Submitted by Logan
Good on to those who wrote to the Minister regarding the issue, and I sincerely hope you get a productive reply. Alas, judging from the letter Oz Kotakuite Martin received in response to his plea, my hopes have been dashed across the stones of uselessness and ignorance like a pair of old trousers.
Need more proof of the Government's distain? From the letter (which was written by one of Minister Coonan's advisors)...
* 1. Anonymous Wed, 17
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:02:43 EST
So, there will be benefits to the game industry, as soon as Screen Australia can see that there is a cultural and/or industrial rationale for them to consider games worthwhile, AND as film and tv companies put on more staff.
I'm sorry, but why are games not considered a worthwhile industry, and how will increasing the work force in film and tv benefit games?
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:28:48 EST
By reducing how many artists are available for games companies to hire, and engaging them in short/medium-term projects instead of full-time employment, so that when Happy Feet finishes production the market is temporarily flooded by squillions of animator resumes? ... oh no, wait, that would be a disadvantage, right? The mind boggles at the sheer ignorance (or spin) displayed by Minister Coonan.
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:13:08 EST
this is crap. how is the oppositions stance on the rebate? or are we screwed on both ends?
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:32:44 EST
I received that exact same letter of response. I think it's really gutless having a senior advisor type up a standard reply that openly touts how much film and TV is going to benefit, but games are going to be left out in the cold.
Goodbye Liberal government!
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:19:48 EST
I'm managing director at The People's Republic of Animation and we have been working across Film, TV and Video Games for a while now. From our angel, the games industry is much more dynamic and productive industry with some huge things happening here. The US investment from the publishers and games companies here is amazing compared to what is going on in film and TV.
With the aussie dollar growing stronger daily, don't we have yet another reason the govt should apply the rebates to the games industry? To ensure we continue to be a viable option at least for the international publishers which have helped to grow th industry here.
Can anyone clearly state the reasons why they don't think the rebates should apply or have the GDAA done this already?
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:21:31 EST
Sorry, thats 'angle' not ''angel'.
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:58:54 EST
Preaching to the choir
Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:25:42 EST
Wow, Is it me or did that letter actually make the suggestion of developing games of Australian film and TV property? What an excellent path to mediocrity! Home and Away, the RTS strategy game! McLeods Daughters, the RPG platformer! The (insert any Australian film from the last few years which you've never even heard of) action/thriller game! Think of the potential domestic sales of a few *dozen* copies, at best! I would love to actually see someone take up on this offer, just so they can obliterate some tax payer monies with no return. We have plenty of tax payer monies. The hundreds of millions spent on the Australian internet nanny and the dob-in a terrorist campaign can attest to that.
But thanks for the "positive flow-on effects" that we might get. That's not even throwing us a bone here. That's a promise that we may get some scraps that happen to fall out of a trough that's being swarmed by a pack of starving hyenas (the film and TV industry).
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:56:14 EST
I sent an email to the minister and didn't get any reply.
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:31:09 EST
Nothing can be done regarding the government now until the election is over anyway. It's in caretaker mode.
Hold off until later.