The ABC has published an article on the latest casualty in the string of Australian game studio closures to happen this year. The Brisbane arm of KMM Games shuttered last Friday, marking yet another high profile studio closure in Australia. Contributing to the ABC article is the now ex-KMM Brisbane Art Director, Jason Stark, who paints a rather gloomy picture of the local games industry as he explains why these big studios are going belly up, and the exodus of local skilled talent it is causing.
Stark describes the limited options for local games developers who have been let go, where many will simply have to move overseas to find work in games because it is "virtually impossible" to find games jobs here. The remaining few who are not able to work overseas due to family or other commitments have had to make do with whatever jobs they can find. From ABC News...
(Stark) An excellent environment artist who I worked very closely with - he has had job offers from the likes of Bioware – they're a very prestigious games company – but because his family is staying here he will instead be taking a job in IT putting PCs together," he said.
"That is not the exception, that is the rule.
"Either people are moving overseas or they are seriously downgrading their career choices."
Stark himself has chosen to stay put and try his chances in indie games development since his first option of trying to find games work was "pretty much non-existent". He sees some hope that the success of local indie developers will one day expand industry numbers again...
(Stark) "The days of the large Aussie game studio are numbered, at least for now, and the survivors will be turning towards iOS (the iPhone/iPad operating system) and they will be starting small and agile," Mr Stark said.