In September, government agency Screen Australia announced a $2 million investment to support Australia’s gaming sector.
The move is part of a $12 million commitment to game development announced in January. Government investment in video games may seem small, but the industry plays an important role in developing talent and providing a pathway to other IT and innovation fields.
“This significant investment underscores our continued commitment to driving growth and innovation in the Australian games industry,” Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said in a press release. said. “By supporting these projects and industry events, we are nurturing local developers and small and medium-sized studios and strengthening our position as a global leader in independent game production.”
As Australia faces an IT skills shortage, strengthening the gaming industry could ultimately help fill the talent gap.
From games to NASA
One notable example of the far-reaching impact of video game skills came in 2017. That year, Australian game developer Opaque Space went from making games to being hired by NASA to develop virtual reality training modules. This agreement with the world’s largest space agency has particular significance for the local industry, given Australia’s strong ambitions to lead in space technology.
Although Opaque Space is no longer active, the marriage of video game development principles and space technology remains part of Australia’s innovation heritage.
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Game development: source of talent
Game development is also an attractive first job or early career opportunity for those with software design or IT skills. It’s also a demanding field that requires rapid talent development, as Ross Symons, CEO of Big Ant, one of Australia’s leading game developers, said in an interview with TechRepublic. .
“The idea that game programming and development is not a serious endeavor is pervasive in IT-centric organizations and the broader community,” Simmons says. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
He added: “Games should always be up and running, be responsive, and have absolutely no latency or downtime. All of these factors make regular enterprise programming and development really difficult to compare to. “It’s going to be easy,” he added.
As a result, many game developers are starting to look for work in enterprise software as part of their careers, and Big Ant is a great example, Simmons said.
“Former Big Ant Studio employees have brought their skills to companies like Microsoft, Google, Tesla, Amazon, Adobe and Meta, often in very senior positions,” he said. . “In fact, so many companies end up in Silicon Valley that every year GDC in San Francisco hosts an annual Big Ant Dinner by the Bay, which brings together staff who trained and learned their craft at Big Ant. . Let’s get back together.
“That’s something we’re very proud of.”
Causes of “brain drain”
The emigration of so many former Big Ant staff to the US highlights the challenges facing Australia, both in the gaming industry and the broader IT sector. A lack of investment and opportunities often leads people seeking career advancement to move abroad.
The collapse of the industry has been a major factor, but things are now starting to improve.
Research shows the number of full-time workers working in game development in Australia has increased by nearly 60% in recent years. This means there is an opportunity to keep people on land.
“For decades, Australian developers have been heading overseas and frequently making large investments, which has caused headaches for studios, but this is now somewhat alleviated. ”Said Simmons. “With the post-COVID world in flux, the key for us is to use the stability we have in Australia to bring those who have left us home.”
Another challenge is ensuring there is a pathway for game developers to move into corporate roles. With Australia facing an IT skills shortage, looking to the Australian gaming industry for talent could be a good idea.
Game development develops proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, and JavaScript, which are also widely used in enterprise applications. Additionally, game developers are often adept at working in collaborative and agile environments. This skill set is also highly transferable to software development teams in corporate environments.
I need help in some areas. The first step in this career shift is to expand your knowledge of enterprise software technologies such as databases, cloud computing, and enterprise resource planning systems. Experience with frameworks like .NET, Spring Boot, and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure can make your company more attractive to potential employers. Getting certified in enterprise software tools will make your transition smoother.
But, as Symons pointed out, the gaming industry is very demanding. Successful developers need to be not only flexible, but also quick to learn and adapt. Over time, the gaming industry could develop into one of the most effective suppliers of solving IT skills shortages for businesses. It all depends on whether the growth in investment in building the gaming industry can be sustained. Because the gaming industry remains patchy and politicized in Australia.
