Video Game Industry Leads Entertainment Job Creation in Texas

Incentive Program Grows Video Game Industry and State Investment

WASHINGTON, DC - The computer and video game industry created more full time jobs in the past two years than any other moving image entertainment sector, according to a new report from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. An Analysis of Texas Economic Development Initiatives highlights state investment from the film, television, commercial, and video game industries and how each benefited from the “Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.”

“The Texas incentive program is a great example of how investing in the computer and video game industry attracts 21st century jobs and boosts a state’s economy,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “We commend Governor Perry and the Texas legislature for their vision in creating a program to cultivate these high-tech jobs.”

The comptroller’s report found that the state’s incentive program, first enacted in 2007 and expanded in 2009, contributed significantly to the computer and video game industry’s growth in Texas by creating an estimated 1,700 jobs between April 2009 and August 2010. The incentive program provides grants for qualifying productions including movies, television shows, commercials and computer and video games in an effort to create jobs for Texas residents.

“Texas was one of the first states with an incentive for the video game industry, and it has proven successful,” said Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. “In 2009, the video game industry spent $234 million in Texas and employed 3,400 permanent workers with a positive economic impact on the state and on their local communities.”

A number of states now compete for video game industry jobs, with a number of them adopting incentive programs, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina.

The Entertainment Software Association is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the E3 Expo, business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com.