Good to read a politician is taking games seriously now.

Hasnt' it occured to anyone that these tax breaks might be backdoors for controlling the industry?

"If you don't clean up your act and make games the way we want you to we'll yank your tax-break!"

Call me a paranoiac, but with all the whipping and beating that games have taken over the last few years I don't think it's outside the realm of reality.

@Werrick

Aw c'mon. We all know that in order to get the tax break, TV and Games would have to cut a few corners. It's been that way since the dawn of time. Wanna get the benefits, you follow their turf.

Look, if I said I was going to make a game where I shoot politicians, do you think they'd let me have that tax break? Honestly.

Besides, this is good for everyone else. I mean honestly, I don't think the government would mind if game developers want to make games in the same vein as Patapon, Professor Layton, Katamari etc.

I'm already writing my State Rep to support this legislation here in Michigan. I suggest everyone else here from Michigan do the same.

*Full disclosure* I am a co-owner of a small indie game company. This would help us alot, and it would also help Stardock and other game companies here in Michigan.

Not quite, Werrick.

Especially since you don't HAVE to have the tax break. Sure, it sounds great, but like you said, you'd probably have to do what THEY want.

Besides, if you wanted to make a game and don't want to be hassled by the man, the LAST thing you should demand is a tax break from them to make your game. After all, if you don't want them hassling you, why ask a favour from them?

DarrenTB said;

"Especially since you don’t HAVE to have the tax break. Sure, it sounds great, but like you said, you’d probably have to do what THEY want. "

These same governments want to regulate games. It's not long before tax breaks become synonymous with funding or sponsorship. This same governor wanted to legislate games and we all know the games she's talking about. Now she's offering tax breaks...

That doesn't smell fishy to you?

You don't see the possibility of the state wanting to review the games to make sure they meet whatever standards they have (take a minute to run through the titles that have been criticised and why...) to decide whether to grant the break or not?

As long as developers are not FORCED to make educational games that no one wants, then it should be ok

But I will be wary of this and try to find the fine detail about what kinds of games a developer could make,

they should be comerical games that cover everything from E to M rated games,

If the tax proposal says, "Make M rated game then you don't get tax break" then I would be suspicious...

I can see them using the tax breaks for a little backdoor control, but I wouldn't worry too much. If they have a problem with the game, you can always point to some massively successful game like Halo, God of War, Bioshock, Final Fantasy, or whatever other game is along the same genre or mood of your game. I imagine that might work.

Besides they should offer the tax break to all games regardless of the content. Otherwise its not a tax break, its a sponsorship.

I don't trust Granholm on this.

This new bill reeks of governance by poll numbers. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

And by Michigan, Granholm means Detroit.

As long as we get to tell you what to do, we'll be happy to take your money.

I hate politicians.

YAY! TAX INCENTIVES!

I guess our soil wasn't totally poisoned by stupidity after all.

dont blame me i didnt vote for her

she is also trying to get jobs in michigan which the state and the city of detroit need BADLY. i know i live there.