FILL CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS WITH QUEENSLAND-MADE GIFTS: MICKEL

Shoppers are being urged to put Queensland-made products such as electronic games, music CDs, books and food at the top of their Christmas lists this year.

Minister for State Development John Mickel today visited Australia’s largest independent electronic games developer, Krome Studios to see some of the world-class electronic games that have been developed in Queensland this year and talk about other local products gracing shelves for Christmas 2006.

“Queenslanders spent around $29 million on games and game-related products last December according to retail and technology market researchers GFK Australia, so it’s no secret they are a popular gift for people of all ages,” Mr Mickel said.

“This Christmas, several new games developed in the Smart State are available, including:

• The Creative Assembly's Medieval 2 Total War
• Krome Studio’s The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning
• Pandemic Studios’ Destroy All Humans! 2 (recently awarded Australian Game of the Year)
• Auran’s Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006
• Halfbrick Studios’ Barnyard, Avatar the Last Air Bender and Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island

“This is great news for the local industry and its talented creative professionals,” Mr Mickel said.

“Employment at Queensland games development studios has grown by 60 per cent on the last two years, and now exceeds 600 people.”

After a recent expansion into Adelaide and Melbourne, Krome Studios is now one of the largest independent studios in the world employing 300 staff, 225 of those in Queensland.

The company’s TY the Tasmanian Tiger is the number one selling Australian game of all time and Krome has secured a deal with DPS Film Roman, producers of The Simpsons, to develop the game into an animated cartoon.

Mr Mickel said games developers like Krome Studios were part of a huge pool of world-class Queensland, creative talent also including writers, visual artists, designers, musicians, film makers, architects and fashion designers.
“The Queensland Government has helped Smart State writers and musicians secure more than $1.4 million in commercial deals from the United States (US) over the past three years, including:

• US publishing and film option agreements for authors Rebecca Sparrow, Kim Wilkins, Louise Cusack, Pamela Rushby and Tiana Templeman;
• UK agency deals for writers Sue Gough and Prue Mason;
• US film deal for Queensland writer Nick Earls’ 48 Shades of Brown; and
• European tour and licensing deal for band Soma Rasa, and US licensing deals for Resin Dogs.

“The books and CDs by these artists are just some of the fantastic Smart State products that I hope will be filling up stockings this Christmas,” Mr Mickel said.

“No Christmas shopping list would be complete without food to feast on, so I also suggest stocking up on local, gourmet goodies created by Queenslanders, including:

• handmade fruit loaves from Avril's Tastebud Teasers;
• dips and marinades from Suzanne Quintner Fine Foods;
• home-baked gluten-free delights from Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies; or
• cakes from Choice Desserts.

“This is the time of the year when we tend to dig a bit deeper and enjoy some special treats,” Mr Mickel said.

“In fact, retail turnover in Queensland reached more than $4.5 billion last December.

“Buying Smart State products would inject more of these dollars back into Queensland and support the fantastic work of our innovative businesses.

“The Queensland Government’s message is simple: give the fruits of Smart State labour as gifts this Christmas.”
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Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.

7 December, 2006