IGEA submission to the Senate Inquiry into the National Cultural Policy

IGEA has lodged a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee’s Inquiry into the National Cultural Policy.

More information on the Inquiry can be found here.

IGEA submission on the Australian copyright enforcement review issues paper

IGEA has made a submission to the Attorney-General’s Department in response to its consultation on the Copyright Enforcement Review Issues Paper.

More information on the consultation can be found here.

IGEA submission to the consultation on a prominence framework for connected TV devices

IGEA has made a submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts in response to its consultation on a prominence proposals paper for connected TV devices.

More information on the consultation can be found here.

IGEA Continues To Work With The Government On Passing The Digital Games Tax Offset

Monday, 20 February 2023 

IGEA will appear before the Senate Economics Legislation Committee on Tuesday, 21 February to continue to promote the importance of the digital games tax offset (DGTO), which will allow local video game studios to scale up and ensure Australia becomes the global destination for video game development.

The DGTO will provide a 30 per cent refundable tax offset to eligible businesses that spend a minimum of $500,000 to support their projects.

This tax offset will help to attract investment and encourage growth in the Australian digital games industry, which has been facing increasing competition from overseas markets.

IGEA CEO Ron Curry thanked the government for their commitment to the video games industry and recognised the DGTO is one of the best game development incentives anywhere in the world.

“It is time for Australia to take its rightful share of the $250 billion global digital games industry. It is crucial for Australia to remain competitive in this space. The introduction of this tax offset is an important step towards achieving this goal, and we commend the Australian Government for taking this positive step to support our industry,” Mr Curry said.

“The DGTO will help drive innovation and investment and support the creative development of world-class digital games in Australia. It will also help increase jobs for all creatives – musicians, writers, artists and producers – providing an opportunity for more Australians to develop advanced skills in content creation.

“This is all about building the knowledge jobs of tomorrow, and I would like to commend the Federal Government on introducing the DGTO alongside the inclusion of the video games industry in the National Cultural Policy through the re-establishment of the Australian Interactive Games Fund. We also thank the Opposition for supporting the bill, recognising that the DGTO was first proposed by the previous government. Excitement for a vibrant local game development scene and its great economic potential is clearly bipartisan and this reform epitomises that.”

Once passed through the Senate, having already passed the Lower House last year, the DGTO is scheduled to be back dated to take effect from 1 July 2022, and will be available to eligible businesses that spend a minimum of $500,000 related to the development of eligible games.

 

IGEA submission to the Senate inquiry into the DGTO bill

IGEA has made a submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee as part of its inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Bill 2022 which will implement the Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO).  More information on the consultation can be found here.

 

IGEA’s 2023-4 ACT Pre-Budget Submission

IGEA has made a 2023-4 Pre-Budget Submission to the ACT Government.  More information on the consultation can be found here.

 

 

IGEA’s 2023-4 Australian Pre-Budget Submission

IGEA has made a 2023-4 Pre-Budget Submission to the Australian Treasury.  More information on the consultation can be found here.

IGEA celebrates the reinstatement of the Australian Interactive Games Fund

IGEA celebrates the announcement from The Hon Tony Burke MP that the Australian Interactive Games Fund (AIGF) will be restored.  Minister Burke and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the Australian National Cultural Policy today, and the inclusion of games is a significant moment in history for our sector.

IGEA was an active advocate for games in the development of the National Cultural Policy, and in our submission and continual engagement with the Office for the Arts we recommended the launch of a game development fund beyond the $6 million that had been awarded to Screen Australia for the Games: Expansion Pack.

The restoration of the Australian Interactive Games Fund (AIGF) has been a key focus of IGEA’s advocacy for many years as it will provide much needed and equitable funding for small to medium Australian video game creators.  According to the Revive National Cultural Policy, there will be a $12 million increase in investment to support small to medium independent games studios through Screen Australia. The Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) set to pass through parliament any week now is focused on larger scale projects/studios and, together with the return of the AIGF, lays a solid foundation for a thriving game development ecosystem in Australia.

Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA commented, ‘Not only is IGEA and the games industry celebrating the funding and further commitment from the Albanese government for the development sector, we are also delighted to see games positioned within the broader national cultural, screen and creative industries. This commitment recognises that Australian game developers have an essential role to play in the digital delivery of stories to local and international audiences.

