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Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Marketing Manager, Austrade, GPO Box 5301, Sydney NSW 2001 or by email to [email protected] Publication date: July 2017 2 DIGITAL GAMES TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED VIDEO GAME PROFESSIONALS DIGITAL GAMES 3 INTRODUCTION The Australian game development industry has a long INDUSTRY history of performing at a high level within a competitive OVERVIEW global industry. Australian-made games have topped sales charts, received major industry awards and INDUSTRY STRENGTHS enjoyed wide coverage in the international media. The video game sector is bolstered by This report provides an overview of the INDUSTRY strong capability in other complementary Australian video game industry’s key ORGANISATIONS industries, including animation and visual capabilities. It includes a selection of local effects, film and television production, design success stories and details some of the and engineering, advertising and marketing agencies and associations helping to foster ANNUAL EVENTS and new media. Availability of top-quality local development. education and training both in game-focused Talk to your local Austrade representative for courses and in complementary fields tailored information and advice to help your ensures that the pool of talent in Australia organisation connect and partner with the best grows every year, feeding the needs of an that the Australian video game development expanding industry. industry has to offer. 4 DIGITAL GAMES Image courtesy of Zero Latency Latency of Zero Image courtesy Image courtesy of Zero Latency DIGITAL GAMES 5 With the emergence of new gaming Games in Australia are backed by INTRODUCTION platforms such as mobile and virtual numerous government agencies and reality (VR), the Australian games industry non-government organisations, such INDUSTRY has entered a period of renewed growth as Film Victoria, Screen Queensland and energy. Approximately 60 per cent and Creative Victoria. The industry has OVERVIEW of Australia’s share in the over US$80 an excellent track record of making efficient billion games marketplace is earned use of grants, providing substantial returns INDUSTRY from mobile and web games1, though on government investment and attracting STRENGTHS traditional platforms such as consoles significant private sector investment. and PCs still make up a substantial part A range of economic indicators suggest of the local industry’s output. INDUSTRY that the international games industry will This recent growth has been continue to grow at a rapid pace, with ORGANISATIONS accompanied by a major shift in how industry self-reporting showing that 78 per local businesses operate. In the 1990s, cent of local studios expect to grow in the ANNUAL EVENTS the local industry was dominated by ‘work next 12 months.4 for hire’ contract projects for international With the global games market expected clients, often on licensed intellectual to top US$100 million in annual sales by properties. Today, Australia has shifted its 20205, Australia is well positioned to be focus toward original properties. Of the a key player. 225 companies actively creating games in Australia, over 75 per cent identify themselves as independent studios working primarily on their own properties.2 Growth in the industry has paralleled growth in the use of video games across a wide range of applications. Nearly 70 per cent of Australians play video games for entertainment3, but games are also used extensively in education, medicine, disability services, mental health care and more. 6 DIGITAL GAMES Image courtesy of Pax Australia 2016 Image courtesy DIGITAL GAMES 7 Video games are unique in that (GDAA) and the Victorian government connecting Australian businesses with INTRODUCTION their creation incorporates both art and is now the permanent home of their contemporaries in the Asia-Pacific and technology, a combination of over 20 studios, publishers and other region. With state government support, INDUSTRY extremely diverse fields of expertise. organisations, as well as providing GCAP and several other events around Commercial success demands top-level temporary facilities and hot-desks for a the same time grew into a week-long OVERVIEW management, marketing, PR, distribution dozen more. The Arcade has grown so games festival, now known as Melbourne and information infrastructure. rapidly that it recently moved from its International Games Week (MIGW). INDUSTRY original building to a newly renovated Australia is ideally placed at this STRENGTHS site with triple the space. intersection of skill sets. Games have A VIBRANT WORKFORCE been made in Australia for almost Local developers work closely with a INDUSTRY 40 years6, boosted by a thriving arts host of not-for-profit industry bodies and Any industry can only ever be as good scene, world-class tertiary education professional associations, all of which as its workforce and Australia’s is among ORGANISATIONS institutions, highly competitive business foster cooperation and skill sharing. the best in the world in the demanding community and a commitment to Some examples of organisations working and competitive business of creating ANNUAL EVENTS science and technology. to promote and advocate for Australian video games. Australian workers are game developers are: among the most educated, multicultural and multilingual in the world, with over A COLLABORATIVE • the GDAA, which, in addition to co- 40 per cent of Australian adults holding founding The Arcade, advocates on a tertiary qualification.7 COMMUNITY behalf of the industry in numerous ways Australia is also home to several Australia is home to not just a games • the Interactive Games and specialised video game tertiary industry but a true games community. Entertainment Association (IGEA) education and training institutions. Developing games in Australia is an is deeply involved in supporting the Private colleges such as the Academy intergenerational pursuit that encourages business side of games development of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), SAE and rewards collaboration and • the International Game Developers Institute’s Qantm programme, JMC mentorship. Veterans and newcomers Association (IGDA) is very active in Academy and CG Spectrum teach share skills and experience resulting in a Australia and has founded chapters in programming, digital art, 3D modelling, robust skillbase across the industry. Many several cities. animation, audio engineering and other organisations and events also encourage The collaborative nature of the local skills vital to creating games. Many non- this cooperative atmosphere. games industry is also reflected in the specialist universities and TAFE colleges The Arcade, a shared workspace for numerous events and festivals every also now offer video game courses game developers in Melbourne, is year where the Australian community ranging from diplomas and certificates a thriving example of the Australian comes together. The longest-running is through to bachelor degrees and games industry’s collaborative culture. Freeplay, a combined conference and postgraduate studies. It was founded in 2013 through festival celebrating independent game a partnership between the Game development. Game Connect Asia Developers Association of Australia Pacific (GCAP) has the additional aim of 8 DIGITAL GAMES Video game development is an economy of ideas and a diverse workforce is inherently capable of producing a broader spectrum of creative and technical inspiration. The Australian population is one of the most diverse and multicultural in the world and the local games industry actively works to increase its diversity via a number of initiatives. For example, lower rates of participation of women in games is being challenged through Film Victoria’s Women in Games Fellowship and Girl Geek Academy’s Girls Make Games workshops. The Australian games industry is well connected to the international industry, which enables a free flow of talent and expertise. Many Australian developers have spent years working in other countries’ games industries, especially the US and the UK. With the rapid growth of independent development many have returned home, bringing world- class skills and knowledge with them. One notable example is Ken Wong, the acclaimed designer of the hit game Monument Valley, who has returned to Australia to found his new studio, Mountains. Image courtesy of League of Geeks DIGITAL GAMES 9 A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT media such as television and stage, A BUSINESS POWERHOUSE INTRODUCTION AWG now welcomes video game