A reminder to government of the value in supporting a thriving games development industry and recommendations for industry support December 2018 About IGEA The Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) is the peak industry association representing the business and public policy interests of Australian and New Zealand companies in the computer and video games industry. Our members publish, market, develop and distribute interactive games, entertainment content and related hardware. Our mission is to create an environment that drives sustainable growth for the interactive games and entertainment industry. IGEA Suite 145, National Innovation Centre Australian Technology Park 4 Cornwallis St, Eveleigh NSW 2015 www.igea.net
[email protected] @igea /igea.net CONTENTS About IGEA IFC Summary 2 Table of policy recommendations 3 Why Australia needs an interactive games industry 4 1. Game development is an innovative and future-looking creative industry 4 2. Game development will help build a modern and talented Australian workforce 5 3. Games are a valuable, IP-driven and weightless export with high global demand 7 4. We have entered an era of serious games and their uses have limitless potential 8 5. The power of games for digital inclusion and its cultural dividend for Australia 10 Blueprint for fostering a strong Australian game development industry 12 1. Provide a $40 million fund for game development 12 2. Create a 30 per cent refundable tax offset for game development 14 3. Provide strategic support for cultural, educational and serious games 16 4. Additional funding and policy support to foster a game development industry 16 The fiscal and economic case for supporting game development 18 1.