‘We look forward to reading more details on the fund and will work with the great team at Screen Australia to educate the industry on accessing the support.’

– End –

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net    

Media spokespeople available

Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA

For any media enquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact igea@doublejump.com.au.

Australian game development industry records job boom

IGEA submission to the Australian Treasury’s consultation on the Employment White Paper

IGEA has made a submission to the Australian Treasury in relation to its consultation on the development of the Employment White Paper.

More information on the consultation can be found here.

Australian game developers celebrate introduction of DGTO bill into Parliament

23 November, 2022 –  Alongside the Australian video games industry, IGEA is celebrating today’s introduction of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Bill 2022 into Parliament, which when passed will implement the Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO).

The sector has been eagerly awaiting the details of the DGTO, which have been released today following the introduction of this bill by the Albanese Government in the House of Representatives.  Pending the bill’s passage through both Houses of Parliament, local video game businesses and creators can now confidently scale up their studios and projects to deliver more quality Australian content to a global audience. At the same time, Australia will shine brightly in the global video games industry as the next big destination for business and investment.

The DGTO is the first federal policy of its kind and one of the best game development incentives anywhere in the world. It will deliver a 30% tax incentive to Australian video game developers with projects above $500,000, with eligible expenditure incurred from 1 July 2022 able to be claimed. It signals a commitment to the local games development industry and recognises game creation as an important part of our screen and cultural sector. Australian studios have already witnessed an impact on their businesses since Screen Australia launched its first funding program for video games in eight years earlier this year through the Games: Expansion Pack program. The DGTO will complement this fund and help to make Australia among the best places in the world to make video games.

Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA, commented, “We sincerely thank the Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP and the Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Stephen Jones MP for introducing the legislation as well as the Arts Minister, the Hon Tony Burke MP, for advocating for support for Australian game developers in both of his innings as Arts Minister and the time in between as the Shadow Arts Minister. We would also like to thank the Minister for Trade, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, for his recognition of our sector’s enormous trade and investment potential and finally the Communications Minister, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, for being our industry’s champion over many years.

“By backing and introducing the legislation into Parliament, the Albanese Government has provided certainty and growth opportunities for our highly creative and technically skilled industry. The Australian game development sector has embraced this opportunity. The job creation, revenue growth and international investment in game development will further cement and enhance Australia’s reputation for delivering quality content internationally. In particular, it will create a new generation of creative 21^st century Aussie tech workers.

“Noting that the DGTO represents bipartisan policy, we look forward to a swift passage of the bill through Parliament. In addition to our gratitude to the Albanese Government, we also thank the Opposition, and particularly the current shadow and former Arts Minister Paul Fletcher MP, for proposing the DGTO last year and continuing to support it.

“The Office for the Arts and the Treasury have run a very effective consultation with industry and we expect the dialogue and education to continue as the DGTO rolls out. The DGTO, coupled with the many state government digital games funds and rebates, means that Australia has some of the most aggressive video game industry incentives available globally. We expect to see many multinational companies expand their operations to Australia and contribute to a thriving and sustainable game development ecosystem.”

The reactions from the Australian games sector have been as follows:

Benjamin Lee, Founder and Managing Director, Blowfish Studios

“The DGTO is a huge milestone for the Australian game development industry and if utilised to its fullest will enable Blowfish to create more jobs around the country as we continue to build the world’s best blockchain games. Phantom Galaxies continues to attract overseas investment as it paves the way for the genre, plus we have multiple home-grown IPs in development now which will all benefit from the DGTO.”

 Casey Thomas, Founder | Managing Director, Dark Shadow Studio

“Since the announcement of the DGTO, my studio and I are in high spirits and are able to plan and budget for not only the exponential growth of new staff members within our studio but look at projecting into international exportations – since my recent trip to India to speak at IGDC, it has opened so many new opportunities that until experienced, we would never really have considered. 

With these new announcements, it means we can also continue to build stronger relationships internationally, showcase the amazing talent here in Australia, and share resources around the world. We are very excited by this announcement and the next 1-2 years on how this will shape and change the games industry here in Australia; it’s looking brighter than ever!”

