BY HERNAN LOPEZ, EPIC LLAMA
After a lot of hard work, the new law “Ley audiovisual” was approved by the legislature in Cordoba, Argentina. What does it mean? Why should you care about it?
Well, first let’s talk about the law itself: to clarify, it’s not a law that helps only video games, but any audiovisual production, but since we like videogames… let’s talk about what it does for the video game industry!
The Audiovisual Law of Cordoba will, once implemented, remove taxes from video game developers or companies, subsidize employees of a video game company or developer, directly subsidize video game productions, promotions and research and it will even subsidize the electric bills of video games studios!
The main requisite to apply (and this is why you should care) is to be a developer or video game company established in Cordoba or to be associated with a local video game studio!
Isn’t that great? No matter where you are, you could apply for these benefits as long as you have a partner in Cordoba.
This law is the result of the work we did with “La Mesa del Audiovisual Cordobés”, a group formed by different audiovisual producing associations. Video games are included in this law thanks to ADVA (Argentine Game Developers Association).
Before reaching the final draft of the law and gaining the majority at the legislature, we had to talk with politicians, legislators, ministries and we even had a really productive meeting with the Governor of Cordoba Juan Schiaretti. I should add that after every meeting and to my satisfaction I could see how people in the government showed a particular interest in video games. I remember having long lasting talks with Jorge Alvarez, vocal of Culture of Cordoba, about video game festivals around the world, or talking with the ministry of Industry of Cordoba, Roberto Avalle, about Hidden Object Games and the female demographic.
And that seems to be a trend. In Latin America, governments are starting to realize the economic benefits that the production of video games can bring to the table and they are starting to work towards boosting the sector.
In fact, Argentina’s national government is starting to work on new tools to help the video game industry, starting with the first sectoral committee, with different representatives of the sector (the Game Press, Academic Institutions, the government, ADVA -the Argentine Game Developers Association, etc). I was invited to that first video game sectoral committee, and the outcome of that first meeting was really positive. We are moving towards implementing laws similar to the one in the Cordoba Province, but on a bigger scale, and that is awesome not only for Argentinean developers but for the entire industry.
In that last point I should thank Casual Connect for believing in my work and helping me out with the logistics of staying in Buenos Aires for the first video game sectoral committee of Argentina. Your support truly made the difference and as I said, will not only benefit local developers but all developers around the globe!
Also, and in a less serious tone, I should again thank Casual Connect for sponsoring a great mingle party in Buenos Aires for the local devs. We had a great time there, enjoyed good drinks (I even made some Fernet with Cola. I can’t help it, I’m from Cordoba). The party was just AWESOME, we played pool, we had good booze, we gave away a Casual Connect ticket, we stayed until really late partying, and even Ron Gilbert and Dino Patti were there as special guests! So again, thank you!
In summary, Cordoba, Argentina and LATAM as a whole is starting to become a really fertile soil for game companies to establish, outsource, or co-produce. The increasing growth of the LATAM market is also directly proportional to the growth of the game dev studios that are starting to pop up in the region. So thanks again Casual Connect for the support to our work in boosting the video game sector and staying tuned as more meaningful things for the industry are starting to happen in the LATAM region!
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