Texas Awards First Grant to Game Developer
Texas Awards First Grant to Game Developer
August 1, 2008
Last month Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) keynoted E3 2008, where he touted the Lone Star State as a destination for game developers.
Today, developer Pixel Mine issued a press release announcing that its newly released PC title Fireteam Reloaded is the first game to receive a production grant under an incentive bill passed in 2007.
Fireteam Reloaded can be played online for free. Extra maps and special items are available as microtransactions. Pixel Mine President David Reese, a native Texan, commented:
This is an exciting time to be a part of the entertainment industry in Texas. We have been privileged to work with several very fine local video game and film production studios in Texas and look forward to seeing what they’ll be showcasing at [Austin Game Developers Conference] in August.
GP: While the Texas incentives are a financial plus for developers, they are not without political strings attached. As The Daily Texan reported when Gov. Perry signed the bill into law:
The bill requires the office to consider "general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas" when considering grant applications. The bill also requires submission of a final script to determine if changes occurred during production would conflict with these standards.
We have confirmed that state officials did review Fireteam Reloaded for content, but did not mandate any changes.
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Posted 11/20/08 at 11:55am
KN: cage match
KN: cage match
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:55am
KN: Jewish Defense League VS PETA
KN: Jewish Defense League VS PETA
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:54am
PHX Corp: see update at the bottom for what's going to happen to those Teens over killing the cat
PHX Corp: see update at the bottom for what's going to happen to those Teens over killing the cat
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:53am
Baruch_S: @NovaBlack: Nice find. I hate to tell PETA this, but I'm still have turkey for Thanksgiving.
Baruch_S: @NovaBlack: Nice find. I hate to tell PETA this, but I'm still have turkey for Thanksgiving.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:49am
NovaBlack: got a link to that thread? i cant find it :S
NovaBlack: got a link to that thread? i cant find it :S
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:48am
NovaBlack: lol PETA responds to majesco... http://kotaku.com/5094386/peta-beats-a-dead-horse-asks-for-veggie-cooking-mama
NovaBlack: lol PETA responds to majesco... http://kotaku.com/5094386/peta-beats-a-dead-horse-asks-for-veggie-cooking-mama
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:47am
KN: coo'
KN: coo'
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:45am
JDKJ: @KN: The Thread in the ECA Forum.
JDKJ: @KN: The Thread in the ECA Forum.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:40am
KN: what thread
KN: what thread
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:39am
nightwng2000: For interested parties, head over to The Thread for, very possibly, the FINAL update. 2 Minutes to post time. :)
nightwng2000: For interested parties, head over to The Thread for, very possibly, the FINAL update. 2 Minutes to post time. :)
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:38am
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KN: ok frontpage tell me about frontpage kid. Gimme some gold
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:35am
Shadow D. Darkman: *sigh* FAIL.
Shadow D. Darkman: *sigh* FAIL.
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:34am
KN: it's frontpage kid!
KN: it's frontpage kid!
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:33am
Shadow D. Darkman: *facepalm*
Shadow D. Darkman: *facepalm*
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:31am
KN: sup frontpage
KN: sup frontpage
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:20am
zel: I appreciate it :D
zel: I appreciate it :D
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:09am
Shadow D. Darkman: Sweet
Shadow D. Darkman: Sweet
Posted 11/20/08 at 11:03am
E. Zachary Knight: Zel, I got your back.
E. Zachary Knight: Zel, I got your back.
Posted 11/20/08 at 10:47am
PHX Corp: looks like the kids are getting a more proper punishment in canada for nuking a cat
PHX Corp: looks like the kids are getting a more proper punishment in canada for nuking a cat
Posted 11/20/08 at 10:45am
PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/5094143/judge-bans-teens-from-video-games-for-cat-killing
PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/5094143/judge-bans-teens-from-video-games-for-cat-killing
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Comments
Wait, what standards are specified? I'm actually thinking that those strings woul probably apply to AO games, but what else?
Plus side, nice to see people are taking advantage of the tax breaks.
That's true, but if those strings are going to be ridiculous, it's better for developers to know that before making any decisions with the hopes or expectations of grant money.
Given that they gave it to a war game, it doesn't seem like the strings will be that ridiculous.
This bothers me a lot.
I really don't think that you could pass a film subsidy bill like that. People would cry censorship. But video games don't have the same kind of art cred so blatant censorship is apparently fine.
The worst part is that the standards seem totally arbitrary and they can easily be used for politically motivated attacks.
They already have attached strings to a film tax break. I mentioned it before. Several times. Tax breaks, lowering taxes on complying companies and individuals, are not subsidies, which is government money used to keep prices down by buying at market and selling low. They've allowed a violent game a tax break. What about that is "censorship"?
You can, you just won't get tax breaks. At the moment there only exists a carrot, not a stick.
I keep hoping that one day the gaming industry locates its testicles and tells the government to shove these tax breaks up their ass. Its nothing but a way for them to try and control the content of games without seeming too draconian.
I don't really have a problem with this. The government gives the breaks, so the government can lay down the conditions under which developers are eligible to receive them. Nobody's being told they can't make games of any particular type, just that if they want an taxpayer-funded assist, they have to play by certain rules.
"The bill requires the office to consider "general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas" when considering grant applications."
Wait, they do know they're talking about a state notorious for not giving a crap about beliefs and values, right?
Not saying it's true or not, but seriously, our "beliefs and values" vary from person to person; they're not universal. To try and define people as under a single belief or values system is pointless; it's only a step toward censorship.
Game content and actual public opinions should define eligibility for a grant, not some government pundit's interpretation of what people believe. More often than not, the latter is skewed in favor of said person's own opinions. When said person is put in control of something like who gets a grant or not, things have a tendancy to get ugly quick.
Oh, and one more thing.
During the Renaissance, most artists were part of a guild that set strict rules over what was considered "art." As a result, creativity died, and every painting done under the guild was just like the others. When artists started giving the guild the finger and using their own styles, what happened next revolutionized art as a whole.
What I'm seeing here is pretty much the same thing; governments are trying to set strict standards over video games using measures like this, and thereby stifling creativity in favor of censorship. Because creativity gets stifled by government rules, innovation dies; soon every game will be just like the others. I think we all know what needs to happen next.
Where's the evidence for that? Since they've given the tax break to a war game, it seems that those political strings are only going to kick in in extreme cases. More people have to apply for the grant before we can jump to conclusions about the standards they're using.