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
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?