 

 Electronic Arts

“Electronic Arts applauds this important development by the Australian Parliament to pass the Digital Games Tax Offset, which will be a vital step in helping the Government stimulate video game development in Australia.”

 

 Dylan Miklashek, Studio Manager, Gameloft Brisbane

“Gameloft Brisbane is incredibly excited with the announcement of the Digital Games Tax Offset OFFICIAL legislation. With the Federal Government’s DGTO now officially and fully in place, Gameloft and all other game development in Australia can now confidently and rapidly move forward with their future growth plans and opportunities. It’s Game On in Australia people!!!”

 

 Tom Crago, CEO, Tantalus

“For Tantalus and for Keywords Australia, the DGTO with turbocharge our growth and expansion. That means more jobs and more videogames developed in Australia, for the global market. Australia has an opportunity to be one of the world’s great hubs for game development. We’re ready to play.”

Blake Mizzi, Director and Co-Founder, League of Geeks

“Games studios are remarkable places where creativity, imagination and cutting-edge technology swirl together into complex experiences every day. These hot houses for talent are also perfect places to breed skills for jobs we don’t even know about today. The DGTO will help us expand Australian studios, hire more staff and cultivate more digital brain power for years to come with flow on effects beyond the sector.”

 

TJ Munusamy, Executive Vice President Business Development, PlaySide Studios

“PlaySide Studios welcomes the DGTO with open arms. This is a much needed Government initiative that the Australian industry has been yearning for in some capacity, for more than a decade. As the barrier to entry into video game development increases and the cutting-edge technologies required to remain competitive become more expensive to adopt; the grant will help ease pressures faced by many of our local game development studios.

For PlaySide in particular, the initiative will allow our company to remain competitive on a global scale and help the business attract much needed talent for our next wave of flagship projects. The grant will also lower the barrier to entry on any new studio locations as well as assist us in preparing strategies for future technologies by virtue of ensuring we have the right talent.  PlaySide has gone through mass transformation in recent years and the federal DGTO initiative will further bolster the company’s upward trajectory as it reaches new heights.

PlaySide Studios is excited to see the DGTO in full effect and its benefits realised to the Australian video game industry!”

 

Naresh Hirani, Head of Studio, Riot Sydney

“In our 25+ years as a game development studio, Australia has continued to grow its recognition globally as a hotbed for talent in the gaming industry. During that time, the Australian Government’s support has been instrumental in navigating the challenges our industry has faced, and now this tax offset scheme is a clear signal that Australia’s importance to game dev is here to stay. As one of the largest AAA studios in Australia, we’ve seen first hand the challenges in retaining world class development talent and we’re thrilled for what the Digital Games Tax Offset will mean for growing, attracting, and retaining that talent here in Australia.“

Matt Schenkel, Co-Founder, Sub-Zero Sound

“Despite a $500k barrier to entry, I think independent developers and development-adjacent creative businesses that don’t reach that number will still benefit. 

With my game audio studio, Sub-Zero Sound, I’m always looking for promising studios and developers to work with. I anticipate that our network of clients will get larger and more diverse thanks to this tax offset. I believe that with this new incentive, game creators will be able to more easily justify working with third-party companies such as mine and invest in what have traditionally been “luxury” features such as custom sound design and music. 

I think that this will also result in more pathways for game graduates out of university. Currently, there are few options for early-career games practitioners to jump into entry-level roles or paid internships in Australia. I only see these sorts of roles (as well as mid-senior roles), becoming more common over the next few years as the scale of our industry increases.”

 

Joey Egger, Managing Director, Two Moos/DEPT®

“The Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) will significantly impact our ability to bring new work streams and grow Two Moos/DEPT®’s specialist family-focused games team. We’re beyond thrilled about the opportunity that the DGTO brings us and the Australian Games industry as a whole. Please expect an outpouring of creativity, excellence, innovation and delightful surprises in years to come – it’s all there, it just needs to surface and the DGTO will help in doing exactly that.”

Evan Davey, Founding Partner, Two Bulls/DEPT®

“The DGTO has already proven its intention to promote the growth of Australia’s digital games development industry. As a game industry business, Two Bulls/DEPT® has been able to utilise the possibility of a substantial tax offset as an incentive to attract big-scale, overseas clients into Australia. One example is an international 8-figure contract for our family division Two Moos.”

