Across Australia, state and federal government agencies are further recognizing the economic and cultural benefits of investing in local game studios, with Screen Australia announcing a $3 million Games: Expansion Pack funding commitment in September 2022. We have announced that we will reopen the application process. As part of this, domestic industry firm Screen Australia also previously announced that Amelia Loughran would join the company as games investment manager in May 2022.
Amelia has been involved in the games industry nationally and internationally for over five years, having worked as a game producer at studios such as Tin Man Games and Snowman, and as an account business specialist at Nintendo Australia. But what exactly does a games investment manager do? We spoke to Amelia Loughran about her role and the support available to local studios looking to get their projects off the ground. Ta.
(Portions of this interview have been edited for brevity and clarity)
GamesHub: What is Screen Australia’s role in supporting the games industry?
Amelia Laughlan, Games Investment Manager, Screen Australia: Screen Australia is our national film agency and our mission is to support the entire Australian film industry. But in addition to that, each state has a state review agency, and they support the game to varying degrees. As such, support for the game has been in place for some time in some states. But for others, it was more intermittent.
Gubbins received funding from the first round of the game, the Expansion Pack Fund. Image: Studio Folly
As for Screen Australia, we’ve been funding games in the past as well, as we didn’t have a lot of funding after 2013-2014 when we used to get corporate funding for games. But aside from the consultants I had to help launch this latest game funding round, I’m the first person hired into a game since 2013-2014.
Games: As for the Expansion Pack, we first got it up and running in March, and the first round ended about 6-8 weeks after that. And now we’re excited to reopen.
Can you tell us a little about your role as a gaming investment manager and what that entails?
Image: Amelia Laurent
The role of (gaming investment manager) is very serious from the outside. When I first saw this job, I thought it was a very expensive job. However, an investment manager is essentially a role used across Screen Australia for people who manage funds. A colleague of mine who works on financing web series also has the same title. This means that my primary responsibility is to oversee the Game: Expansion Pack Fund.
Besides that, the role of the investment manager is to support the funded project in various ways. So that’s usually done by maintaining relationships with funded projects and supporting them, but also by running initiatives that are targeted at what’s happening in the screen field.
The Games Fund has been established for a limited time and our focus is on Games: Expansion Pack. Currently, up to $150,000 in funding is available for small and medium-sized game studios. But if you look across the rest of Screen Australia, you’ll see a number of initiatives that other investment managers have undertaken to support the industry. Therefore, it is also within the scope of the investment manager’s role.
What does a typical week look like in your role?
I recently went to Cologne, Germany for Gamescom and it was great to see a strong Australian presence there. We had 36 studios look at it. Due to our geographical isolation, it is very important for Australians to attend events like this.
Going back to a more typical week, a big part of my role is supporting the foundation. So it obviously requires a lot of work in terms of reviewing applications and coordinating internally to make sure that all the processes for reviewing applications are in place. That’s a major part of my role.
And then, of course, once we’re funded, we get a series of projects that we oversee. So the main part of my role is to assess applications as they come in and support projects that are funded.
Dungeon Experience received funding from the game’s first round of expansion pack funds. Image: Bone assembly
In addition to that, I sometimes do other endeavors and travel. That’s another major part of my role, specifically the role of gaming investment manager. What we want to do is spread the word that we’re back in the game. We raised $4 million in our last round. We were able to support 30 titles and we really want people to know that the fund is open and they can apply.
Because apparently some states haven’t had any support available since the 2013-2014 period. We want to reach out to those people and let them know we’re looking forward to your application.
Read: Victoria’s gaming industry continues to grow and other states need to take note
Games: It’s exciting to see applications open again for the Expansion Pack Fund – what has been the industry response to Screen Australia’s first round of funding, which launched in early 2022?
I can say it was overwhelmingly positive. Not surprisingly, we also recently announced a digital games tax offset for larger studios. Games: The Expansion Pack Fund was very well received as a complement to that and to support Australia’s really important and thriving independent sector.
There are so many different and interesting success stories coming out of the Australian indie scene. We are excited to help more developers make their businesses more sustainable through this fund. I think that message was really conveyed.
Bits & Bops received funding from the game’s first round of expansion pack funds. Image: Tempo Lab Game
To be honest, a lot of developers were a little surprised, like, “Oh, is that about us?” We’ve found game developers to be really appreciative, friendly, open-minded and willing to help. I mean, I was already kind of aware of that because I come from[in the industry]and my previous role was as a game producer. But definitely internally we all really enjoy working with the gaming community and really enjoy seeing what people post.
It’s a really exciting time to restart the fund as we had a very diverse game last round. People kept asking me, “What kind of games did you fund in the first round?” And I honestly couldn’t tell. There was action, adventure, puzzle, arcade, architecture, role-playing, rhythm games… It’s great to see the diversity of what people are making.
Read: Free Play: Parallels 2022 – All New Australian Games Introduced
Of all the things you do every day, what do you think is the best thing about your job?
To be honest, I just get to meet everyone who makes games. That’s what’s pretty special about just traveling. A lot of business is still done online. Sometimes we meet online, but other times we travel to another state to meet in person with one of our funded teams. And it’s a really great feeling to meet them and experience firsthand their passion and vision for their projects.
Schrodinger’s Cat Burglar received funding from the game’s first round of expansion pack funds. Image: abandoned sheep
I think that’s why we’re really here because this fund is here to help those people. I think it’s really special to be able to meet them and hear more about their vision and what they want to do. It’s also a great day when you can call people and tell them you won the funds. It’s like telling someone it’s Christmas today.
Now that the fund is open again, we’re really looking forward to seeing what we can get and meeting more developers who want to tell us about their great projects.
The latest round of Screen Australia’s Games: Expansion Pack funding is open for applications until May 4, 2023, or until funds run out. With $4 million already awarded to 31 Australian titles through the first round, we have high hopes for the success and longevity of this funding program.
You can now apply for the Games: Expansion Pack Fund on the Screen Australia website.
