Savannah giving one year of free work space to qualified developers
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Mar 2nd 2009 at 4:49PM }
The Creative Coast Alliance and Savannah Economic Development Authority announced today that they will give up to one year of free rent to game developers in the Game Development and Digital Media Center, currently under construction on the first floor of a new office building along the Savannah River. The year of free space, when combined with the potential of 30 percent off in Georgia taxes, could equal significant savings for start-ups.
We contacted Savannah-based game designer and industry advocate Brenda Brathwaite, who apparently spearheaded this program, which is being dubbed "the offer." She told us, "Having seen one company close after another, I know there are a lot of amazingly talented developers out there who would like to continue developing games. These are my friends in many cases, and I started to think of possible things that I could do to help."
She continued, "I got the idea to approach the Savannah Economic Development Authority about this concept of free space for game developers. They're pretty progressive, but at the same time, I knew I was asking for a lot. When they not only agreed but were incredibly enthusiastic about it, I was honestly thrilled. After months of layoffs, it felt like a bit of sun on the proverbial horizon."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Abobo @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:59PM
Hey, this could turn out really well for coders and artists in the Georgia area. I hope something really awesome comes out of this (well, aside from more Petz titles)
jchatland @ Mar 3rd 2009 10:00AM
This is Great! The Savannah College of Art and Design is here as well (I'm Alumni) They would have a great pool of helpers available.......not to mention intern opportunities!
SecretAgentHam @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:04PM
thats awesome, i really hope georgian developers take advantage of this!
phr3qu3ncy441 @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:06PM
i wished i had a great idea for a game =(
xeleion @ Mar 2nd 2009 5:09PM
Wow, I'm surprised I didn't know about this. I'm a SCAD student and even I know Brenda pretty well. Had a class with her and everything. >_>
Anyway, this looks interesting. I wonder if they're looking for new talent, or is this just a reprieve for laid off developers who are already in the industry. Since SCAD's right here, it could be an excellent opportunity for students to get their feet in the door without even having to move.
albinogoldfish @ Mar 2nd 2009 11:19PM
Graduating in spring: check
In savannah:check
Free office building:...check?
WiredKnight @ Mar 2nd 2009 8:39PM
Needs all the help he can get? Check.
:D
albinogoldfish @ Mar 2nd 2009 11:15PM
Man, you'll be begging for a spot on my team!
BrennaCeDria @ Mar 2nd 2009 7:46PM
Not interested. First, Savannah's a great place for tourists, but if you aren't a "good ole boy" you have no business living and existing here. Second, well, if you aren't one of the "good ole boys" you have no business living and existing here. And let's face it--while the SCAD "kids" thrive as students, they are very rarely Dawgs fans, they don't bleed Red and Black, their eventual babies don't drool Red and Black, and unless their families are local said "kids" know to get the hell out of town as soon as they graduate. There's no market here in Savannah for game devs because there isn't any tolerance for that sort of culture here, and while the government agencies statewide might be willing to support the tax breaks, the locals in charge won't be nearly as happy to help.
Plus, if I understand right, the location where they're offering the free rent is on the East side of downtown, "next door" to the sewage treatment plants on Presidents Street. As a local of enough years to make me want to vomit (15) I can tell you no one sane is willing to work in that area.
WiredKnight @ Mar 2nd 2009 8:44PM
What in the hell are you talking about?
A game's success has very little to do with where the studio is located.
While I agree most people probably don't want to work near the sewage plant, the lack of a local "market" for video games in Savannah is pretty irrelevant. Plus the influx of fresh talent from SCAD seems like a great resource to take advantage of.
BrennaCeDria @ Mar 2nd 2009 8:53PM
I'm sorry if I sounded like I was saying games made here would fail just because they were made here, because I wasn't: I'm saying that the entire program will fail. Savannah is so ass-backwards that no matter how many good intentions are put into a program, if that program doesn't cater to the city's ego and NOTHING ELSE then it won't survive. Take the stereotypes of the "Midnight" movie and reduce them by about half, and you have the way the non-SCAD downtown culture behaves--not nearly as obnoxious as the film, but still way too "Down South" for sane individuals.
RumpleJr @ Mar 2nd 2009 9:23PM
Brenna - I couldn't disagree with you more. I've found Savannah to be a pretty tolerant and open-minded place (with some exceptions), and while there are pockets of "good ole boy's" (as there are everywhere), there are also many diverse, progressive and community minded folks. It sounds like you've had a bad experience (as well as an axe to grind), which is unfortunate.
It seems like a pretty ballsy move by a non-profit if you ask me. I really hope its successful. I've met a couple of the people at Creative Coast and they seem to be bright and well intentioned, if not savvy.
