Aussie Government Called on to Get Behind Game Developers
Aussie Government Called on to Get Behind Game Developers
July 7, 2007
The government of at least one Australian state is backing a proposal to provide tax breaks and other financial support to the burgeoning game industry Down Under.As reported by The Age, Victoria's minister for Information and Communication Technology, Tim Holding (left), was effusive in his support:
This is a very important change that we want to see the Federal Government make. Just as the Film Finance Corporation has been established to support the film industry, so too should there be a game finance corporation.
Holding made his comments at the Game Connect: Asia Pacific conference in Melbourne. He was critical of the federal government's failure to act on behalf of game companies:
They were certainly called upon to do so, they have the resources to do so. I'm amazed that they haven't acted. They are missing a huge opportunity.
Film is still hugely important to us, but interactive entertainment is growing incredibly quickly... you can't deny them access to the same the same tax concessions without having a significant impact on the industry.
It shows the federal government just doesn't get where our entertainment industries collectively are going.
Holding also pooh-poohed a claim by the Australian film industry that preferential treatment for movie makers was appropriate:
Rubbish on a number of levels. The fight shouldn't be between the film industry and the interactive industry... We're not saying the film industry isn't worthy of support. We're saying that this industry is also worthy of support if you apply the same criteria.
Holding said the Australian game biz currently generates $200 million for the Australian economy, and predicted that figure will jumpt to $500 million by 2012.
We are thrilled... to promote an industry which drives innovation, which promotes exports, which drives investment and employs a lot of people in an extraordinarily creative way.
Tom Crago, head of the Game Developers' Association of Australia, was also critical of the federal government:
The government is guilty of a serious neglect of one of the fastest growing industries in the creative and entertainment sector... The Federal Government could do much to learn from the Canadian government which has created over 10,000 jobs in video game development over the last four years though the right financial incentives.
Thanks: Kotaku
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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:40am
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
JDKJ: We can sit here all day and debate the relative merits. However, I think the events of recent days suggest that an FN Five-Seven ain't exactly the same as that Daisy BB gun you got for Christmas when you were a kid.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:38am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: tumbling can be quite dangerous. However, the rounds that commonly tumbled were variants of the SS90. Civilian ammo tends to tumble far less commonly.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:33am
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
JDKJ: I understand that while they don't have much expansion effect, they tend to "yaw" on impact. Yaw can be almost just as damaging as mushrooming.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:30am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: Except when one considers the lack of expansion for the 5.7, it basically ends up leaving a far smaller hole.
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:29am
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
JDKJ: But if the latter's travelling at close to twice the speed of the former, there's a compensatory effect on the weight difference.
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Comments
There is already a lot of backlash over here for not having the R18+ rating for games as there is for movies, the politicians just aren't giving it enough consideration yet.
well Aus has issues with media they do not like and demand their people not see it or own it they need to lighten that up some and treat their citizens like adults,altho I have not really had a good talk with anyone from aus but thats the feelign I get when they lay out bans on pron and normal movies and games.
There's a link to Premier Beattie's policy in case anyone was wondering (PDF) :P
As for just trying to cash in, well of course. Governments are like any other large corporation, they need to see some profits or at least some revenue. Having said that, Victoria is not the first state to initiate a pro-games industry movement. Peter Beattie introduced a policy funding game development programs (degrees/diplomas etc.) to the tune of $1 million as well as including games devs as part of the 'Creative Industries' thereby allowing them further funding.
And then on the flipside, he was one of the first to push for Mark Ecko's Standing Up to be banned. Contradict much? Anyway. we definitely need more people to realise the growth of the industry and the fact that we should at least be afforded the same concessions as films.
Too bad it's the same Government that bans games such as Mark Ecko's Standing Up, Reservoir Dogs, etc.
There is nothing wrong with this. They want to make the country friendly to developers so that studios won't move over seas where things are better financially.
I hope that they start giving them equal treatment.
So they can replace the gunk with their fingers?