Michigan and Video Game Developers

Published on July 8, 2010 By Island Dog In PC Gaming

There is a great article on Michigan (Stardock’s home) and other animation/video game devs taking advantage of tax breaks to open and expand their studios.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/detroitnws/detroitnws_ts3065

“In Plymouth, PC gaming company Stardock plans to spend $18 million during the next decade to hire employees and expand its facilities to include a new $900,000 studio. The 60-employee firm was founded in Michigan more than 20 years ago.

CEO Brad Wardell said the credit helps give Michigan technology firms a boost in overcoming other economic challenges, such as an otherwise relatively high state tax burden and a weak high-tech business community. It also helps attract talent and retain Michigan graduates who may have otherwise left for jobs elsewhere. “

Comments (Page 1)

Frogboy

on Jul 08, 2010

Heh. It should be noted that Stardock hasn't received a cent or a tax break. So they're all talking theory.

the_Monk

on Jul 08, 2010

Damn pesky little thing called "citizenship".....hehe

Frogboy

on Jul 08, 2010

Indeed! We would love to have you here!

GG_Crew

on Jul 08, 2010

I'd move to Michigan to work for Stardock.

the_Monk

on Jul 14, 2010

Frogboy

reply 3

Indeed! We would love to have you here!

Well then there's gotta be a way we can make it work.........you know Obama personally right? hehe

ZehDon

on Jul 14, 2010

"Be with you in a second guys, my Sovereign just leveled..."

Luckmann

on Jul 14, 2010

quoting post

[...]

“In Plymouth, PC gaming company Stardock plans to spend $18 million during the next decade to hire employees and expand its facilities to include a new $900,000 studio. The 60-employee firm was founded in Michigan more than 20 years ago.

[...]

So, when can we invest?

MarvinKosh

on Jul 14, 2010

I would love to work in game development. Unfortunately with the lack of enthusiasm for recruiting in the UK (they seem to prefer to squeeze more and more out of the people they already have) chances of me getting onto the job ladder at all aren't very good. If it wasn't for me spending a few days a week working in the stock room of a charity shop, I'd have nothing much on my resume at all.

There's nothing stopping me from getting the hang of the programming languages, but without experience I'm not likely to get a job here, and if I can't get a job I'm not going to get any "relevant" experience. Sometimes I think employers create this situation just to make things more difficult for themselves. The agencies are a joke, you're lucky if they even reply by e-mail never mind call to ask you to come in.

What I despair about most is not the money but the chance to do what I do best. Though at the moment it seems like I'm the king of whining.

Polynomial

on Jul 14, 2010

Ah, Stardock is expanding to develop Society! Hurray!

Annatar11

on Jul 14, 2010

Uh-huh. Keep dreaming, Poly

Polynomial

on Jul 14, 2010

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

ZubaZ

on Jul 14, 2010

the_Monk

reply 5

Well then there's gotta be a way we can make it work

There is at least one citizen of Canadia working for Stardock now and there have been others. What's the hold-up?

the_Monk

on Jul 14, 2010

Zubaz

reply 12

There is at least one citizen of Canadia working for Stardock now and there have been others. What's the hold-up?

I don't know. I don't think Brad replied to my last email yet. The man is too busy programming AI for elemental....

Sola_III

on Jul 28, 2010

quoting post

There is a great article on Michigan (Stardock’s home) and other animation/video game devs taking advantage of tax breaks to open and expand their studios.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/detroitnws/detroitnws_ts3065

“In Plymouth, PC gaming company Stardock plans to spend $18 million during the next decade to hire employees and expand its facilities to include a new $900,000 studio. The 60-employee firm was founded in Michigan more than 20 years ago.

CEO Brad Wardell said the credit helps give Michigan technology firms a boost in overcoming other economic challenges, such as an otherwise relatively high state tax burden and a weak high-tech business community. It also helps attract talent and retain Michigan graduates who may have otherwise left for jobs elsewhere. “

Have to agree. Amazing how you let businesses keep more of their money (albeit through a tax "credit") and they hire folks. Who'd of thought?

Seriously, lived in MI most of my life (now in the middle of the country) and just got back from a family visit on the west side of the state. It is very troubling for me to see MI economic situation given all my family are back there.

Cauldyth

on Jul 29, 2010

As a Canadianite myself currently working in the US, I can tell you it's very easy. It's the easiest citizenship with which to get a work visa, though Australian is a close contender.

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