Interesting read......I like this guy

[Zeus]

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '><b>Link:</b> <a href="http://pocket.ign.com/articles/389/3891 ... l">here</a>

Interesting read......I like this guy</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>I have a hard time justifying government subsidized entertainment that is enjoyed by relatively few people.</div>

[the Gray]

<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>Video games are breaking through Kupek, in the UK they are a major form of entertainment, much more than in N.A. And their popularity is only going to increase.</div>

[Zeus]

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>The government subsidize a TON of other industries that even fewer people enjoy (ie. artists of all kind), so why not these guys?</div>

[G-man Joe]

<div style='font: 11pt "Fine Hand"; text-align: left; '>Isn't video game programming more mainstream than say....sculpting or miming?</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>I have a hard time justifying that as well.</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>Their popularity does not mean they deserve government subsidies.</div>

[the Gray]

<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>It increases the chance that they might break through, increasing revenue into the UK and making the UK and even more prominent developer country. Makes more sense than funding some Arts (which I do happen to like)</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>I'd rather government money go towards more social programs rather than subsidizing industries.</div>

[Zeus]

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>Part of a government's job is it encourage businesses within its region, particularly those of "cultural value". It's an important part of economic policy</div>

[Zeus]

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>Yeah, but it doesn't mean that they should ignore sculpting or mimes</div>

[G-man Joe]

<div style='font: 11pt "Fine Hand"; text-align: left; '>That's my point. The less mainstream are the ones looking for funding. Video game programming? I don't think they need public funding.</div>

[SineSwiper]

<div style='font: 11pt "EngraversGothic BT", "Copperplate Gothic Light"; text-align: left; '>And movies are not mainstream? Film making was one of the areas he quoted that the govt funds.</div>

[SineSwiper]

<div style='font: 11pt "EngraversGothic BT", "Copperplate Gothic Light"; text-align: left; '>The problem is that it costs millions of dollars to make a video game.</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>The enormous cost of making a videogame doesn't make the videogame industry more worthy of government subsidies.</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>I am emphaticly in favor of government involvement in industries that people depend on - health care, insurance, food and drug, utilities such as electricity and water, and the mail service all come to mind. Sometimes the government involvement is being/should be an active part of the industry, just provide regulations, or actually give direct subsidies. I'm by no means a worshipper of the free market.

But when it comes to funding profit-driven entertainment industries, I'm highly skeptical. I need an airtight case why they deserve government funding - they <i>might</i> get big and they <i>might</i> make a larger impact on the economy are not enough. Especially considering the risky nature of the videogame industry. Many games - even ones that have significant budgets - suck. It's a risky investment.

As a consumer of videogames, I'd like to see the liklihood of better games come out go up. But I can't justify government subsidization of the industry.</div>

[Zeus]

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>Hey, if they're gonna subsidize manufacturing industries, they may as well have equal rights for the rest..</div>

[Zeus]

<div style='font: 9pt ; text-align: left; '>"Independent" films.......but of course they give sweetheart deals to Hollywood</div>

[G-man Joe]

<div style='font: 11pt "Fine Hand"; text-align: left; '>Believe it or not, it's such an expensive career that most aspiring film makers have to get funding.</div>

[Julius Seeker]

<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>Hold on a second, how can you be against putting a few million into arts which benefit human culture and society and then be all for putting billions in the Space Program which has not benefitted society?</div>

[Don]

<div style='font: 12pt ; text-align: left; '>The only case I think you'd actually need subsidy is if you're fighting against some mega international firm since you can't get economies of scale early on. If capitalists aren't willing to spend money to develop something, why do we assume the government somehow knows better on what's profitable?</div>

[Kupek]

<div style='font: 10pt verdana; text-align: left; padding: 0% 10% 0% 10%; '>Not arts, for-profit industries.</div>