The Arcade (company)
 Current logo as of September 2016. | |
| Company type | Private nonprofit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Workspace |
| Founded | September 2013 |
| Founder | Tony Reed |
| Headquarters | Levels 1-2, 71-75 City Road, , |
Number of locations | 1 (2016) |
Area served | Melbourne, Australia |
Key people |
|
| 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[edit]
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 moved to a new premises in South Melbourne in early 2017.
In March 2020 IGEA merged with GDAA, acquiring all assets including The Arcade.[7] Key Arcade members Ceri Hutton and Sav Emmett Wolfe continue to run The Arcade whilst also assuming new roles within IGEA.[citation needed]
Culture[edit]
According to the Sydney 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[edit]
It currently houses 33 Australian gaming development studios including:
- CG Spectrum
- Considerable Content
- DBolical
- Dime Studios
- Double Jump
- Fluffy Kitten Studios
- Game Developer's Association of Australia
- Goat Entertainment
- Grapple Gun Games
- Green Stripe Snake
- igda Melbourne
- Ironworks Games
- Log
- Lumi
- ManyMonkeys
- Mighty Games
- Minimega
- Mountains
- Points of Engagement
- Positomic
- Rocket Jump
- Samurai Punk
- Surprise Attack
- The Otherworld Agency
- The Voxel Agents
- Tin Man Games
- VectorStorm
- Wander
- Yak&Co
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "The Arcade Melbourne". The Arcade.
- ^ "The Arcade: a capitalist commune of indie game development". CNET. CBS Interactive. 22 December 2014.
- ^ "The Arcade And Funding For Australian-Made Video Games | Kotaku Australia". Kotaku.com.au. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Digital games". Invest Victoria. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ Francis, Hannah (22 September 2015). "How Siobhan Reddy turned video games into high art". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Kye White (15 October 2014). "The Arcade opens its doors for a day to aspiring game developers". StartupSmart.
- ^ "Media Alert: IGEA and GDAA update". 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Arcade the clear winner for Australia's digital games industry". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 October 2014.
- ^ Kye White (15 October 2014). "The Arcade opens its doors for a day to aspiring game developers". StartupSmart.com.au. Retrieved 17 February 2016.