Posted in – Eric Severat – Economy
Last December, the Standing Committee of the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes Region voted for an aid package of 800,000 euros to various video game studios in the region. Decoding.
The leading cultural product by volume of sales before cinema, video games have seen strong growth in recent years. With 131 companies generating 746 million euros in sales, the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region is the second strongest place in video game production after Ile-de-France.
The Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region appears determined to maintain the momentum. Last December, the Standing Committee voted in favor of an 800,000-euro aid package for various video game studios in the region. This economic aid and stimulus fund supports the creation of original games in the development, pre-production and prototyping stage, which are the critical stages before the games are launched and marketed.
Selection of upstream projects
In partnership with the regional group Game Only, a panel of experts met last fall under the chairmanship of Samy Kefi-Jérôme, who was elected in charge of the video games mission to Vice President of Culture Florence Verney Caron.
Then twelve projects were selected to receive aid ranging from € 30,000 to € 80,000. This support reflects the diversity of studio creation in the region, on all media and markets: mobile, PC, consoles and virtual reality.
“It is a strong support for creativity”
Julian Millett, Game Only President, “The Prototype Assistance Fund is crucial assistance to support the development of video games in the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region”. And add: “By supporting projects in their most funding-sensitive and most critical stages of the future, they allow local companies to create international partnerships. It is a strong support for creativity.”.
Stéphane Baudet of Tiny Digital Factory studio adds: “I am pleased and honored that the committee has chosen our Infinite Drive project. Thanks to this assistance, we will be able to start this innovative project at the beginning of 2021 and employ many collaborators who will contribute to growth in the medium term.
Video games chosen by the commission
“Certified gamer. Problem solver. Internet enthusiast. Twitter scholar. Infuriatingly humble alcohol geek. Tv guru.”