A new fund was announced yesterday offering local companies the chance to cover three-quarters of the expense that goes into developing new digital games.
Through this Malta Digital Games Fund of €150,000, registered companies in the media, entertainment, IT or audiovisual sectors can be granted between €15,000 and €50,000 to cover up to 75 per cent of the expense.
The funds have to be used on human resources needed to develop the game and not on equipment. Applications will be assessed on four criteria: innovation, talent and experience, financial strategy and project potential.
These can be submitted until the end of January and in the meantime, applicants can attend information and coaching sessions.
The fund was announced by Culture Minister Mario de Marco and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech at Valletta’s St James Centre for Creativity.
Dr de Marco highlighted the importance of the digital gaming industry, which was surpassing that of film and music. In 2009 it generated some €2 billion in Europe.
This industry forms part of the creative culture sector, which makes up four per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Mr Fenech said there were more than 135 million people worldwide playing some sort of video game, and it was important that Maltese talent participated in this emerging industry. Digital gaming, he added, could help strengthen the country’s vision to be an information technology centre.
He encouraged people to give it a go, without being afraid of failure.
The fund was there to help people develop ideas and gain experience in the sector, and no one would be penalised if the game was not successful, Mr Fenech concluded.
www.digitalgamesfund.gov.mt