Game Developer in Texas Receives First Governmental Grant

I thought this piece would serve as an excellent countermeasure to the somber opening that I provided. While individuals may have had mixed opinions on Texas governor Rick Perry’s E3 speech, one promise that he made in his address is that his state would be “a haven for game developers.”

As it turns out, that prediction may actually prove correct.

According to Gamepolitics.com, Pixel Mine, a development company based in the Lone Star State, announced that their first project, Fireteam Reloaded, will receive a production grant. This decision makes them the first development house to receive this honor.

On its face, this piece of news should be the start of something big for aspiring developers in Texas; however, this grant does have several ‘provisions’ which are mentioned in this article.

As of this writing, Fireteam Reloaded was reviewed for any ‘objectionable material,’ but no changes have been made to it as of yet.

I think that it is great that states such as Texas are granting benefits to game developers to improve on their craft, as it gives added credence to the gaming industry’s increasing influence on society. However, I am a bit concerned about the law’s ‘provisions,’ which call for the game in question to conform to ‘general standards of decency and respect for the citizens of Texas.’ As we have seen in the past, it has become too easy for individuals in positions of power to twist standards of ‘decency’ for their own benefits. Jack Thompson and Leland Yee are two examples of individuals who have exercised this yarn time and again.

At this moment though, the intent is positive; let’s hope the execution remains as such.