The Arcade (company)

The Arcade
Private nonprofit
Industry Workspace
Founded September 2013 (2013-09)
Founder Tony Reed
Headquarters Levels 1-2, 71-75 City Road, Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria 3006, Australia
Number of locations
1 (2016)
Area served
Melbourne, Australia
Key people
  • Tony Reed
Services
Owner Game Developer's Association of Australia
Website thearcade.melbourne

The Arcade is an Australian nonprofit company that houses indie game developers in designated workspaces in order to foster a creative community "using game methodologies and technologies".[1] They share property rent and are open to game testing each other's games to offer critique and support.

History

The company was established in 2013 in Melbourne.[1] Tony Reed, president of the Game Developer's Association of Australia, came up with the idea in 2010. After being declined two times by the Australian government, they were given a chance to test it successfully, after which they were given funding from Film Victoria, as well as seed money from the GDAA.[2] Part of the rationale is due to politician Joe Hockey cancelling the Interactive Media Fund, thereby taking $10 million out of the Australian video game industry.[3]

As of 2016, the company hosts 33[4][5] video game studios from a small amount the previous year.[6] The company is planning to expand into another location, with its location undecided[7] as of September 2016.

Culture

According to the Sunday Morning Herald, the company "offers discounted office space and hot desking, plus the significant benefits of shared knowledge and networking that come with working alongside others".[8]

One of the devs explained: "I was working from home, going insane. I found out that this space was starting up...It’s been incredible. If I’ve got a question from a tech perspective...I can just go and talk to some of Australia’s foremost experts...That kind of expertise is just invaluable as a developer".[9]

Companies

It currently houses 33 Australian gaming development studios from 4 or 5 the previous year.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Arcade Melbourne". The Arcade.
  2. 1 2 "The Arcade: a capitalist commune of indie game development". CNET. CBS Interactive. 22 December 2014.
  3. "The Arcade And Funding For Australian-Made Video Games | Kotaku Australia". Kotaku.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  4. "Digital games". Invest Victoria. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  5. Francis, Hannah (22 September 2015). "How Siobhan Reddy turned video games into high art". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. Kye White. "The Arcade opens its doors for a day to aspiring game developers". StartupSmart.
  7. Nguyen, Patrick (27 August 2015). "An encounter with The Arcade and the GDAA". Gamespresso. Retrieved 16 September 2016 via Digimental Media Group.
  8. "Arcade the clear winner for Australia's digital games industry". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. Kye White. "The Arcade opens its doors for a day to aspiring game developers". StartupSmart.com.au. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
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