What is the NZGDA?

The New Zealand Game Developers Association was formed in late 2001 to consolidate and support the games development industry within New Zealand. Specifically, the NZGDA seeks to

Build quality development and business capability and capacity within New Zealand
Build networks for New Zealand game developers both nationally and internationally
Promote game development as a career and support game development education
Retain talented individuals and games companies within New Zealand
Attract investment, publisher and distributor interest
Advocate responsible videogaming and the dissemination of factual gaming information

By working closely with developers, educational institutions and government bodies, the NZGDA seeks to build the New Zealand game development industry into a preferred supplier of products and services for the growing US$10 billion worldwide videogame industry.

For more information about the NZGDA and our aims, please contact us on info@nzgda.com

Who are the NZGDA?

The NZGDA membership is made up of a number of commercial game developers with additional partners in government and the NZ Student IGDA chapters.

The current President of the NZGDA is Mario Wynands, who is also Managing Director of Sidhe Interactive.

What are the criteria for joining the NZGDA?

Interested parties must exhibit the following

You are a New Zealand based commercial entity (eg you have an IRD number)
You have a greater than 50% focus on developing commercial games, gaming hardware, or game development software and tools
You have a web presence

Membership of individual academics or educational institutions by invitation only.

There is presently no cost in joining the NZGDA.

Can I link to the NZGDA website from my own site?

Yes, we are happy for you to link to our site. You can use a text link, or one of the following banners -

What software is used in the game development industry?

Software typically varies from company to company but the packages which are predominantly used include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Alias/Wavefront Maya, Discreet 3DS Max, OpenGL, Microsoft DirectX, and Microsoft Visual C++.

What do I need to study at school to get into the games industry?

Every game development company has different criteria for employment, so people get into the industry via a range of backgrounds and experience. However, as the industry becomes increasingly competitive and complex, the standards for entry are also increasing and interested people are advised to take their studies as far as possible.

At secondary school, consider taking a mix of english, math, science, computers, and art. Beyond secondary school, consider a tertiary institution where you could study computer science, programming, graphic design, or animation (some also offer game development related courses).

It is also useful for you to build up a portfolio outside of any formal training programme. By working on your own game related projects in your spare time, you build up practical knowledge as well as having something more tangible to show a prospective employer.

Which NZ training institutions currently offer game development related courses?

Note: the above list is provided for reference only. The NZGDA does not officially endorse any academic programme, and takes no responsibility for the quality and management of any individual course listed above.

How can I tell whether a game development related course is of good quality?

Game development courses in New Zealand are not currently audited by either the NZGDA or any other games industry body. Students are advised to undertake their own research into any game development course you are considering.

Consider asking the course provider the following questions to aid in your assessment of their particular programme:

What links does the course have with the games industry?
Is there anyone in the game industry that could be spoken to regarding the course?
How long has the institution been offering games courses?
Have any of the graduates found work in the industry? Where are they now working?
Does the course offer separate specialised programming and art streams?
If they offer a programming course, does it teach 3D game programming using C and C++?
If they offer an art course, does it teach 3D game art production?
Does the course explore game console development rather than just PC development?
Is the development software that is used in the course also used in the games industry?
If the answer is yes, what development studios are using this software?
Is the equipment at a sufficient level to run this type of software?
Do the tutors and/or lecturers have any professional industry experience?
If they do, where was it and for how long?

How do I look for a job in the NZ games industry?

This website should be an important resource when looking for employment as it is a portal to commercial game developers within New Zealand. Keep an eye on the NZGDA news page and forums and on individual members websites for notices of vacancies.

It is important to remember that game development companies are generally small and may not have a dedicated human resources person or an established HR policy. Because of this you might not receive a prompt reply on your application.

Some companies may be happy to field calls or emails from prospective employees without having any vacancies, but you should not turn up to the offices of a prospective employer unannounced or without an appointment.

How easy is it for a foreigner to migrate to NZ and work in the NZ games industry?

NZ immigration policy allows for people to migrate to New Zealand under a range of different criteria.

Those with practical experience in the game development industry are likely bringing new skills into the country and should be able to apply for residency under the "Skilled Migrant" category. Those without game development experience will have to apply under a seperate category for residency status. Ideally, obtaining a job offer from a NZ game studio will make this process much easier.

For more information on NZ immigration policy and procedures, contact the NZ Immigration Service.

I have a great idea for a game. Now what?

An idea alone is not valuable in the games industry. To be successful it must be backed by financing and the ability to produce it.

If you have an idea for a game of the type you might buy in a store, then you could approach existing developers as potential partners. Be advised they will likely be already working on their own projects and you will be expected to bring more to the table than just the well documented idea itself. Alternatively, you could set up your own studio.

If you have an idea for a smaller game that you might download from the web or similar, then find some like minded, passionate, talented and reliable people and get started. You can do a lot with a small dedicated and motivated team.

I want to set up my own game development studio in NZ. Where do I start?

There are many ways for you to approach this, and a lot will depend on the types of games you intend to produce.

To start with, you should consider writing a business plan covering some or all of the following

Vision and aims of the studio
Target clients, projects, and platforms
Financing and cashflow
Staffing requirements
Hardware, software, and other infrastructure requirements
Production considerations

You also are advised to visit the Companies Office, ACC, and Inland Revenue Department websites to investigate what administrative and compliance tasks you will be required to undertake when running an NZ company.

What NZ government institutions can assist my company?

The following government institutions can assist your company with advice, referrals and grants (assuming eligibility criteria are met)