GCAP 2022: Ambition

2022 marks the return to video game funding for Screen Australia. For the first time since 2014, the national agency is accepting applications for development funding from creators across Australia as part of the Games: Expansion Pack initiative. For those who have access to state-based funding, this represents an exciting, additional opportunity to get a game off the ground. For creators in areas with fewer opportunities, it could be the first time their team has been eligible for government funding. No matter where you’re based, we’re sure you have lots of questions – and that’s exactly what this session is for!
Join Screen Australia’s Head of Online, Lee Naimo, and recently appointed Games Investment Manager, Amelia Laughlan, as they talk through the details of the recently re-opened Games: Expansion Pack fund. They’ll explain:
• What kind of support is available
• Who is eligible for the fund
• What makes an application competitive
There will also be an opportunity to ask questions after the panel.

With the recent introduction of the DGTO investors are clamoring to funds Australian Dev teams. In this talk we will explore some of the common funding arrangements we have seen and how to address complex tax matters that commonly arise.

What can Film & TV teach us about finance? Join a talented panel of professionals from the world of games and film and where we can find common ground on financing creativity. 

Pitching for a publishing deal is easy. Getting a great deal, on the other hand, can be tricky. GYLD will take you through the process of negotiating a publishing deal and share how to get more out of a deal.

In this session, Dr Benjamin Abraham, author of the first book to examine the games industry's carbon footprint and other sustainability concerns, will outline the challenges facing the industry in getting to net zero. He will outline the current state of the industry, who the major players are and their goals, current best practice around reporting and offsetting, and how individual studios and developers can best align themselves with the climate science.

The Digital Games Tax Offset will be a boon for driving investment in Australian dev teams. We will take a deep dive into the three key areas of the legislation with a focus on how small and medium sized studios can position themselves to best access the offset, manage cashflows and enter a sustainable cycle of development.

If you need to raise capital for your games studio, where do you start? Bobby Thandi from XR Games reveals the do's and don'ts of raising investment. Including what you need to get ready before investment, what to expect during the process, red and green flags regarding potential investors, the questions you need VCs to answer, and the questions VCs will be asking you.

XR Games is the studio behind hits such as Zombieland VR and Angry Birds Under Pressure VR

You've put in the hard yards and you've got a product you're proud of. You're nervous about putting your baby out into the world - and rightfully so. So much hinges on making this project profitable, so it makes sense to do it right.

The industry talks about game IP all the time but there's barely a clue out there about how to leverage your IP for success.

In this session Briar, Senior Associate at HopgoodGanim Lawyers, will help you quantify your IP, identify the best ways to protect it, and then leverage it in your business.

This presentation is addressed at those studios looking to take on board investment from third parties or be acquired by third parties. The presentation will be focused on game development companies and the specific hurdles they face in completing a transaction. To do this the presenters will provide an overview of each stage of a ‘typical’ transaction.

In narrative design, we talk a lot about conveying a meaningful story through a gaming experience. However, when you’re applying for a grant, conveying what makes your game’s story and its audience unique is just as important. This talk will explore using storytelling and narrative tools to shape your grant application, how to use these tools to narrow down your game’s core audience, and how to highlight its core selling points in the process.