- Published:
- Thursday 15 June 2017
Victoria’s global reputation as a digital games leader has been boosted with the Andrews Labor Government’s latest investment in a suite of local projects.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley today announced $654,000 to support nine Victorian studios develop and release new digital games, ranging from an interactive virtual reality experience to a game to help children learn about geography.
Melbourne games start-up Inn Between Worlds received support for its time travel game Odd Gods, while Ghostbat Games received funding for Spies & Soldiers – the first game to be released by brothers Jim and Ben Batt who have been creating games together since they were children.
The latest round also demonstrates the rapid career development of Victorian games graduates. Two supported games, Putty Pals by Harmonious Games and Paperbark by Paper House, started out as university projects at Swinburne and RMIT, and led to their creators establishing their own studios.
Melbourne is Australia’s games capital and is home to more than half of all Australian studios. While games enjoy a strong local following, 98 per cent of Victorian-made games are for the export market.
The latest funding is expected to generate $1.2 million for the state and support new employment opportunities within the local games sector, ranging from technical roles to script writing, music and marketing.
The Labor Government is also offering grants for local developers to exhibit their work at the upcoming major games expo PAX AUS in Melbourne as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2017.
Victorian game studios that have been accepted into PAX Rising can apply for support to offset the cost of registration and stand hire at creative.vic.gov.au.
In addition to creating digital games for what is now the world’s largest entertainment industry, Victorian game developers work across other sectors – creating training programs for workplace safety, dementia care and even astronauts at NASA, as well as developing games to improve Indigenous literacy.
For a full list of the latest supported game projects, visit www.film.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley
“Digital games is the largest and fastest growing entertainment sector in the world, worth some $130 billion annually. This latest investment will support local companies to get a slice of this market at home and abroad.”
“Victoria is the only state to consistently invest in games and it’s paying off – with a thriving industry that continues to grow and attract the best talent.”
“This funding supports a wide range of projects that showcase the diversity of our industry. By investing in games, we are investing in the jobs and industries of the future and boosting our reputation as the creative state.”