Victorians scoop pool in Playstation competition
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Media release - 1 September 2005
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The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, today congratulated young Victorians on winning prizes, including the $6,000 major accolade, in the Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) Expose competition in Sydney last night.
Twenty-year-old Victorian Thomas Marley, took out both the student category and the Grand Prize for his animation The Drop, creating a place in history as one of the first people to create Australian downloadable content for the new PSPâ„¢ (PlayStation®Portable).
In a quest to uncover Australia's most creative talent, SCE Aust. shortlisted 26 finalists from around the country, including 10 from Victoria.
"My congratulations go to all the short-listed Victorian entrants on a fantastic effort," Ms Thomson said.
"National recognition by a games world leader such as Sony Computer Entertainment is a real coup and a great example of the cutting-edge work being produced in Victoria's games industry.
"Thomas's success is a testimony to the innovation and hard work being done by our local industry and a particular credit to Holmesglen TAFE."
Thomas, who was snapped up by leading Melbourne games company Act3 Animation, as part of the Victorian Government's Digital Media Fund internship program, created his prize-winning animation as his final year project at Holmesglen TAFE last year.
His animation involves a battalion of raindrops preparing for their next jump to earth. As they mass by the thousands, one timid raindrop must find the courage to make the jump - before he is pushed.
Holmesglen TAFE animation course coordinator Clint Cure said he was impressed by Thomas's animation, even at the storyboard stage, and encouraged Thomas to enter Expose.
"Our course concentrates on character animation and that is where Thomas excelled with The Drop," Mr Cure said.
"It was a year in production - six months in pre-production, creating the story boards and character design, then a further six months in actual production. He kept the characters simple and showed great imagination. I'm really proud that he's turned his High Distinction animation into an Australian award winner."
Expose aimed to unearth the best new Australian content available for the PSP with entries of screen-based audio-visual works ranging from short videos, flash and audio productions.
Ms Thomson said Victoria's success in the nationwide Expose project would build on the State's reputation as the computer game capital of Australia.
She said the Bracks Government aimed to grow the games industry with specific initiatives in the areas of infrastructure, business growth and skills, through its development policy, Game Plan: Game On.
"Victoria is home to Australia's computer game industry and it is proving itself, time and time again, with world-class products and content," Ms Thomson said.
"The Bracks Government has put together a strong package of support for the Victorian games industry, including the newly invigorated ICT Trade Events and Export Assistance Program which will help games companies take their businesses to world markets."
Winning entries of Expose are now available for download to PSP users at www.yourpsp.com.au. PSP goes on sale in Australia today.
For more information on Victorian Government support for the Victorian computer game industry visit www.mmv.vic.gov.au/games.
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