The State government has set its eyes on the gaming industry to generate employment and encourage entrepreneurs and game developers in view of its growing importance. It has chalked out plans to launch the ‘Gaming Garage’ in Vijayawada very soon.
The ‘Model Guest House’ located near the foothill of the Indrakeeladri is being spruced up for the Garage. Companies such as the Unity Technologies, Denmark/San Francisco would provide the software. The Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) of Finland would be knowledge/operational partner.
When contacted, Information Technology (IT) Minister Nara Lokesh said any creative thinker could walk into the Garage to develop a game of choice. The government would provide them with “the necessary software and infrastructure free of cost”. It would also encourage them in commercialising their product.
The gaming became an industry with crores of rupees turnover with the rapid development of computers and smartphone technologies. The Cabinet in April gave its nod to animations and visual effects, gaming and comics policy to attract the best from the sector and an investment of about ₹6,400 crore by 2020, he said.
Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Academy (APITA) CEO Winny Patro said in the summer school activities in different universities, minor degrees in gaming, teacher-training activities were being planned. They would develop the ground for selecting the best creative thinkers and innovators. The Garage would have a sister establishment, The School of Gaming, which would give certifications and offer courses in the field of gaming, he said.
Hackathons, game jams, capacity building, creating intern opportunities were some of the activities around the Garage. “It will be a sustainable step towards nurturing and building the ecosystem for aspiring youth to learn these technologies through project- , internship- and hackathon-based learning environment,” he said.
Published - October 23, 2018 01:03 am IST
