Canadian Government's Two Million Bucks to iPhone Super Monkey Ball Dev
iPhone Super Monkey Ball maker moves to Newfoundland
Newfoundland
In five years, 62 of the 508,270 residents of Newfoundland, Canada, will be employed by Super Monkey Ball iPhone developer, Other Ocean thanks to a cash handout by the province's government. The amount? C$2.4 million (£1.27 million, or €1.59 million).
The grant is being dished out to help the Californian company set up a studio in the province. The studio will focus on handheld and downloadable projects.
According to the Newfoundland and Labrador government, "The funding will assist in offsetting initial start-up and operating costs, including wages, relocation, recruitment, training and marketing, office space and leaseholds, and capital costs."
Canada has been very accommodating to the games industry, luring studios over there with funding and tax breaks. As companies such as Eidos relocate operations to Canada, such tax breaks are polarising the UK games industry over whether our government should offer similar incentives.
While ELSPA and Tiga are lobbying for more cash, the likes of industry legend Chris Deering and Splash Damage founder Paul Wedgwood have told SPOnG that the games community shouldn't be asking for handouts.
"We are tremendously pleased to be partnering with the province to help establish and grow the video game industry in Newfoundland and Labrador", uttered Andrew Ayre, owner and CEO of Other Ocean Group. "As Newfoundlanders, we know the determination and drive of the people and we are delighted to be bringing our industry experience home to create well-paying, long-term jobs."
The grant is being dished out to help the Californian company set up a studio in the province. The studio will focus on handheld and downloadable projects.
According to the Newfoundland and Labrador government, "The funding will assist in offsetting initial start-up and operating costs, including wages, relocation, recruitment, training and marketing, office space and leaseholds, and capital costs."
Canada has been very accommodating to the games industry, luring studios over there with funding and tax breaks. As companies such as Eidos relocate operations to Canada, such tax breaks are polarising the UK games industry over whether our government should offer similar incentives.
While ELSPA and Tiga are lobbying for more cash, the likes of industry legend Chris Deering and Splash Damage founder Paul Wedgwood have told SPOnG that the games community shouldn't be asking for handouts.
"We are tremendously pleased to be partnering with the province to help establish and grow the video game industry in Newfoundland and Labrador", uttered Andrew Ayre, owner and CEO of Other Ocean Group. "As Newfoundlanders, we know the determination and drive of the people and we are delighted to be bringing our industry experience home to create well-paying, long-term jobs."
Companies:
Other Ocean
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Comments
deleted 9 Sep 2008 22:30
1/8
remember this people this gen people!, this gen is where our nerdy little backbedroom hobby becomes mainstream! and when people say yeah i was into gaming before it was cool! we can really say that ! although no one will believe us...
but its also a new generation of young experincing gaming for the first time, and although we can talk about uor retro heydays with pride how we remember using that BBC to play Chucky Egg, or trading on the amiga with a bit of ELITE, we talk of our cartoon heros being Transformers, Thunder Cats and Mystrious Cities of Gold, how we remember Skips and Tizer for 20p with change, these kids will grow up and say "yeah i remember running home to watch Ben 10, then jump on my Wii and have some sessions of WiiFit and Big Brain, and finsih off the night with Creme Egg Bar and a Red Bull sigh it only cost me £1.80"
Ifeel for them i really do, neevr will they know the sinple joy of listening to spectrum load.
awaits Tims reply about how he quite possibly remembers Prof Hucks Root Candy and Ginger Beer for 3/5 bitts while listening to the adventures of Bucaneer Jake on the old wireless while reading about the A.S. Douglas Tic-Tac-Toe and how the EDSAC vaccuum-tube computer wopuld allow us to one day around 1987 be living on the moon (ducks)
but its also a new generation of young experincing gaming for the first time, and although we can talk about uor retro heydays with pride how we remember using that BBC to play Chucky Egg, or trading on the amiga with a bit of ELITE, we talk of our cartoon heros being Transformers, Thunder Cats and Mystrious Cities of Gold, how we remember Skips and Tizer for 20p with change, these kids will grow up and say "yeah i remember running home to watch Ben 10, then jump on my Wii and have some sessions of WiiFit and Big Brain, and finsih off the night with Creme Egg Bar and a Red Bull sigh it only cost me £1.80"
Ifeel for them i really do, neevr will they know the sinple joy of listening to spectrum load.
awaits Tims reply about how he quite possibly remembers Prof Hucks Root Candy and Ginger Beer for 3/5 bitts while listening to the adventures of Bucaneer Jake on the old wireless while reading about the A.S. Douglas Tic-Tac-Toe and how the EDSAC vaccuum-tube computer wopuld allow us to one day around 1987 be living on the moon (ducks)
TimSpong 10 Sep 2008 08:27
2/8
haritori wrote:
awaits Tims reply about how he quite possibly remembers Prof Hucks Root Candy and Ginger Beer for 3/5 bitts while listening to the adventures of Bucaneer Jake on the old wireless while reading about the A.S. Douglas Tic-Tac-Toe and how the EDSAC vaccuum-tube computer wopuld allow us to one day around 1987 be living on the moon (ducks)
Oi! I remember Tizer and Blackjacks while listening to Journey into Space on the old wireless (or watching Bleep and Booster on the black and white Redifusion telly). I was late to 'puters so was only read about Colossal Cave Adventure. As for silliness about living on the moon, that was never in my scope of belief. I am firmly in the flying cars school of practical science for gods' sakes!
