GameCyte

Like developing games? Like saving money? Like the Braves? Have we got a state for you!

Gamasutra is reporting that Georgia's Governor Sonny Perdue has signed a new law to make the Peach State more attractive to the entertainment industry, including game developers. House Bill 1100, which was signed on Monday, allows a tax credit of up to 20% for qualifying TV, film, and game studios who produce work in Georgia. If your game gives props to Georgia, that tax break can go up another 10%:

'Qualified Georgia promotion' means a qualified promotion of this state approved by the Department of Economic Development consisting of a:
...
Qualified interactive game which includes a 15 second long Georgia advertisement in units sold and imbedded in online promotions.

Bill Thompson, deputy commissioner of the Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office, had some pretty strong words for the new bill. "The 2008 Entertainment Industry Investment Act (HB 1100) will return Georgia to its rightful place of prominence in all major entertainment industry segments. We expect a significant increase in film and television projects, and Georgia will be the most competitive state in the country for video game productions." Take that, North Carolina!
This is some game legislation we can get behind. Between this and the new law saying you can bring a gun to the Olive Garden, Atlanta's looking pretty awesome right now.

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