EC forks out for dosh game devs

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION is gearing up to offer grants to small games developers across Euroland, thanks to the European Games Developer Federation.

Under the scheme, successful applicants can grab themselves a grant for €60,000 for a €100,000 project. The projects can be protypes for either console, PC or mobile and the EU budget will cover concept work, business development, licensing rights, marketing - the whole shebang.

Those attracting the top amount of funding will focus their game mechanics on concepts which "focus on the cultural heritage and diversity of Europe". So, World War 2 shooters, anyone?

British developers, in particular, have been lobbying for better support from the establishment for the game development industry, as more and more Average Joe programming jobs move to eastern Europe and India, and the industry suffers from a perception of elitism.

Gone are the days, most would suggest, that two dudes can create a hit company out of their bedroom a la Codemasters. Perhaps this kind of grant can re-ignite a little spark of creativity? µ