Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $30,000
- Application opened: 13 January 2025
- Application closed: 24 February 2025, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the program are to:
- Support NSW game creators to advance early concept original digital games IPs to reach the next stage of development
- Assist successful applicants to prepare their project to raise additional finance for full-scale development
- Encourage sustainable growth for the NSW games sector and a diverse pipeline of game talent in NSW.
This program is administered by Screen NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Please see the Screen NSW website for the full guidelines.
All applicants need to fulfil the following criteria:
- If an individual, the applicant must be a NSW resident (i.e., lived and operated in NSW for at least six months immediately before the application).
- If a company, the applicant must be incorporated in Australia and taken to be registered in NSW, have their central management and control in Australia and carry out business in Australia.
- Applicants must have an ABN.
- Applicants must not be full-time secondary or tertiary students; or employing students who are currently studying games, or a field related to games. Part-time students are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- Applicants who are an employee of a Federal or state or territory government screen agency are not eligible to apply.
- An applicant cannot be a licensee of a service under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth) or a related body corporate of such a licensee (as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)).
- Applicants must have the right to carry out the project, for example, own or have the licenses of any relevant copyright. If the application is based on a third-party underlying work, applicants must have an appropriate option agreement. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they have the necessary rights if required by providing chain of title documents.
- Applicants must have a project team member with a key creative credit on at least one game that has been released to the general public e.g. Steam, itch.io.
- There can be only one application for a particular game. If more than one NSW developer is working on the project, a joint application for the game will need to be made.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Eligible games must be:
- Intended for public release
- At concept or early-stage development
- Completely digital.
Eligible games for funding include:
- Games for entertainment purposes
- Games for any platform including console, desktop, tablet, mobile, VR/AR
- Multi-player and single-player games.
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Ineligible games include but are not limited to:
- Games involving gambling, for example games falling within the definition of ‘gambling service’ as defined in Section 4 of the Interactive Gambling Act, 2001 (Cth)
- Games involving ‘gambling’ and ‘unlawful game’ as defined in the Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW)
- Games developed for research, advertising or corporate marketing, or other business-to-business audiences or purposes
- Games primarily designed for educational or training purposes
- Games consisting of curriculum or other educational or training material
- Games that are likely to be refused classification under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995
- Games that are not completely digital (board games or hybrid digital/physical games).
What your application needs to include
Applicants are required to complete an application form and submit project documentation including:
- Project details (e.g., early design documentation, concept art)
- Creative pitch presentation
- Project plan with an estimated development timeline, finance and budget plan
- CVs of team members including information about you, your team
- and any other supporting documentation.
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Head of Screen NSW
Applications will be initially reviewed by Screen NSW staff to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all application materials are acceptable.
After eligibility is confirmed, the application will be assessed by a minimum of one Screen NSW staff and an external industry specialist.
Please note that funding allocation follows a competitive process. Evaluations will consider the assessment criteria outlined above, the availability of funds at Screen NSW, the variety and representation of the original IP and the applicant's need for Screen NSW funds.
Support and contact
Screen NSW PDV & Digital Games team - pdvgames@screen.nsw.gov.au