In order to succeed in this business, developers (especially new ones) need to squeeze everything out of every dime. Wouldn't it be a big help if the government was there with a few breaks?

Recently IGDA Toronto members attended a presentation by Kim Gibson and Gina Vanni of the Ontario Media Development Corporation, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Culture. Hosted by Goodman's Ventures, the duo gave the crowd a quick run through of the various programs and services for the "cultural media industries" including companies that make interactive digital media products such as games.

The OMDC offers a number of programs through Tax Credits and the Business Innovation Group (BIG). Among other programs, Tax Credits administers the OIDMTC (Ontario Digital Media Tax Credit) which can apply to companies that are full-on commercial, as long as the company is Canadian and the majority of its project is developed in Ontario. Some of the other programs also look very interesting. In addition to the obvious advantage of a tax credit, some of them include providing support for developers to attend E3, GDC, and MILIA, as well as executive exchange programs in places like London, England.

More information on these programs can be found at the OMDC's webage www.omdc.on.ca.

At the end of the presentation, Gibson and Vanni took questions, and a little pressure from our crew. James Schmaltz of Digital Extremes asked about "work for hire" projects (when a developer is handed a project by another party). Tim Carter of Xfunc asked when there would be a program specific to gaming. Someone else griped how a government program had declined to back their game based on the creative.

Gibson and Vanni explained that OMDC doesn't make judgments based on cultural merit. Creative is not a factor in Tax Credit applications. With respect to the BIG programs, "professional development" is the primary concern. BIG also consults with industry leaders to check out applicants. (I offered my services to them after the presentation, so y'all better be nice to me). Anne-Marie Huure of Women Wise also jumped in to say that she has had success with OMDC in the past.

A lot of these programs are new, and obviously things will need to be hammered out. But there is some help from the government, if you know where to look. I think we can also agree here that there was not a lot of communication between the government and the Ontario gaming industry--and now there is, thanks to this meeting.

IGDA Toronto would like to thank Kim Gibson, Gina Vanni and the OMDC for their presentation. They have a newsletter you can sign up for by emailing newsletter@omdc.on.ca, or you can contact the OMDC at 416-314-6858.

Kim Gibson and Gina Vanni	The Presentation
Q&A	Some of the guests wished to remain anonymous

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