From AussieInnovation Wiki

Contents 1 Game Development Tax Concession 1.1 Summary 1.2 The Problem 1.3 Objectives 1.4 Justification of needs (Optional) 1.5 My Organisation (Optional) 1.6 Outcomes 1.7 Project Timeline (Optional) 1.8 Plan for Financial Sustainability (Optional)

Game Development Tax Concession

Summary

Computer Game Development is a fundamentally Innovative industry. At a superficial level every game needs a novel storyline or setting, gameplay activities are constantly evolving and the technology behind game development undergoes a major shift every 5 years when the game console manufacturers (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) release a new generation of their platforms. Even the management methodologies are evolving as teams get larger; having 50 or 100 people working on a project is difficult but when some of them are fine artists, other are historians, sociologists or ludologists and others still are database administrators, network engineers or hardcore programmers... that is an incredibly complex management issue and the game development industry is developing new methods for managing its teams.

The Problem

The motion picture industry has a tax concession that assists the development of Australian movies. Applying this tax regime to the game industry would remove an artificial difference and assist Australian developers on the world stage.

Some general tips:

• Make sure you highlight the problem
• Talk about ways the situation could be improved
• Make it motivational. This is a call for change.
• Supporting statements from other affected organisations can help here, just make sure you don’t put your organisation above the needs of the community affected/ the other organisations that support your request
• You can also touch on your qualifications here, and the experience you have with the problem, as well as why you are in a position to offer solutions

Objectives

This is the counterpoint to “The Problem”. Here you state exactly what you intend your proposal to do in the most concrete terms possible.

In short, which solution are you suggesting and what do you want to achieve? What is your objective with this proposal?

Justification of needs (Optional)

This is where you back up everything you said in The Problem with statistics, supporting research papers, links to similar calls to action, or the benefits reaped from similar projects elsewhere.

You may not need this section, but definitely add it if a lot of outside links and references started to clog up the motivational feel of “The Problem”. That section needs to present a compelling case, but if you have a wealth of information present it, or reference it, here.

My Organisation (Optional)

If the placement and experience of your organisation adds to the strength of the proposal, it might help to share that with the panel, as well as the strengths of the key personal who helped to compile the submission.

• Do not be afraid to celebrate your successes (or difficulties), but the main function for this section is to leave the panel with the understanding that what you have said comes out of solid research and reliable experience.

Outcomes

This is where you list the likely benefits from your proposal. The "Objective" section says what you'd like to happen, this says what your experience/research says the results will be. (Of course, you can post a submission even if you don't have concrete information on this, someone else in the community might be able to help).

This includes the direct benefits from your basic objective as well as any knock-on effects that you can reasonably expect. This could include revenue likely to be generated by the project for related companies, the projected number of new jobs, secondary advantages of the new infrastructure required, or likely cost savings.

If you want to earn extra points, you can outline how you will measure these outcomes and how long will it take to show the predicted impact.

Finally, what will be the likely cost of your proposal, versus its benefits? Again, not every submission will need this, but if you are arguing for tax concessions and your company has done the maths, it can make for a very convincing argument.

Project Timeline (Optional)

This is where you breakdown how the project would unfold.

Plan for Financial Sustainability (Optional)

If your proposal is for an ongoing project, this shows how it can become self-sustaining, the risks involved and the business model that is likely to keep it going.