Film Victoria Announces Which Games Will Share $550,000 In Funding

Victoria is credited with having one of, if not, the best video game programs in all of Australia. Each year, Film Victoria and Creative Victoria fund a number of video game projects, helping bring to life unique and creative ideas. If only the Federal Government had the same outlook on the video game industry. But that’s an argument for another day.

Earlier today, Film Victoria announced that 10 studios would share $550,000 of funding for their projects in the latest round of funding in the Assigned Production Investment – Games Program. There’s a good mix of newly-announced, unannounced and existing projects to receive a share of the spoils. You can find the list of recipients below:

Broken Roads

Release: Late 2021 | Platform: PC/Consoles | Wishlist
Developer: Drop Bear Bytes | Publisher: Drop Bear Bytes

Elevator pitch: Broken Roads is a narrative-driven RPG that brings exploration, strategic turn-based combat and meaningful philosophical choices to an all-new Australian post-apocalyptic setting.

Innchanted

Release: 2021 | Platform: PC | Wishlist
Developer: Dragonbear Studios | Publisher: Dragonbear Studios

Elevator pitch: Innchanted is a co-op adventure where you discover magical potions, serve otherworldly guests, and pacify monsters. Gather your party and journey on a quest to overcome the evil Wizard – your landlord!

Little Ruin

Release: TBA | Platform: PC/Mac/Linux
Developer: Lucernal | Publisher: Lucernal

Elevator pitch: Little Ruin is a narrative-driven isometric adventure for PC, Mac and Linux, set in a crumbling world of moral ambiguity. You are Isobel, a teenage girl entangled in the machinations of a colonial civil war.

Trash

Release: TBA | Platform: PC
Developer: 15 Minutes of Game | Publisher: 15 Minutes of Game

Elevator pitch: Discover a post-human planet in Trash, a beautifully crafted open-world action adventure game where strange and wondrous trash-based life thrives. Explore your surroundings with friends, solve puzzles, craft unique attachments and emerge from the heap.

Wayward Strand

Release: 2021 (hopefully) | Platform: PC/Mac/iOS/Android | Wishlist
Developer: Ghost Pattern | Publisher: Ghost Pattern

Elevator pitch: Wayward Strand is a heartfelt interactive story, told in a unique and curious way. Play as Casey Beaumaris – intrepid teenage journalist – as she visits an airborne hospital for the first time. Uncover the airship’s mysteries, and explore the lives of its inhabitants.

The other studios and projects to receive funding (that had no or very limited info online) are:

• Eternal Ones by Steel Sky Productions
• OvO: Planet Engineer­ by Two Moos
• Site Unseen by Alexander Muscat
• Unannounced project by Guck
• Unannounced project by Darcy Smith & Jessica Shipard

The funding, is a huge boon to the developers, with some using it to complete projects, while others are just getting started. Alexander Muscat, whose project Site Unseen is part of the funding recipients, said that the funding will allow him to collaborate with other local creatives.

The funding from Film Victoria will allow me to involve other game developers and artists in the development of key elements, such as fleshing out the visual style of the multi-dimensional world and creating new exploratory features to enhance the otherworldly experience.

Victorian-based developers can apply now for funding, with decisions made every 4-8 weeks. Visit film.vic.gov.au/funding/games-funding to view the new guidelines and application form.