P.S. The building is not near the sewage plant. I've been there. It's next to the Westin, the Trade Center and directly across the Savannah River from City Hall.
BrennaCeDria @ Mar 2nd 2009 10:24PM
@RumpleJr: As far as location, Hutchinson Island is much better than what I was thinking, which was part of that new fake-downtown of the Savannah River Landing development.
freecajunlove @ Mar 3rd 2009 2:54AM
I hate Savannah as much as the next person, but what Savannah are you talking about? I lived there for 14 years and never really heard anything about UGA till my brother told me to apply there. If you're going to hate Savannah, hate the pretentious SCAD kids, hate the white trash, hate the crime-infested areas around downtown, hate the school board, hate the fact nothing is open past 10pm, hate the Savannah Mall, hate that Truman Pkwy will take 20 years to complete... Maybe we had different experiences. I went to Wilder Middle, Bartlett Middle, Jenkins High and Savannah Arts Academy; I've met tons of gamers throughout Savannah (and not just because I worked at a Gamestop in Oglethorpe Mall). You have no idea what you are talking about.
BrennaCeDria @ Mar 3rd 2009 7:28AM
@freecajunlove: Okay, now I'm curious, cause I have a feeling I actually know you already and we just don't realize it. :p
I agree on Savannah Mall, Truman Parkway, and trying to find anything to do past 9 (since my apartment is technically in Pooler). However as a geek/gamer that's had to work for Chatham County, I've had the opportunity to see the good ole boys from the inside out, and it's not pretty. SCAD kids don't bother me unless they show up as a busload to see a midnight movie (something I haven't had to worry about since 2003), I've been lucky enough (so far) never to experience Savannah's notorious crime rate, and while I hate the school board, I find it amusing that all the "adults" of the county elected someone that makes Dead Baby Jokes to his students as superintendent. ...He is still superintendent, right? I haven't checked in a while. :p
BrennaCeDria @ Mar 3rd 2009 7:31AM
Ah, looks like there's a new superintendent now. Don't remember seeing that race on last fall's ballot, but whichever. :p
freecajunlove @ Mar 3rd 2009 11:25AM
That's because all the "adults" of this county had him as a teacher and respected him. Did you have Golson as a teacher? He is a great man, and taught me more than most.
http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/Hugh_Golson.htm
BrennaCeDria @ Mar 3rd 2009 12:19PM
I was only able to have him for homeroom, not an actual class, but he did put together a few fieldtrips for my writer's workshop class in 11th grade. I wish I had him for an actual class, but I also wouldn't trade having Ethridge (can't remember if that's the right spelling for her name or not) for my history class the year I was at SAA. My comment about the dead baby jokes was to indicate there was a side to him that many voting for him likely didn't know about--a side I appreciated.
chazzur @ Mar 2nd 2009 7:48PM
Im a SCAD student also and in the game design program and im just wondering how it is that we students haven't heard anything about this. You would think this would be something they would tell us. hmmm
bbrathwaite @ Mar 2nd 2009 9:42PM
For the SCAD student's who haven't heard, you just did. :) No one knew except the folks working on it until the news was released by the Savannah Economic Development Authority today. It's actually not a SCAD initiative.
I will also say that Savannah's an amazing place to live. 6.7 million people visit here every year, and my family - a mixed race artsy family, mind you - has yet to have any kind of problem at all.
Brenda
MNC Dover @ Mar 2nd 2009 10:44PM
I'm surprised at all the SCAD readers here on Joystiq. The MNC is located here in Savannah...maybe we could add game development to our webcomic...hmmm...
:)
BattyAdroit @ Mar 3rd 2009 2:45PM
Scad alum here - this is great news. To the Savannah haters: BAWWWWWW.
jaredwork @ Mar 3rd 2009 9:35PM
Man, after spending 4 years in Savannah at SCAD, this could've almost helped a decision to stay there longer than I had to... *starts thinking back...* Nope, nothing could've kept me there.
imo, they should move SCAD to somewhere less... "The South". With the amount of student-fleecing they've been doing all these years, they should already have gold plated fusion-powered rockets installed in all the buildings and a platinum robot with his diamond-encrusted fingers hovering over the button for when the decision inevitably comes in.
Jeremy S. @ Mar 4th 2009 12:39AM
well im actually a student at GC&SU in milledgeville ( go bobcats!) i visit savannah and scad as well farely often, especially over breaks since many of my fellow Baldwin High alums were performing arts kids, most ended up at scad. or C.S.U.. i do think this is a great initiative though, to hopefully get a little more revenue flowing through savannah.
oh and as for the scad kids beings self justified assholes... i can relate.