Tuesday 18 June 2013
Independent Australian game developers were provided with a timely $6 million fillip today as the sector recorded a decline in income and employment numbers.
Over recent years international publishers have vacated Australia for territories offering greater incentives and lower business costs. As a result, today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey shows employment levels falling from 1431 to 581 people.
The challenge for the independent Australian game developer has been how to grow the business, retain intellectual property, keep a skilled workforce and raise the necessary finance.
"Given that game development is the fastest growing sector of the worldwide audiovisual market from a consumer perspective, Australian developers should share in the $80 billion global market," Screen Australia's Chief Operating Officer Fiona Cameron said today.
"Screen Australia's Game Enterprise program provides a diverse range of Australian companies with valuable funds to help develop original IP, employ more people, including promoting internships, and expand distribution and marketing opportunities," she said.
The 10 successful Games Enterprise program recipient companies will receive the funding over a three-year period. They are (in alphabetical order):
• Defiant Development (QLD) Morgan Jaffit, Dan Treble
• ODD Games (SA) Ben Marsh, Terry O'Donoghue, David O'Donoghue
• Soap Creative (NSW) Ashley Ringrose, Bradley Eldridge
• Tantalus Media (VIC) Tom Crago
• Tin Man Games (VIC) Ben Britten Smith, Neil Rennison
• Torus Games (VIC) Bill McIntosh
• Twiitch (VIC) Steven Spagnolo, Shane Stevens
• Uppercut Games (NSW/ACT) Andrew James, Ryan Lancaster, Ed Orman
• The Voxel Agents (VIC) Simon Joslin, Matthew Clark
• Wicked Witch Software (VIC) Daniel Visser
"The successful companies represent a diverse range of Australian game studios, from start up companies to larger developers. Funding will ensure an expansion in the workforce, allowing smaller developers to gain critical mass and larger developers to shift from a reliance on work for hire to developing original projects," Ms Cameron said.
With the assistance of Games Enterprise funding, Brisbane-based games development studio Defiant Development will be able to consolidate its existing success in mobile games, while also staking a claim in new and developing markets.