ENDS

For interviews please contact igea@doublejump.com.au

 

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net

IGEA submission to House of Representative Committee inquiry into online gambling

IGEA has made a submission to the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs in relation to its inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.

More information on the inquiry can be found here.

IGEA welcomes confirmation that the Albanese Labor Government is backing the digital games sector

Friday 28 October, 2022 –  IGEA is thrilled by the confirmation that the Albanese Government is backing the digital games sector by introducing legislation to establish a Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) in the coming months, as confirmed by The Hon Tony Burke MP in a media release this afternoon.

Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA says, “This incentive will bring international investment to Australia and create certainty for Australian game developers.  Local studios can now confidently scale up and expand employment in their businesses to deliver new and exciting Australian created games projects and technologies to the world, contributing further to export revenue.

“We thank the Federal Labor Government, in particular Arts Minister The Hon Tony Burke MP and Treasurer The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP for their long-held recognition and support for the establishment of a games industry in Australia and appreciate their commitment to the imminent introduction of legislation.”

ENDS

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the business and public policy interests of the games industry, through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net

IGEA Statement on Federal Budget, October 2022

Wednesday 26 October, 2022 –  Following last night’s federal budget announcement, the Australian video games industry is still eagerly awaiting the legislation for the Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO), which was announced by the previous Australian Government in May 2021 especially as we know it is policy that the current Government supports.

Originally scheduled for introduction by July 2022, the implementation of the DGTO in a timely manner will create confidence in investment and employment growth for the local video games industry and will finally place Australia at a competitive advantage in this high growth global entertainment medium.  Yesterday’s budget announcement unfortunately did not mention games, which is a missed opportunity for Australia and our digital economy.

While we are grateful for the continued support that the Australian Labor Party has shown to the Australian game development community, both now in Government and previously in opposition, the absence of an update about the details and timing of the DGTO has created an environment of uncertainty for the industry. Global video game companies are being forced to scope alternate locations around the world for future studios, while local development studios are being forced to curtail their production and expansion plans.

Industry and government have been running effective and productive discussions and consultations on this incentive for some time, whilst actively promoting Australia and our reputation for creating excellent products, as the place to make games.

Encouragingly, there are so many signs that the Australian Government is taking our industry as seriously, as it deserves to be. We thank Screen Australia for its return to game development funding, the Office for the Arts for investing in building its first ever digital games team, and Austrade for recently partnering with us to deliver Australia’s biggest ever presence at the Gamescom video games expo in Germany.

Building on this, we ask the Albanese Government and the Treasurer the Hon Jim Chalmers MP to prioritise the introduction of the DGTO legislation to ensure our highly creative and digitally literate industry can thrive and prosper.

 

ENDS

IGEA is hiring a Policy and Communications Officer

POSITION DESCRIPTION – POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

About IGEA

The Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) is the non-profit industry association representing and advocating for the video games industry in Australia and New Zealand, including the developers (in Australia only), publishers and distributors of video games, as well as the makers of gaming platforms, consoles and devices. IGEA has over a hundred members, from emerging independent studios to some of the world’s largest technology companies.

IGEA’s responsibilities include advocacy, media and government relations, as well as industry research and data collection. IGEA also provides a range of services for its members and the broader industry, including organising the annual Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) conference for Australian game developers and the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs).

More information on IGEA and our work can be found on our website at igea.net.

About the role

We are seeking a Policy and Communications Officer to join and support the IGEA team.  Under the direction and guidance of senior staff, the Officer will:

• Undertake a range of policy, advocacy, communications, media, research and other tasks.
• Monitor the media and the political, policy, legal and regulatory landscape, keeping the team updated and suggesting courses of action.
• Develop policy positions and advocacy strategies by researching issues and liaising with members and stakeholders.
• Research and write submissions, policy statements and letters to government.
• Organise meetings, roundtables, briefings and events, including with members or government.
• Manage and draft communications to members and stakeholders, including policy briefings, organisational updates and member newsletters.
• Draft public communications including media releases, blog posts and social media posts.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with members, stakeholders (including government and other industry groups), the media and organisational partners (eg. PR and GR firms).
• Other activities to support the team as expected of all the staff of our small organisation.

