Eleven digital games get to share over $1.5 million in funding through Screen Australia’s Games: Expansion Pack fund. The key funding agency made the announcement recently, part of its push to drive up the quality of game developers’ output to better compete in the global market.
© Bilkins' Folly: A puzzle adventure game from Lead Developer Luke Webster.
It is also in line with the newly launched national cultural policy of the Federal Government, dubbed “Revive,” which is committed to introducing a Digital Games Tax Offset while also providing an additional $12 million over four years from 2023-24 to digital games developers and small and midsized independent games studios through Screen Australia.
The games to receive funding span VR, adventure, puzzle, platformer, horror, rhythm and more. The funding is provided as a grant, with the agreement setting out milestones suitable for the game’s development plan.
The existing Games: Expansion Pack, which was first launched in March 2022, gives direct funding for original Australian games with budgets below $500,000. Application is ongoing until May 4, 2023.
In the first round of funding, over $4 million were distributed to 30 Australian games.
Screen Australia has expressed excitement over the inroads that its games program has made since its establishment and looks forward to providing support in the further growth of game developers and the industry in general moving forward.
“Alongside the recent announcement of Revive, we’re pleased to support this exciting mix of games from all across Australia that are bringing to life distinctly Aussie stories…” said Screen Australia’s Head of Online Lee Naimo.
“It’s fantastic to see the ambition and skill of our local game creators, including driven first-time and solo developers, as they advance their careers,” he added.
The games shortlisted for funding for the second round so far are:
- Bilkins’ Folly (TAS) – a puzzle adventure game from Lead Developer Luke Webster of Webbysoft. It has been financed with support from Armor Game Studios.
- Call of the Golden Valley (VIC) – a first-person, female-protagonist narrative adventure developed by Creative Director Madeleine Clute of O’Saurus Studios.
- Conscript (VIC) – an adventure survival game from Catchweight Studio and Lead Developer Jordan Mochi. It is developed with the assistance of VicScreen.
- Copycat (NSW) – a wholesome, narrative-driven game about rejection, belonging and the true meaning of home. It is created by Spoonful of Wonder which includes Head of Art/Game Director Kostia Liakhov and Head of Narrative/Game Director Samantha Cable.
- Diets and Deities (NT) – a rhythm cooking game that players will be able to taste. It is created by Larrikin Interactive which was founded by Dylan Bennett.
- GHOST CAM (WA) – a spooky exploratory game where players search for ghosts in an abandoned bedroom which unfolds into a labyrinth. The game is created by creative studio ARCH REBELS with Amy Louise Doherty as lead developer.
- Janet DeMornay Is A Slumlord (and a witch) (NSW) – a horror-comedy game from Fuzzy Ghost that explores the anxieties of renting in a world run by landlords. The game’s creative team includes founders Pete Foley and Scott Ford.
- Misc. A Tiny Tale (WA) – a 3D platforming adventure game from Tinyware Games and Lead Developer Michael Pearce.
- Pasture: The Livestock Simulator (NT) – is a farming simulator game from Salty Games of Managing Director Chas Cole, Lead Programmer Luke H and Creative Director Nathan Groves.
- The Sacred Acorn (SA) – an adventure game from A Few Dragons. The creative team behind it includes Developer Keirron Stach, Art Director Lauren Nicholls and Producer Vivian Vandal.
- Trash (VIC) – an online co-op survival craft adventure game created by Bin Chicken Studios and Developed with the assistance of VicScreen.
For the full list of the funded projects and to understand the funding process, check out the Screen Australia website at www.screenaustralia.gov.au.
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