Minister for Information Technology & Communications, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, on Sunday said the 8 lakh square foot GAME (Gaming, animation, media and entertainment) City coming up at Rayadurgam here, would be up and running by August 15.
The plug-and-play space, the Minister said, will be complete with facilities that will allow even small companies to carry out their projects. It has been designed to serve as a foundation for the growth and prosperity of the industry, he added.
Hyderabad is fast becoming synonymous with creativity, innovation and talent in the animation industry, he said.
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However, connectivity is not available and this is the gap that the Andhra Pradesh government is trying to bridge, he said.
The animation and gaming industry contributed to just one per cent of the US $ 100 billion software exports, worldwide, Mr. Lakshmaiah said, speaking at the inaugural of Creative Mentors Animation & Gaming College that claims to be the State’s first virtual online facility, here.
President of the Animation, VFX, Comic & Gaming Industry of A.P., K. Basi Reddy, said according to NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies), there was a shortage of 3 lakh skilled workforce in the animation and gaming industry.
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The production facility at GAME City apart, there is a need for the government to provide software, motion control and capture facilities too, he added.
Film director Boyapati Srinu, of ‘Simha’ fame, said animation was the next-generation tool and that the film industry always welcomed new technology in its quest to provide better entertainment. Technology generated a lot of interest among filmmakers he said, assuring youth that there was tremendous potential.