Media release - 5 December 2005
Victorian companies have scooped the pool at the 2005 Australian Game Developers Awards, the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, said today.
Heroes of the Pacific, a game developed by IR Gurus Interactive using the Victorian Government's Sony PlayStation 2 Development kit, was the major winner on the night, receiving four awards including the prestigious 'Best Game of 2005'.
Ms Thomson said the success of local companies further confirmed Victoria as the computer games development capital of Australia.
"The Bracks Government is committed to building the computer game industry in this State and helping local companies to succeed in the multi-billion dollar international market," Ms Thomson said.
"I am extremely pleased to see IR Gurus and Firemint - two companies the Bracks Government has supported - recognised for the innovative and exciting work they are doing in electronic game development."
Heroes of the Pacific also claimed Best PC Game, Outstanding Visual Art and Programming Excellence categories.
"The Sony PlayStation 2 Development kit which assisted IR Gurus in the development of Heroes of the Pacific, was a world-first initiative of the Victorian Government," Ms Thomson said.
"The Government has spent around $250,000 over the past three years providing local companies with access to these development kits."
Victorian game developers took home six awards, with Firemint claiming two awards including Best New Start-Up Company.
"It can only help in attracting more business to the state and just as importantly, encourage local organisations who want to access the national and international markets," Ms Thomson said.
Both Firemint and IR Gurus received assistance from the Victorian Government via Film Victoria's Digital Media Fund and Multimedia Victoria's Trade Events and Exports Assistance Program.
The Australian Game Developers Awards were announced as part of the 2005 Australia Game Developers Conference, held in Melbourne from 1-3 December.