GAMES INDUSTRY CALLS FOR EXTRA LIFE

AUSTRALIAN game developers are calling for a lifeline in this year’s federal budget to address the unequal treatment given to the film and television industry and help Aussies produce their next Fruit Ninja or Crossy Road success story.

Industry insiders say Australia’s video game industry is routinely being ignored when it comes to government support even though it attracted $184 million and employed 1245 people last year, and warn Australia could miss out on “billions of dollars” if the federal government fails to take action.

The call came as Brisbane’s Gameloft studio revealed another win for the local industry, launching a new title for Apple’s Arcade service has already won rave reviews.

Its new take on old favourite, The Oregon Trail, makes the studio the 12th Aussie operation to produce a game for Apple, putting it alongside Crossy Road Castle, Fruit Ninja+ and Neo Cab.

Interactive Games and Entertainment Association chief executive Ron Curry said Gameloft’s success showed Australian developers had the potential to make a huge impact on a multibillion-dollar market but warned many were fighting to do so.

Mr Curry said only “five cents out of every $100” generated by video game sales was earned by Australian developers, and a lack of government support was holding the country back. “It’s 30 to 40 per cent more expensive to make games in Australia because of the lack of a tax offset (compared to the UK and US).