Depending on the specific responsibilities and tasks, the Officer will report to two managers:

• For policy and government-related work, to the Director of Policy & Government Affairs.
• For media and communications work, to the Chief Operating Officer.

About the preferred candidate

The successful Policy and Communications Officer will be a dynamic and versatile team player with strong analytical and communications skills.

The Officer will possess all or most of the following attributes:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Relevant policy or communications experience, such as:
  • Government or political experience, or experience in a policy, legal or government-facing role in a company, industry body, NGO or in civil society.
  • Professional media, social media or corporate communications experience.
• A demonstrated interest in video games and in technology or arts policy.
• The ability to write persuasively, succinctly and for different audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a team.
• Project management experience, the ability to manage multiple tasks and strong attention to detail.

The Officer’s role is full-time, although we are open to flexible and part-time arrangements if preferred by the successful applicant.

The Officer will need to be based in Sydney and while we have a flexible work-from-home policy, the successful candidate should expect to spend at least a portion of their work-week in our physical office located in the South Eveleigh technology precinct.

The successful applicant will need to be vaccinated against COVID in line with the Australian Government’s guidance.

IMPORTANT

IGEA is an equal opportunity employer and we prioritise diversity, equality and inclusion.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, and we particularly welcome applications from groups who are currently underrepresented in the games industry, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, skin colour, sex, gender, sexual orientation, parental status, age, physical or mental disability, neurodivergence, pronouns, national origin or any other basis.

How to apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to privacy@igea.net. Please also contact the same mailbox if you have any questions about the role and someone from the team will respond.

Applications are encouraged before COB 23 September.

Have your say on draft industry codes to protect Australians from harmful content

1 September, 2022  – Six associations representing the online industry in Australia have today released for public consultation the draft Consolidated Industry Codes of Practice for the Online Industry, Phase 1 (class 1A and class 1B material) (the Draft Codes) to help protect Australians from harmful content on the internet.

The Online Safety Act 2021 (Act), which came into effect in January 2022, requires the development of codes by industry associations to regulate certain types of harmful online material, known as Class 1A and 1B material with reference to Australia’s classification scheme. This includes material promoting child sexual abuse, terrorism, extreme crime and violence, crime and violence, and drug-related content.

Once finalised, the Draft Codes will be submitted for registration to the eSafety Commissioner. Registered codes are enforceable by the Commissioner. The Draft Codes released today have been informed by input from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner reflected in their September 2021 Position Paper.

The associations represent different parts of the online industry and, together in consultation with their members and other companies, have developed the Draft Codes. These organisations are: the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), BSA | The Software Alliance (BSA), Communications Alliance, the Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association (CESA), the Digital Industry Group Inc (DIGI), and the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA).

A public consultation process has been launched today inviting feedback on the Draft Codes from the general public through the launch of a new consultation website www.onlinesafety.org.au. Feedback is  being sought from key stakeholders including consumer organisations, a diverse range of civil society groups, academics and industry.

The Draft Codes cover participants across eight key sections of the online industry specified in the Act, including providers of social media, messaging, search engine and app distribution services, as well as internet and hosting service providers, and manufacturers and suppliers of any equipment that connects to the internet, including smart devices and computers. Importantly, the codes are required to cover operators of all websites that can be accessed by Australian users.

DIGI Managing Director, Sunita Bose, said: “The draft codes strengthen the safeguards across the online industry to help protect Australians from certain harmful content, and also make existing protections more consistent and transparent.”

Communications Alliance CEO, John Stanton, said: “The new codes are there to protect all Australians. It is important that we hear from many different stakeholders and users of the internet whether the Draft Codes work for them.”

The Draft Codes and an accompanying explanatory memorandum can be downloaded at www.onlinesafety.org.au. Submissions on the Draft Codes can be lodged via the website and will be accepted until 2 October.

Under a two-phased approach agreed with the eSafety Commissioner, the Draft Codes arethe first of two set of codes that will be developed, covering higher risk ‘class 1’ material such as child sexual exploitation and pro-terror material.

Media enquiries should be directed to Doublejump Communications at igea@doublejump.com.au. More information about the industry associations is overleaf.

