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UKIE wants 30% games industry tax break, UK begins tax plan scrutiny

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:30:00 EST

UKIE, a trade group for the entertainment industry in the UK, joined UK gaming trade association TIGA in calling for a tax relief flat rate of 30 percent across the industry, in the hopes of stimulating the UK's game development business. In March, UK chancellor George Osborne pledged to "turn Britain into Europe's technology centre, starting with digital content," by extending the country's film tax breaks to the TV, animation and gaming industries.

Yesterday was the deadline for suggestions to the UK government on how the gaming tax breaks should be handled. TIGA previously suggested the 30 percent flat rate, or an alternative tiered rebate giving 25 percent relief to projects costing £250,000 ($400,000) or more.

After consulting with more than 200 UK companies, UKIE proposed relief should extend to the entire industry, covering indies, large studios and new companies established by parties overseas -- all with a 30 percent relief rate, regardless of budget. UKIE included relief for DLC and post-launch support in its proposal.

The tax relief is poised to begin in April, pending parliamentary approval and a round of summaries, scrutiny by tax professionals and consultation. Edge has a round-up of the whole process here.

UKIE wants 30% games industry tax break, UK begins tax plan scrutiny originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ's new prez stands behind Montreal studio, though 'there may be empty seats'

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 17:15:00 EST

When THQ announced its Montreal, Canada-based studio in 2009, the plan seemed a bit on the ambitious side. 400 new employees across five years, two big projects - one of which is overseen by ex-Assassin's Creed creative lead Patrice Desilets, the other being a followup to 2011's Homefront - and a brand new campus meant a lot of money needed to be spent, even with a potentially generous tax credit from the Canadian government.

And that was long before THQ's recent financial troubles. It's in that context that we asked newly hired president Jason Rubin to address the future of the Montreal location during an E3 interview. "I think the decision needs to be made which projects we can do, what we can afford to do, and stick to it. Even though THQ Montreal's space may be bigger than what we need right now, there's nothing about that space that prevents us from succeeding," Rubin said.

We asked Rubin whether THQ could fulfill the planned 400-person contract across five years in its current financial state. "There may be empty seats," he admitted, but he's not worried that those contractual obligations will affect THQ - nor the Montreal location's - long-term survival. "I'm not saying that we wouldn't fulfill our obligations," Rubin told us. "But assuming for a moment that we don't reach whatever our contractual obligations are, there are very specific clauses in the contract that say what would happen. And I've read the contract, I've gone over it, it was one of the things I did before starting. And there's nothing about the contract or our failing under that contract that would cause the company to fail."

Rubin stressed that THQ under his leadership remains dedicated to the Montreal studio and its agreement with the government. "I love Montreal. I definitely wanna do right by Montreal, and I definitely wanna fill that studio. But having said that, if we fail to do that for any reason, that's not going to be a cause for failure for the company." He also addressed potential concern that other THQ studios employees could be moved to the Montreal location. "Were I able to pick up and move people without worry about their families, the projects they're working on, and everything else, I would fill that space in a second," Rubin said.

Beyond the co-developed Homefront sequel and the unknown Desilets project, it is unclear what else THQ Montreal is working on, if anything.

THQ's new prez stands behind Montreal studio, though 'there may be empty seats' originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jun 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game developers bullish about Australian tax break bill

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST

Game Developers Association of Australia CEO Tony Reed is, as you might imagine, a big fan of the $1.9 billion tax break for video game research and development that's making its way through the nation's government. Speaking to Gamespot, Reed explained, "No matter how big or small a studio is, this is the kind of thing that will encourage development. It is designed with our own independence, creativity, and innovation in mind."

He added that his organization harbors a lofty goal: To "prepare Australia to become one of the top three territories in the world for game development within the next five years." The country has a ways to go before they can recover from the games industry's 50 percent reduction in workforce, but five years is an awfully long time in the tech world. And, it should go without saying, almost-two billion dollars is a lot of dollars.

Game developers bullish about Australian tax break bill originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australia passes $1.9 billion tax break for games industry R&D

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:15:00 EST

The Australian video game industry has suffered blow after blow over the past few years, having lost approximately half of its workforce and a number of its major development studios since 2008. Fortunately, Australian state officials have passed a bill which, when it goes into effect next month, will provide a $1.9 billion tax break for game developers to spend on research and development.

It's wonderful that the country's leaders are doing something to help revive Australia's floundering game development scene -- though we're a bit surprised that certain government representatives didn't try to attach an amendment to the bill, saying that the money could only be used to develop games about hugging and manners. (Snark aside, that game actually sounds awesome. Please make that game.)

Australia passes $1.9 billion tax break for games industry R&D originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New UK government a possible setback for game dev tax breaks

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:30:00 EST

[James Stringer]

A report from Develop claims that the much-lobbied game development tax breaks that UK developers have been seeking may have to wait a bit longer before coming to fruition. Sources close to the UK government told the site that the recently reorganized government -- a new coalition of Liberals and Conservatives -- will "look to find its feet" before any further discussion takes place on the previously greenlit tax break initiative.

"We're not really sure what the future holds. It's very early days and we have to hold discussions and set in train how this is going to work," the source told Develop. That said, newly appointed, game-friendly Culture Minister Ed Vaizey could help to get plans quickly back on track. Vaizey has spoken out in defense of games in the past, even belonging to a group set to publicly defend the medium earlier this year. For the time being, a Treasury Department source added that the previous party's tax break bill is still "in motion" and that the new administration would "have to act to stop the plan." We're hoping it'll still be too busy finding those feet to stop it.

New UK government a possible setback for game dev tax breaks originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 May 2010 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDAA mate, Aussie developer group chief quitting

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Greg Bondar, CEO of the Game Developers' Association of Australia (GDAA), will quit his post on July 12. Bondar tells Gamespot AU that he's moving on to "pursue other opportunities" after being with the organization for 18 months.

The GDAA has been the group pushing for Aussie game developers to receive the 40% tax break currently bestowed upon their film-making brethren. The group is trying to prevent the continent from being left behind as various nations and states lure game developers with yummy tax breaks. Mmmmmm, tax breaks.

GDAA mate, Aussie developer group chief quitting originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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