Game-developer welfare, get it while it’s hot!
Alright, I’ve got an axe to grind.
I’ll come right out and say it… if you’re a game developer in Winnipeg who hasn’t released a game ever, and have taken any of that “media” funding from the province… I hate you. You should be ashamed of yourself.
And now for some context.
Apparently a while ago the province of Manitoba decided it wanted to encourage “new media” companies. So they created a series of grants which would be available to companies that create “new media” things. If you’re producing something that has some type of content, you generally fit into the definition needed to get some of that money. Game developers fall nicely in this category. Now… these aren’t technically grants, it’s technically a loan which you’re expected to pay back with the profits of your venture. But when the government hasn’t seen a dime paid back ever… that’s a hand-out.
It’s an interesting idea, one that I don’t necessarily oppose. I think it’s a little odd that someone who creates a game qualifies, and that I, who creates Mac/iPhone software doesn’t. But that’s not what pisses me off.
What pisses me off is the abuse of these grants.
These grants are per-project, and that’s a huge cause of the abuse I think. Say I was running a game company (no chance of that happening, game dev doesn’t appeal to me in the least)… and I come up with a game idea. I jump through a few hoops, sign a few papers, and get money from the gov to develop the game. Awesome! Problem is that this money doesn’t cover the commercialization of the idea, just the initial development. Any of us that have sold software know how much work that last part is. Now I have a prototype, maybe even a close to complete game, and no money. Damn. I could either pony up my own cash/time and finish that game orrrrr…. I have an idea… get another game idea! Rinse. Lather. Repeat.
Where’s the motivation to finish anything?
Make it per-company. A least force the dead-beats to go out and do the paperwork needed to get a new business name before they can get more of that money.
I heard one developer talk about how he had made a game prototype that was paid for by a grant (I don’t think this was the media funding one). When asked if/when he would release it, and for what platform it was going to be on, he gave us a nice talk about how hard it was to actually release a game. Cause you see… you have to get a license to release games for the consoles (that’s expensive). Systems like Wii ware and Steam don’t reach enough people, and publishers take too big of a cut. OH POOR YOU! No one’s making it rain money.
I’ve met a few developers that have built and released games without even touching that funding. To them I say… wow, well done.
Hell, even if you did take funding, and you released that game, well done. Releasing software is hard.
To the serial offenders… stop wasting my tax money. You’re a disgrace. I’ll be working hard to have this gravy train stopped.
(I’ve greatly over-simplified how those grants came to be, and what they actually are. I realize this. My point still stands though.)
