I’m also actually a graduate from the RMIT Games Course (last year), one of the guys who worked on All in a Day’s Work. Honestly in regard to that project in particular I can relate being the loss of direction and dissatisfaction in the aftermath. It’ll be quite interesting seeing how the Australian industry reshapes itself, especially in contrast to how things are here in the UK at the moment (after the failure of any tax relief last year).

However I do think that the players are more of a part of the industry than they ever have been. For example crowd funding becoming a bigger trend within the independent scene, and even beta testing used as a way to promote and push copies (or pre purchases) of independent to triple A games.

I really do think we have innovation, creativity and excellence and it is not restricted to the better known studios.

I also believe the players ARE a part of the industry unlike book readers and film watchers and that this is a strength the industry should embrace. Sure there will be negativity (which can sometimes be good to keep things in perspective) but remember we are at the beginning of what is likely to become a massive industry worldwide in the future, how can it be anything but exciting?!

The best way to have a middle ground is to create it. If investors aren’t interested, let’s figure out some other ways to get the games made. These might not create studios or build jobs, but commercial success shouldn’t be the *sole* goal of any creative sector. Working on Freeplay, I talk to people who just want to make things for their own sake without necessarily getting paid for it, others who want that indie lifestyle, others who want to work on small-scale studios, and others who would love to just be at an EA or Ubi.

At the heart of this is the need for diversity & the acknowledgement that not everything is about economic growth, jobs, or investment, but sometimes just about making art – and to bring it back to the Screen Australia fund, maybe that’s one way of doing that…