 

About the Industry Associations 

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) (amta.org.au) is the peak body and trusted voice of the mobile telecommunications industry in Australia. Its members span telecommunications carriers, network vendors, infrastructure providers, handset manufacturers and various other smaller providers. Its mission is to promote an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable mobile telecommunications industry in Australia.

BSA | The Software Alliance (BSA) (www.bsa.org) is the leading advocate for the global software industry. Its members are among the world’s most innovative companies, creating software solutions that help businesses of all sizes in every part of the economy to modernise and grow. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and operations in more than 30 countries, BSA advocates for public policies that foster technology innovation and drive growth in the digital economy.

Communications Alliance (commsalliance.com.au) is the primary communications industry body in Australia, representing carriers, carriage and internet service providers, content providers, platform providers, equipment vendors, IT companies, consultants and business groups. The prime mission of Communications Alliance is to create a co-operative stakeholder environment that allows the industry to take the lead on initiatives which grow the Australian communications industry, enhance the connectivity of all Australians and foster the highest standards of business behaviour.

The Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association (CESA) (cesa.asn.au) provides a united forum and voice for suppliers of consumer appliances to focus on regulatory, technical and commercial issues that affect the capacity of member companies to supply products in the Australian market.

The Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI) (digi.org.au) is a non-profit industry association that advocates for the interests of the digital industry in Australia. DIGI’s vision is a thriving Australian digitally-enabled economy that fosters innovation, a growing selection of digital products and services, and where online safety and privacy are protected.

The Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) (igea.net) is the industry association representing and advocating for the video games industry in Australia, including the developers, publishers and distributors of video games, as well as the makers of the most popular gaming platforms, consoles and devices. IGEA has over a hundred members, from emerging local game development studios to some of the largest technology companies in the world.

IGEA JOINS 36 AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPERS AT GAMESCOM 2022

Wednesday, 17 August, 2022 – The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) celebrates the local games businesses representing Australia at Gamescom, Cologne, later this month. 36 developers form the largest Australian contingent of developers ever headed to the biggest and most important business show for video games globally. The attending studios will join IGEA in showcasing Australian video games on the international stage. Australia is the official Partner Country at Gamescom 2022 which runs from August 24 – 28.

The Australian Pavilion was designed and built by IGEA with the support of Austrade and will be in the business area of Gamescom 2022. IGEA will highlight the diverse products, talent and creativity Australia has to offer, with support provided by State and Commonwealth agencies committed to elevating and promoting the Australian games sector.

CEO of IGEA, Ron Curry, says, “The Australian Pavilion at Gamescom 2022 is a significant milestone for the Australian games industry. It’s an opportunity to capitalise on our outstanding reputation and cement Australia as a heavy hitter within the $250 billion global industry and highlight the quality and prestige of Australian created video games and the people behind them.

“Australia has recently seen critical acclaim, with titles like Unpacking, The Oregon Trail, Wylde Flowers and Cult of the Lamb, providing evidence of the burgeoning Australian game development sector. The talent we see across the country isn’t limited just by studio scale, so we’re excited for the rest of the global industry to see and meet with these creators at Gamescom 2022 and understand what Australia has to offer in the way of games and associated technologies.”

The 36 companies attending come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, showcasing products that highlight the breadth of talent within the Australian games industry. Among the contingent are studios with extensive experience, such as PlaySide Studios, Black Lab Games (last year’s AGDAs Studio of the Year Winner), platform developers like Mod.io, and indie developers like ArkimA and Catchweight Studio. The studios range from one to 200+ staff, hailing from across the country, including Tasmania, Torquay, Western Australia and Far North Queensland.

“The individuals and studios in Australia are highly regarded on the global stage. Gamescom provides developers and publishers with an opportunity to demonstrate our abilities and expertise to a broad audience and expand our global networks. We want people to see why they should bring their operations to Australia, invest in our local talent or have their next major project developed locally. The Australian games industry is accelerating and those joining us are going to reap the benefits of being part of this next stage. There are even a growing number of opportunities for developers abroad, to work for local Australian studios.” says TJ Munusamy, Executive Vice President of Australian developer/publisher PlaySide Studios.

 

Australian industry partners have supported the opportunity for many developers to join the Australian Pavilion; Austrade, Screen Queensland, Trade and Investment Queensland, Investment New South Wales, Creative Victoria, The South Australian Department of Trade and Investment, the Adelaide Economic Development Agency, Screen Tasmania, Tasmanian Department of State Growth and Screenwest.

