Microsoft gives game developer in Victoria a boost

Sydney, Australia – 30 March, 2007 – Microsoft have signed a deal with the Bracks Government and the Games Developers Association of Australia (GDAA) to provide eight Xbox 360 development kits to the Victorian Game Developers Community.

This partnership is an Australian first and involves Microsoft and the Victorian government investing jointly in the Xbox 360 games development kits and GDAA managing their loan distribution, free of charge, to cutting-edge local games developers.

The announcement was made today by the Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Tim Holding, at the unveiling of Microsoft’s new Melbourne HQ at Southbank

“Microsoft has very strong links to Victoria and these kits are just another great example of that,” said Ms Tracey Fellows, Managing Director, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. “It’s also a great honour to have the Hon Minister for ICT here to open our office and officially announce this joint initiative”.

In total the eight Xbox 360 development kits in total are valued at around $120,000 and their availability is expected to be a big boost to local games developers.

“To put it in perspective for small developers, each kit is valued at around $15,000 and they really are the key to developing games for the Xbox 360. The kit provides all the codes and protocols needed to program a game for the Xbox 360,” said Ms Fellows.

In such a fast moving industry developers have a brief window of opportunity to purchase a development kit, develop a game and get it into the marketplace. While large companies can absorb development costs, smaller companies often can be left behind.

Tom Crago, President of the GDAA, said: “Given the rapid changes occurring globally in our industry, the early roll-out of this program in the development cycle will ensure we leverage and grow our local skills base.”

Over half of Australia's computer game development industry is based in Victoria, employing more than 700 people. Melbourne has a 25-year history in computer game development with more than 20 local games developers and animation studios.

Australia’s combined computer games software and hardware sales generate around $825 million per annum. Export revenue is around $110 million annually and expected to increase to $500 million by 2010.