The NSW government is keen to promote Sydney as an Asia-Pacific digital hub.
The government used CeBIT to launch the initiative — a showreel will showcase NSW digital strengths during CeBIT Australia, the Vivid Festival and globally.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, announced the NSW Government would support 20 ‘digital media initiative’ projects to help build the state’s creative digital content capability, particularly in electronic games.
"NSW has the major share of Australia's digital industry but needs to build its share of the high value electronic games sector which will increasingly be involved in not just entertainment but the development of serious games in sectors like e-health and education," Stoner said.
“Turning the stereotype of games upside down, one of the projects we are supporting is Hear Right Now, an online serious game which detects hearing loss in children.”
The game is the result of collaboration between a digital agency, media producer and indigenous surgeon, ear, nose and throat specialist, Associate Professor Kelvin Kong.
The government is also sponsoring a game called Terminus, which will be produced by Queanbeyan-based start-up company Uppercut Games.
Plans are also afoot to encourage and expand the local venture capital market for emerging sectors. The government has also launched a Digital Sydney website to profile successful entrepreneurs, leaders, innovators and artists who have chosen NSW as their base.
Stoner also announced the winner of a $10,000 public design competition to develop the visual identity for Digital Sydney. Surry Hills agency, Ascender Design, took out the prize.