 

– END –

 

Australian studios attending Gamescom as part of the Australian contingent include:

• 2Bit Studios
• ArkimA
• Big Bench Games
• Binary Weavers
• Black Lab Games
• Blowfish Studios
• Capes Inc.
• Catchweight Studio
• Drop Bear Bytes
• Earthlingo
• Epiphany Games P/L
• Golden Age Studios
• GYLD
• Half Giant
• Hungry Sky
• Layer
• League of Geeks
• Let Eyes Equals Two
• Massive Monster
• Mighty Kingdom
• mod.io
• Next-Gen Dreams 3D
• PlaySide Studios
• Public Void
• Road Burn Games
• Savy Soda Pty Ltd
• Secret Lab/Yarn Spinner
• Smash Attack Aus
• SpaceDraft
• TensorWorks Pty Ltd
• Things for Humans
• Tin Man Games
• Toast VR
• Ultimate Studios
• We Have Always Lived in the Forest
• We Made a Thing Studios

 

About IGEA

IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Association) is the peak industry association representing the voice of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry.  IGEA supports the games industry’s business and public policy interests through advocacy, research and education programs. For more information, please visit www.igea.net       

Media spokespeople available

Ron Curry, CEO, IGEA

Please contact igea@doublejump.com.au to arrange an interview.

IGEA Update About The Arcade

The Arcade was established in 2013 to form a collaborative workspace for Melbourne game developers and creative companies.  The goals of The Arcade were to foster an environment that allowed people to create, collaborate and co-operate while nurturing a diverse and inclusive community.

The Arcade has a very proud history.  Many great games were made at The Arcade, many communities were formed, many skills were learned, many networks were established, and many studios that resided at The Arcade have expanded and are still creating amazing products.  None of this could have been achieved without the generous support and assistance from Ross Symons of Big Ant and Creative Victoria, The Arcade staff and, of course, the residents of The Arcade.

Following a merger with the GDAA in early 2020, IGEA became responsible for managing The Arcade.  Immediately after the merger Covid hit, lockdowns happened, work from home was mandated, and eventually, hybrid work became the order of the day. As this upheaval was happening, the landlord of the premises set about re-purposing the building.

On the back of these challenging circumstances, the lease expiration of the building and the uncertainty that the ongoing covid situation had created around work-spaces, The Arcade in Melbourne was forced to close its physical doors in 2022.

This provided an opportunity for the IGEA team to pause, regroup and examine how we can best meet the current needs and requirements of the local development sector.

IGEA has been working with members and Board to evolve the business model of The Arcade. Adhering to the IGEA pillars of Create, Educate, Advocate and Celebrate, the decision was taken to not immediately re-open a physical space but to direct our resources towards delivering programs and tools that meet the needs of the Australian video games sector, now and into the foreseeable future. For example, one of the biggest challenges currently faced by our members in accessing talent is the need for diverse people to enter and remain in our industry.

The Australian games industry has been on a significant growth trajectory, with even greater growth expected from numerous incentives being introduced.

Recently, some of the work coming out of the virtual Arcade has been directed toward industry development programs, addressing some of the talent issues.  Not only do we have our signature events like GCAP and the IGEA Educates Summit, but we have also offered programs such as the S.M.A.R.T program and the SAE student program.

The S.M.A.R.T program was a collaboration with The Arcade and the City of Port Phillip which offered support and mentoring to early-career developer, creating an accessible entry point to our diverse game development community as well as financial assistance for marginalised or low-income game developers.

The SAE Student Program facilitated by The Arcade has connected students to the Victorian game development sector via specialised educational events, networking opportunities and bespoke feedback sessions in order to help them prepare for a successful career in game development.

IGEA is committed to delivering value for our members and abides by our mission statement “to be the backbone of an evolving, thriving, video games industry; one that inspires, captivates and allows for positive connections and exciting opportunities for all.”

 Based on the successes of these targeted programs and a renewed focus on industry development, IGEA will develop similar and scalable projects to meet industry needs.  This does not mean closing the door on The Arcade permanently, but taking the learnings and programs developed at The Arcade and applying them wherever they are needed most.