Funded through Film Victoria’s Assigned Production Investment – Games program, the 14 newly-funded games are expected to create more than 50 employment opportunities and generate over $2 million for the state of Victoria.

This funding will enable studios to create high quality projects that will strengthen the local industry and further establish Victoria’s global reputation as a leader in the fastest growing entertainment sector in the world.

Among the newly-funded projects is Untitled Goose Game by the creators of the critically successful, award-winning Push Me Pull You, House House Games. This highly-anticipated game, which was also supported by Film Victoria in its early development stage, will be released in 2019.

Significant support has also gone into narrative game development, helping Victorian companies stay ahead in this growing area. Modern Storyteller’s The Forgotten City is a narrative-driven time travel murder mystery, and Sun’s Shadow Studios’ Beyond the Veil is a text-based horror game with a branching narrative, allowing players to change both the story and the personality of the protagonist.

Story is also a key element in two other visually rich yet varied projects to receive funding. Team Fanclub’s Dead Static Drive includes back roads, cars and facing nameless, festering evil, while Grinning Pickle’s Totem Teller allows players to discover and tell stories to repair beautiful, broken worlds.

Harmonious is creating Monsta Makin (working title), in which players build the biggest, bubbliest, most bestest monsta haven, while Panda Arcade is completing Pico Tanks – a multiplayer mobile game of bite-sized battles between adorable small tanks.

Other funded projects include:

• Kana Quest – a cute pixel-art puzzle game by Not Dead Design that uses Japanese letters as pieces
• Pocket Skate – which places a delightful skateboard park in your hand, by Peter Leary
• Eri’s Forest – a Tower Defence with a spin for young audiences, by Studio Qinoko
• Dawnblade – by Monsterscope Studios, which takes players on a journey through an immersive fantasy world in search for the mythical Dawnblade.

Rounding out the 14 newly-funded games are an upcoming card-based game from Twice Different, a new venture from Samurai Punk, and another soon to be announced narrative game.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley said: “Victoria is the home of Australia’s games industry and this round of projects showcases the diversity of talent, ideas and projects generated by local developers and companies. Games are an important part of Victoria’s creative sector and the Victorian Government is proud to support our industry through Film Victoria’s investment and funding programs, and initiatives like Melbourne International Games Week.”

Film Victoria CEO Caroline Pitcher said: “Film Victoria is thrilled to invest in this diverse range of companies. Tapping into this fast-growing sector, worth more than $130 billion annually worldwide, we look forward to seeing these new games reach new players at home and abroad.”

More information on Film Victoria games funding here.