Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax Break

April 23, 2009

When not making bizarre references to seceding from the United States, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is good friend to the video game industry.

The Guv, who delivered last year's E3 keynote in Los Angeles, today signed into law HB 873. The bill increases the amount of state grants available to video game, film and other digital media production companies.

As reported by the San Marcos Daily Record, Perry was enthusiatic about the legislation at the bill signing ceremony:

With this legislation, we are strengthening our state’s investment in a vital industry that not only shows off our state to the rest of the world, but also draws investment and creates jobs for Texans.

ESA CEO Mike Gallagher praised Perry via press release:

I commend Governor Rick Perry and the Texas state legislature for recognizing the contributions that the video game industry already has made in the state, and for acting quickly and decisively to ensure that the industry has the opportunity to reach its full potential. Today, Texas showed its strong willingness to stay competitive with other states that are seeking to attract video game developers and publishers.

KVUE has a video report on the bill signing.

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Comments

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by Battosai on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 03:11.

Wow. It is really cool to see a post about politics that actually support gaming. This seems like it would be a great idea to not only further along video game developement and attract companies, but it might help to lift the veil of video games and show that they are a good source of revenue and not cast them in the light of "murder simulators." I wonder if we will see any positive results from this.

It would be cool if Florida would pass a similar bill to further video games...It seems like we get cast in a bad light mainly due to Jack Thompson being from around here.

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by The Hangd Man on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 22:26.

Well if Perry ever finds himself looking for a job, I'm sure TIGA wouldn't mind having him made the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK (all other issues of citizenship andpolitics aside. As a Californian, its a damn shame that we're just raising taxes instead of trying to stimulate growth in my state. While Perry might speak off the cuff from time to time, at least he's doing something, which is better than our current Governator.

I hate broccoli/ and think it totally sucks/ Why isn't it meat?

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by MechaTama31 on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 21:56.

I still don't see how, with Perry saying "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it.", anybody can say that he is somehow supporting the idea of secession. I guess this is just one of those things where the media keeps repeating something until people believe it, hoping they won't look too close at the details.

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by Valdearg on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 14:28.

It was the "but if the Government keeps thumbing thier nose at us, who knows what is possible" that was the issue. No sane politician would even leave the idea of secession open like that, regardless of how upset they are with the fed.

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by Stealthguy on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 14:44.

Which is what some people keep conviently ignoring, hoping that by saying it enough times they'll be justified in thinking everyone else are guilible bafoons.

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by Rabidkeebler on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 18:04.

I'm a double fan right now. One for great tax break. And again for the mention of my local paper!

Foaming at the mouth

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by Saladin on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 15:20.

As a Texan, I'm all for seceding from the U.S. and building an unholy video game empire!

*Cough* Er... what I MEANT to say is that this is great for game companies and gamers alike. Yes. That's just what I meant. *Eyes the rest of the comments board suspiciously*

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by CyberSkull on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 14:16.

I see his plan now! He plans to lure all the game devs to Texas and the secede and use their tech to build a new super empire!

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by Stealthguy on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 14:35.

Oh snap, that is deviously briliant! Here hoping they name it Videogame Nation.

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by JB on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:41.

So is Texas Texas Gov. Rick Perry becoming the Gilles Duceppe of the south?

But yay for helping the gaming industry!!!

"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by Valdearg on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:38.

While I may think hes a total wingnut, I gotta respect that he is on the cutting edge of supporting and encouraging the growth of the video game industry..

Slightly Off Topic: LOL at the Headline :)

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz Tax

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:21.

Now this makes what Oklahoma is attempting to offer look like a slap in the face.

Texas is offering tax breaks with a minimum spent of $100k on the game project. Oklahoma's Minimum is $500k with restrictions based on ratings.

Looks like I will be writing an email tonight.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by lumi on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:39.

I thought Texas also had restrictions based on ESRB ratings? No M games, or some such? Am I confusing it with OK?

Re: Texas Guv Puts Secession Plans on Hold, Signs Game Biz ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Thu, 04/23/2009 - 12:49.

I think they origianlly intended to put the restriction on rating, but after pressure from the games industry the dropped it. At least that is what it looks like. About a month back, I took a look at the laws on the books in texas and there were no rating restrictions.

But Oklahoma wants to only offer tax incentives to games rated EC-T. If your game is rated M or AO or not rated, no tax breaks.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Shout box

BearDogg-X: Spike TV is airing the new Xbox reveal with help from GameTrailers starting at 11am CT.05/21/2013 - 12:56am

BearDogg-X: http://kotaku.com/couric-offers-mea-culpa-for-one-sided-violent-video-g-50892937105/21/2013 - 12:49am

james_fudge: of course he does :)05/20/2013 - 10:23pm

Andrew Eisen: EZK lives!05/20/2013 - 10:17pm

BearDogg-X: Not game related, but found it interesting: http://www.upworthy.com/the-real-reason-they-still-play-mrs-robinson-on-the-radio?g=2&c=mrp1 - 90% of the music/TV/news media in USA owned by 6 companies.05/20/2013 - 2:38pm

BearDogg-X: @PHX Corp: It's like they're just throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks at this point.05/20/2013 - 12:15pm

Kajex: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/20/neverwinter-money-making-exploit-sees-cryptic-turn-back-time/ My understanding is that none of this was illegal, either.05/20/2013 - 11:42am

PHX Corp: http://www.gamezone.com/news/2013/05/20/violent-video-games-are-bad-for-your-body Most rediclous Study about violent video games ever05/20/2013 - 10:13am

Cecil475: @PHX Corp - The dude's a moron who wouldn't know crap if it came up and kicked him.05/19/2013 - 6:36am

PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am

E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am

E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am

MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am

E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am

MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am

E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm

E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm

Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am

E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am

MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am

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