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Captain Chaos 10 Sep 2008 08:56
3/8
I'd prefer it if governments kept their noses out of videogames. Let freemarket economics decide who wins and loses.
Oh and damn Chucky egg was a good game
Oh and damn Chucky egg was a good game
TimSpong 10 Sep 2008 09:02
4/8
Captain Chaos wrote:
I'd prefer it if governments kept their noses out of videogames. Let freemarket economics decide who wins and loses.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; free market capitalism at its most besterist. I forget though, did the US govt have to nationalise ENRON as well when that got a bit toooo free?
Captain Chaos wrote:
Oh and damn Chucky egg was a good game
I have a soft spot for Monty Mole.
I am very old.
Cheers
Tim
Alvis 10 Sep 2008 09:24
5/8
Tim Smith
I have a soft spot for Monty Mole.
I am very old.
Cheers
Tim[/quote wrote:
I have a soft spot for Monty Mole.
I am very old.
Cheers
Tim[/quote wrote:
Monty mole as in impossa-mole for the c64?
That game was so hard it once made me break down and cry into my subscription of YC :(
TimSpong 10 Sep 2008 09:31
6/8
Alvis wrote:
Monty mole as in impossa-mole for the c64?
That game was so hard it once made me break down and cry into my subscription of YC :(
That game was so hard it once made me break down and cry into my subscription of YC :(
On the Amiga actually... and apparently I had a soft spot, but I didn't actually love it. At least not according to this review.
History eh? It's a bastard.
Cheers
Tim
Joji 10 Sep 2008 11:41
7/8
I remember the joys of sleeping while a Spectrum loads, as they took that long half the time. Lol. I'll still never understand why Skool Daze took so long to load.
Back on topic, I think its great that governments are taking an interest in the games industry and inviting developers and publishers with such incentives. Canada is a nice place, and if our own U.K government are too busy getting the daggers out for the games industry, instead of embracing it, then more the fool them.
Tax breaks are given to the U.K film industry all the time, but once again, the spectre of double standards and biase against us prevails. And if the U.K government don't give such breaks, but then laters complain when developers leave for better shores, I'd stick two gingers at them, while boarding the plane.
Two mill is good money to move for. I'd like a plane ticket, please.
Back on topic, I think its great that governments are taking an interest in the games industry and inviting developers and publishers with such incentives. Canada is a nice place, and if our own U.K government are too busy getting the daggers out for the games industry, instead of embracing it, then more the fool them.
Tax breaks are given to the U.K film industry all the time, but once again, the spectre of double standards and biase against us prevails. And if the U.K government don't give such breaks, but then laters complain when developers leave for better shores, I'd stick two gingers at them, while boarding the plane.
Two mill is good money to move for. I'd like a plane ticket, please.
deleted 10 Sep 2008 18:56
8/8
Joji wrote:
I remember the joys of sleeping while a Spectrum loads, as they took that long half the time. Lol. I'll still never understand why Skool Daze took so long to load.
Back on topic, I think its great that governments are taking an interest in the games industry and inviting developers and publishers with such incentives. Canada is a nice place, and if our own U.K government are too busy getting the daggers out for the games industry, instead of embracing it, then more the fool them.
Tax breaks are given to the U.K film industry all the time, but once again, the spectre of double standards and biase against us prevails. And if the U.K government don't give such breaks, but then laters complain when developers leave for better shores, I'd stick two gingers at them, while boarding the plane.
Two mill is good money to move for. I'd like a plane ticket, please.
Back on topic, I think its great that governments are taking an interest in the games industry and inviting developers and publishers with such incentives. Canada is a nice place, and if our own U.K government are too busy getting the daggers out for the games industry, instead of embracing it, then more the fool them.
Tax breaks are given to the U.K film industry all the time, but once again, the spectre of double standards and biase against us prevails. And if the U.K government don't give such breaks, but then laters complain when developers leave for better shores, I'd stick two gingers at them, while boarding the plane.
Two mill is good money to move for. I'd like a plane ticket, please.
S**t Skool Daze i sooo forgot about that game!! if only bully was more like Skool Daze.