Australia: Screen Territory Games Development Grants Program

This grant funding is aimed at the development of interactive screen projects – both narrative and non narrative – for all digital platforms. It encourages Territorians to develop, adopt and exploit new and emerging means of creating and delivering compelling screen content, with a focus on the creation and retention of Northern Territory intellectual property by supporting local games developers and studios to create digital games.

This program supports applications for projects targeting development across prototype, early access or full launch stages.

Program Objectives

• Skilled Territory creatives
• Support local game developers
• Successful Territory screen businesses

Purpose

• Support the development of interactive screen projects – both narrative and non-narrative – for all digital platforms. It encourages Territorians to develop, adopt and exploit new and emerging means of creating and delivering of compelling screen content, with a focus on the creation and retention of Northern Territorian intellectual property.

Funding Information

• Conceptual Development
  • Funding capped at AU $10,000.
  • Successful applicants must deliver a minimum of 2 micro-prototypes as proof of concept. Micro prototypes should demonstrate innovative game mechanics with emphasis on experimentation and validating a market/audience.
  • Successful applicants must also provide a learnings report, either in written or video format, and may be required to present at the NT Screen Summit.
• Prototype
  • Funding capped at AU $25,000.
  • Prototypes should illustrate core gameplay and the key differentiator of your game. A good prototype has “found the fun” and gives a clear indication of the game’s potential.
• Vertical Slice/Early Access
  • Funding capped at AU $40,000.
  • This target should see polished core gameplay, where players can experience a good representation of full release gameplay.
  • Early Access may include targeting a crowdfunding campaign or releasing an incomplete, but playable, version of the game in Steam’s early access.

Eligible Projects

• The following formats are eligible:
  • Premium and free-to-play games
  • Live-ops development
  • Entertainment games for a mass audience.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a Bona Fide Northern Territory game development company or individual.
• The Games Grants are open to applications from both emerging and established games developers.
• At least 50% of the development team must be based in the Northern Territory unless an exemption is granted by Screen Territory prior to lodgement of the application.
• Applicants must include at least one team member with a lead credit in a previously published interactive screen project relevant to the application.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are the IP creator and owner of the game. Please note: commissioned projects are not eligible.

Ineligible

• The following are ineligible for funding:
  • Games that are not completely digital (e.g. board games or hybrid digital/physical games).
  • Gambling games.
  • Serious games, or games which are made for purposes other than pure entertainment.
  • Games that are, in Screen Territory’s opinion, likely to be refused classification under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Cth).
  • Games designed to predominantly or substantially market, promote or advertise a product or service.
  • The purchase of equipment or software.
  • Projects that solely re-format traditional media content.

For more information, visit Northern Territory Government.