Aussie industry body to fund story-focused games

Screen Australia has announced a new fund to help developers create innovative interactive projects with a strong storytelling component.

The A$3-5 million All Media Fund will look specifically at games, websites, applications, alternate- and augmented-reality worlds, massively multiplayer online role-playing games, and interactive drama as part of a new scheme to support Australian stories in the interactive entertainment space.

The program will run across two streams: Digital Ignition (for interactive projects) and All Media Production (for linear and nonlinear projects, which can include interactive ideas).

Screen Australia chief executive Ruth Harley said that the scheme is platform agnostic and is designed to help developers reach an audience without a recognized entity or publisher.

"It has never been more important to support Australian stories on Australian screens no matter how screen content is accessed or downloaded," she said. "Access, diversity, and choice should be at the heart of the convergence debate, and Australian stories are an important factor in this equation."

Developers can apply for the scheme on the Screen Australia website. Applications will close on August 8, 2011 (a second round will be offered in February 2012).