March 14, 2008
Although Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) unsuccessfully tried to legislate video game content in 2005, she now hopes to sign into law a bill that would provide tax incentives for film and video game production in Michigan.As reported by WILX-10, a proposal now before the state legislature would offer a 40% state tax credit or an equal rebate on production costs. Rep. Andy Meisner (D), who chairs the Commerce Committe for Michigan's House of Representatives, said:
We have an opportunity to do something that will provide an immediate stimulus to our ailing economy.
Although movies are the main focus of the Michigan legislation, the bill will also cover video game development, television productions, commercials and Internet programs.
Comments
Re: Michigan Pushing Ahead on Tax Breaks for Games, Movies
Honestly, I doubt there is much on the controll what is made for your tax break on video game creation.
If someone can make a movie on mahem and destruction.....and still get a tax break, the same rules will apply to video games.
0.o
"If you don't clean up your act and make games the way we want you to we'll yank your tax-break!"
Call me a paranoiac, but with all the whipping and beating that games have taken over the last few years I don't think it's outside the realm of reality.
Aw c'mon. We all know that in order to get the tax break, TV and Games would have to cut a few corners. It's been that way since the dawn of time. Wanna get the benefits, you follow their turf.
Look, if I said I was going to make a game where I shoot politicians, do you think they'd let me have that tax break? Honestly.
Besides, this is good for everyone else. I mean honestly, I don't think the government would mind if game developers want to make games in the same vein as Patapon, Professor Layton, Katamari etc.
"Aw c’mon. We all know that in order to get the tax break, TV and Games would have to cut a few corners. It’s been that way since the dawn of time. Wanna get the benefits, you follow their turf."
Well... isn't that just simply another way to censor freedom of speech? This basically means that they have influence and control, even if only to a relatively limited degree, over the amount of profit any game developer can make.
Or... you're being very subtly sarcastic and I completely missed it.
*Full disclosure* I am a co-owner of a small indie game company. This would help us alot, and it would also help Stardock and other game companies here in Michigan.
People don't have to take the tax breaks, they can still make the game they want. Any form of benefit, subsidy or payment comes with the idea that if you make the person giving you money you might lose it, this is just the same in reverse.
Especially since you don't HAVE to have the tax break. Sure, it sounds great, but like you said, you'd probably have to do what THEY want.
Besides, if you wanted to make a game and don't want to be hassled by the man, the LAST thing you should demand is a tax break from them to make your game. After all, if you don't want them hassling you, why ask a favour from them?
I think the only issue is if you wanted to make gasmes like "25 to Life" and "187 Ride or Die". Then again, those games sucked balls.
"Especially since you don’t HAVE to have the tax break. Sure, it sounds great, but like you said, you’d probably have to do what THEY want. "
These same governments want to regulate games. It's not long before tax breaks become synonymous with funding or sponsorship. This same governor wanted to legislate games and we all know the games she's talking about. Now she's offering tax breaks...
That doesn't smell fishy to you?
You don't see the possibility of the state wanting to review the games to make sure they meet whatever standards they have (take a minute to run through the titles that have been criticised and why...) to decide whether to grant the break or not?
But I will be wary of this and try to find the fine detail about what kinds of games a developer could make,
they should be comerical games that cover everything from E to M rated games,
If the tax proposal says, "Make M rated game then you don't get tax break" then I would be suspicious...
As for the controlling the industry, we don't have the money to control shit! We NEED some kind of industry here, anything! That's why she's doing this, because have you seen our unemployment?
Besides they should offer the tax break to all games regardless of the content. Otherwise its not a tax break, its a sponsorship.
Fangamer
This new bill reeks of governance by poll numbers. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Replace "NIMF" with PTC, because what you said is more likelt what the PTC would do. THe NIMF won't do that (strangely enough)
I hate politicians.
this is more likely an attempt to create new jobs, gm and buick are leaving. if she cant replace those lost jobs fast (michigan really is in a bad economic slump) she will find out how bad the job market is when she is thrown out of office! (she started by bringing google into michigan awhile back)
no poliics here really just try to get any company thats hiring into michigan