State Isn’t Playing Games – High-Tech Jobs Secured for Sunshine Coast

The Bligh Government has brokered a deal that will see one of Australia’s biggest video game developers establish a Sunshine Coast office, generating millions of dollars in economic opportunities and more than 80 jobs.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas today confirmed Melbourne-based Big Ant Studios plans to locate an initial 30-person development team at the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast.

“Late last year I launched GAME ON at the State Library, an exhibition that explores the history of video gaming,” Mr Lucas said.

“Now Queensland is shaping gaming’s future.-

“There is no doubt that Queensland is at the forefront of games development in Australia.

“Games are great fun but this is about a serious issue – jobs, jobs, jobs for Queenslanders.

“Worldwide last year, video game sales were worth around $70 billion. It’s great to see the Sunshine Coast get a piece of the action.”

Big Ant Studios is a renowned developer of best selling video games such as AFL and Spiro the Dragon for the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms.

The company is ready to make a long-term commitment to Queensland, with plans to expand its workforce here on the coast to at least 84 over the next four years.

“This office will mean high-tech, creative jobs are available to our students – including graduates from the University of the Sunshine Coast University – in one of the most progressive industries in the world,” Mr Lucas said.

“This is a ready-made opportunity for local graduates,” Mr Lucas said.

Big Ant is expected to become a key employer in a region expecting more than 6000 new residents within the next 10 years.

Minister for Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said Big Ant’s move had cemented Queensland’s position as Australia’s “game central”.

“Queensland now leads the country in terms of employment and income from games development,” she said.

“In fact, in the last financial year Queensland game developers raked in more than $55 million which is a 40% slice of the country’s total videogame earnings.

“Big Ant joins other big names in the industry such as Tantalus and THQ who have already been lured to Queensland.”

Big Ant CEO Ross Symons said the Sunshine Coast was a great addition for the company.

“The quality of the local innovation sector here, the support of the Queensland Government and my staff’s positive reaction to moving to the Sunshine Coast quickly convinced us it was the right decision,” he said.

“We’ve found that recruiting overseas management to come and live on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has been a really easy case to make.”

Mr Symons said that other than management the proposed facility would be staffed almost entirely by graduates.

“This is a young industry that requires skilled professionals and the quality of the graduates coming out of Queensland’s universities made us realise that the advantages of Queensland were too good to refuse,” he said.

Media contact

Acting Premier’s office: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868
Minister for Regional Development and Industry: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005

Company contact: Mr Ross Symons, CEO, media@bigant.com or 0419 312 006