Journalist, Andrew McMillen, has written a feature for GameSpot AU on the current state of the games industry, concentrating specifically on the once flourishing Brisbane sector. Brisbane has seen a spate of big studio closures in recent years, from Fuzzy Eyes Studio, Auran, Pandemic Studios, Krome Studios, THQ Studio Australia, and the soon-to-be-shuttered KMM Games Brisbane. It's been somewhat devastating for the sunshine state which at one stage was battling Melbourne for the title of "game development epi-centre" of Australia. The two largest remaining studios left now are SEGA Studios Australia and Halfbrick Studios.
Andrew talks to some somewhat nervous SEGA Studios Australia staff on the uncertainties that the future may bring for them considering the pressures and shifts in the games industry and what's happened to their colleagues in other studios. From Gamespot AU...
"It's brutal. Absolutely brutal," says studio director Marcus Fielding of the job market. He held the same role at Krome at the time of its closure in late 2010. "I'm seeing people at the local gym who can't believe it's happened again. They're asking the question of me, 'Is Sega secure?' All I can do is work really hard to ensure that we are secure."
(Conte) It's scary. It puts you in a mindset where you don't know what's going to happen. I think we're pretty good here at Sega, but there's always that thought at the back of my mind now: 'What happens at the end of this game?' It'll be there probably for the rest of my career, now; once we get to wrap-up time, what's going to happen? Are we going to be able to do another project?"
Queensland Government representative Mark Fludder also provides his thoughts on the studio closures, saying that it isn't proof that local developers can't do their job, but more of corporate failing to "reinvent" itself to the rapid changes occuring in the industry. He describes this as an opportunity for the industry to re-build itself to be self-determinant.
From the educational institution sector, Qantm are reminding their students that they are training them for an international market...
(Dr Luke McMillan) We always tell students that it's naive to think they're going to be working where they studied for the rest of their lives. It's the nature of the industry: you have to move where the work goes. We make it very clear that the industry fluctuates."
Morgan Jaffit (Defiant Development) and Chris Watts (Play-Bit Entertainment) also chime in on why they started up as independent games developers. It's an excellent read so be sure to head on over to Gamespot AU for the full write-up.