Welcome to Wrestling Gamers United Newsletter #349
Well it's been an eventful few weeks but I'm finally getting settled here in Alberta. I've still got a butt load of unpacking to do but at least my internet access is back up and I can get back to work. And there is definitely no shortage of work to be done.
The New Media Fund is where we received the bulk of our funding from. We were hoping to appeal for the release of some remaining funds we beleive we had owing to us under our contract with the fund but it doesn't look too promising given the demise of the fund. Now, I'm not going to be a crybaby about it. I don't believe we should rely as much as we have on the New Media Fund and to be honest I agree with the Canadian government on this decision. The way the fund was administered just wasn't working well within the realities of the game industry and the way projects need to be funded. I believe the government should be supporting the development of Canadian new media projects but in terms of funding game studios a new fund should be set up and administered by game industry professionals. But, again, game studios shouldn't feel entitled to governement hand outs (grants or even loans) and if no new program is forthcoming it would force studios to earn their funding the old fashioned way: make something people want.
To that end I'm getting my claws into the scene here in Alberta. I've been introducing myself and PWX to the business community, indy wrestling scene, and slowly drumming up support for what we're doing. One thing I'm finding to be true here is that pro wrestling is not an embarrassment to most people. Almost everyone I meet here knows or is related to someone who used to work for Stampede Wrestling and they're actually proud of the fact. When people see Uprising in action and the Canadian characters such as Dane it goes over really well. Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I'm getting the feeling that PWX is going to get a lot of support here in Alberta. With the game industry in Vancouver in a bit of a panic over canceled projects and lay offs the vibe here in Alberta is the complete opposite. The economy is booming relative to other places and the new media industry is growing rather than cutting back.
We shall see where this goes. The studio in Van is scheduled to remain open for quite a while yet and I have no plans of moving it out here permanently but at the very least it makes sense to get something happening here in Alberta as well. Seemed to work ok for Bioware...
In the meantime and in-between time, that's it. Another edition of Wrestling Gamers United.
Argh... Jackass Conservatives and their arts funding cuts. I feel for ya man. Hopefully the libs'll pick someone competent to run in the next election and not that useless douchebag Dion.
EDIT: Perhaps I should explain this slightly. Although cutting funding for the arts seems like a good idea in this tough climate, it kills the tourist trade, especially in Quebec, where Tourism is entirely based upon the various festivals and shows we have here throughout the year.
This kind of douchebaggery cost us the Grand Prix this year, which was definitely a jolt to the economy. I'm sure this is probably gonna be hating Toronto pretty hard as well, and is most likely killing small businesses like Dave's.
Christ. Why can't conservatives (and republicans down in the States) adhere to Conservative principles (small government, lower taxes, strong militaries, etc) without being complete douchebags (religious right, overt corruption stemming from lobbyism, slashing funding for EVERYTHING).
All do respect my man, funding comes from taxes and spending. If I give to Dave (which I have) to support his product because I deem it to be something I want to support, that's my choice. When the government takes away my money from my paycheck so that it decides where my hard-earned money comes from instead of me... that don't fly with me. At least here in the states.
an average joe worked his butt off 12 hours a day, he wants the money he earned - that person might not give two craps about wrestling video games, yet he's forced to give dave money through the government?
I totally agree in a large sense and I'm the last person to whine about my precious funding programs biting the dust. The money could be spent much more wisely.
The issue we face a lot more here in Canada is the fighting between various provinces. On one hand the province of British Columbia where our studio is complains that all the good talent goes to Quebec to work. Know why? Quebec offers game companies such massive tax credits and incentives to build their new media industry that most of the companies there really only pay a small percentage of employee wages out of their own pockets. So if Joe 3D Artist gets paid $40/hr in Quebec that company might only really be paying $20/hr for him. If I wanted to compete for Joe I'd have to offer him more than double what the Quebec company has to pay out of pocket. I'm not saying it's fair or unfair, just the way it is.
Oh but one small FYI, all of the money paid to us by Telefilm is a loan, not a grant. It's a debt we are required to pay back.