European Commission To Invest £1 Million In Games
European developers finally get some governmental support
The European Commission has set up a fund worth 1.5 million (£1.025 million) to support games developers.
Developers will be able to claim up to 100,000 (£68.4k) each in the form of a grant. It's the first time European developers have received such widespread financial support.
The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), which includes organisations such as the U.K.'s Tiga that lobby on behalf of the industry, supported the move, saying the games industry has finally "been recognized as increasingly economic and culturally important factor, whose special needs must be considered".
The general secretary of the EGDF, Malte Behrmann, commented: This is the first visible sign of the success of our political work with the European Commission. We hope now, as the European Union has acknowledged the importance of our industry, that the developer community will harvest the fruits of our work and make their submissions for prototype funding.
The scheme will support the development of console, PC and handheld games. New projects are entitled to up to 100,000 (£68.4 million), while projects already in development can receive between 10,000 (£6,840) and 60,000 (£41,000).
For the U.K. games industry, the fund comes against the backdrop of a government conducting a review of video-games content with an eye to regulating mature titles.
The move should, at least, ameliorate SCi's Jane Cavanagh complaints about lack of governmental support for the games industry for a little while. We say a little while, because the entire fund adds up to about 10% of the budget for Killzone 2 by SPOnG's reckoning. The money might not go too far in the face of ever-spiralling next-gen development costs. Still, the fund is undeniably a step in the right direction.
Developers can find more information on the EC's site here and the EGDF's site here.
Developers will be able to claim up to 100,000 (£68.4k) each in the form of a grant. It's the first time European developers have received such widespread financial support.
The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), which includes organisations such as the U.K.'s Tiga that lobby on behalf of the industry, supported the move, saying the games industry has finally "been recognized as increasingly economic and culturally important factor, whose special needs must be considered".
The general secretary of the EGDF, Malte Behrmann, commented: This is the first visible sign of the success of our political work with the European Commission. We hope now, as the European Union has acknowledged the importance of our industry, that the developer community will harvest the fruits of our work and make their submissions for prototype funding.
The scheme will support the development of console, PC and handheld games. New projects are entitled to up to 100,000 (£68.4 million), while projects already in development can receive between 10,000 (£6,840) and 60,000 (£41,000).
For the U.K. games industry, the fund comes against the backdrop of a government conducting a review of video-games content with an eye to regulating mature titles.
The move should, at least, ameliorate SCi's Jane Cavanagh complaints about lack of governmental support for the games industry for a little while. We say a little while, because the entire fund adds up to about 10% of the budget for Killzone 2 by SPOnG's reckoning. The money might not go too far in the face of ever-spiralling next-gen development costs. Still, the fund is undeniably a step in the right direction.
Developers can find more information on the EC's site here and the EGDF's site here.
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Comments
deleted 13 Sep 2007 08:22
1/2
SPOnG wrote:
The scheme will support the development of console, PC and handheld games. New projects are entitled to up to 100,000 (£68.4 million)
Im sure you mean £68,400, and not the £68.4 million.
But its about time this happened, there are a million and one funds and grants and sponsers for music and movies and as games now are on par with other entertainment we need to see funds to support new and upcomming devs,.
TimSpong 13 Sep 2007 08:53
2/2
haritori wrote:
Im sure you mean £68,400, and not the £68.4 million.
Yes, you are correct. Cheers.
haritori wrote:
But its about time this happened, there are a million and one funds and grants and sponsers for music and movies and as games now are on par with other entertainment we need to see funds to support new and upcomming devs,.
Not sure if I'm comfortable with any government being able to exert control via a back-door of cash. The controls will obviously not affect large companies - but only the small ones from where we used to expect genuine creativity.