Budget and fund policy priorities." [Image: Australian government]
Screen Australia gives $2.6 million to 21 indies
Australia's government-sponsored media funding body Screen Australia has given $2.6 million to 21 independent Australian developers. The funding is part of continuing emergency action by the Australian government to support a sector that saw employment drop from 1,431 to 581 people between 2011 and 2012. With overseas investment in recent years dryer than December in the outback, the country's indie scene is needed to maintain a functioning ecosystem. "Game development is the fastest growing sector of the worldwide audiovisual market but Australian independent studios have faced a shrinking workforce and extremely tough terms of trade. Yet the sector continues to showcase its creative force with breakthrough mobile games including Fruit Ninja and Ski Safari," said Fiona Cameron, Screen Australia's Chief Operating Officer. The hope is supporting the 21 companies will grow creative businesses, spawn original intellectual property, shift the reliance away from work-for-hire (contract) gigs and retain a skilled workforce in the region. The 21 recipients are listed after the break. [Image: Story via Shutterstock]
Australian government invests in game industry to halt job migration
Australia's government-funded Screen Australia program plans on investing $20 million into the local video game industry. Gamasutra reports the organization will spend $4-5 million on games production and $2-3 million on supporting business sustainability over the next year.The organization cites the American-owned Firemonkeys, studio-killing LA Noire and Halfbrick (Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride) as successful signs of Australian-developed games – hey, one legit shout-out to Halfbrick out of three ain't bad.Australia has had to spend the past several years reinventing its place in the video game industry. Unfavorable exchange rates for foreign investors caused major publishers to pull console game development out of the country, causing severe job losses over a three-year period. The region has found success focusing on the mobile market.
