DIGITAL GAME DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Summary of findings
Income
Employment
States/Territories


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

At end June 2007, there were 45 businesses in Australia involved in the provision of digital game development services. These businesses employed over 1,400 people and generated a total income of $136.9m which represented an average of $3m per business.

Total expenses incurred for the same period were $128.5m. Almost two-thirds of this amount was attributable to labour costs ($83.8m).

During 2006-07 digital game development services businesses recorded an operating profit before tax of $8.5m, and an operating profit margin of 6.2%.

INCOME

During 2006-07 digital game development services businesses generated a total income of $136.9m. Income from the provision of game development services accounted for 85.4% ($116.9m) of total income.

The majority of income during 2006-07 was earned from overseas sources. Income received from non-resident businesses for the provision of game development services accounted for 79.1% ($108.3m) of total income.

Government funding contributed 1.2% ($1.7m) to total income in 2006-07.

The graph below shows that games developed for console formats (e.g. Playstation, Xbox, Wii) accounted for 71.1% ($83.2m) of total income from the provision of game development services, while games developed for PC and Mac formats accounted for 14.6% ($17.1m).

EMPLOYMENT

At end June 2007, there were 1,431 people employed by digital game development businesses. The majority were male (89.2% or 1,277 people). The graph below shows that artists and animators accounted for 34.3% (491 people) of total employment, while programmers accounted for 29.1% (417 people). Managerial/administrative/clerical workers contributed 14.8% (212 people) to total employment.

Permanent full-time employees accounted for 92.6% (1,325 people) of total employment with non-residents contributing 6.1% (87 people) to total employment.

STATES/TERRITORIES

The graph below shows that businesses providing digital game development services were located predominantly in Queensland and Victoria.

Businesses with a head office situated in Queensland accounted for 40.4% ($55.4m) of total income, 48.6% (695 people) of employment and 22.2% (10) of all businesses. Victoria accounted for the largest proportion of businesses (35.6% or 16), 33.2% ($45.5m) of total income and 33% (472 people) of employment. New South Wales accounted for 17.8% (eight) of all businesses, 8.5% ($11.6m) of total income and 7.2% (103 people) of employment.