
19 07 2022 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $4 million for 31 games through the Games: Expansion Pack fund
Servonauts
The Minister for the Arts, the Hon Tony Burke MP, together with Screen Australia is pleased to announce the 31 Australian games supported through the Games: Expansion Pack fund. Due to the incredible quality and depth of the applications, the $3 million fund announced in March this year was expanded to supply over $4 million to games spanning genres including action, adventure, puzzle, arcade, building, roleplaying and more.
The Minister for the Arts, the Hon Tony Burke MP said, The Australian Government is committed to supporting the Australian digital games sector - to create, innovate and flourish and achieve its full potential.
Screen Australia's Head of Online, Lee Naimo said, We were blown away by the number of outstanding applications which have demonstrated the wealth of talented creatives and original ideas that are coming out of the Australian games sector. We're excited to be back in this space and supporting Australian developers to continue to create distinctive games that find traction here and around the world, and help strengthen the local workforce.
These games are artistic, educational, inspiring and fun projects, and we're pleased to have been able to support even more projects than we anticipated. It's fantastic to have such a wide mix from all around the country.
Targeted at emerging or small to medium independent game studios, the Games: Expansion Pack initiative provides direct funding for original games with budgets below $500,000. The fund will reopen for applications in September 2022.
The projects receiving funding include:
Bits & Bops (NSW): A collection of over 20 original rhythm mini-games filled with catchy music, snappy gameplay and hand-drawn animation. Bits & Bops is created by Tempo Lab Games, which includes Managing Director Evan Andrews, Art Director Rose Hammer and composer Julian Sanchez.
Bosswords (VIC): A grandiloquent word game for logophiles from PlayReactive where players must quickly find a word that contains a given set of letters. This may seem easy, but try Q R T K' and it becomes decidedly tricky (answer: earthquake!).
Earthlingo (WA): A language-learning role-playing game where players take on the role of an alien exploring Earth and learning local languages. Players use vocabulary skills to battle evil robots and save the humans of Earth. The Earthlingo creative team is helmed by Lead Developer Raymond Corrigan and Project Manager Zilin Su.
Enchantress (VIC): A visual novel where players play as a young jeweller who has the ability to imbue her creations with her customer's emotions. The player is invited to navigate a story that explores themes of grief and emotional regulation through a thought-provoking, fantasy lens. The creative team, Cactus Jam Games, includes Creative Director Nidula Geeganage, Art Director Julia Ye, Lead Programmer Audrey Castillo and Artist Friyana Madon.
Fox and Shadow (SA): A deck-building game set in a retro-futuristic world where AI has taken over, forcing humanity underground. To survive, humans must pilot drones to salvage materials from the world above. The creative team, Paper Cactus Games, includes Producer Leo Cheung, Lead Programmer Jackson Michael and Lead Designer Sapphire Van Veen.
Future Folklore (VIC): A building/crafting game with a uniquely Indigenous lens that invites players to restore the bush and care for Country, in a futuristic fantasy setting inspired by the Australian bush. The creative team, Guck, features Game Director Hayley Percy Joyce, Art Director Jarra Karalinar Steel, Lead Designer Phoebe Watson, Producer Ripley Kavara, Lead Developer Daniel Dang, Lead Artist Charlotte Allingham, Managing Director Kati Elizabeth, Composer Robert Champion and Community Manager Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan. This project has also received support from VicScreen.
Leonardo's Moon Ship (TAS): A narrative adventure game set in Renaissance Florence, where famed inventor Leonardo da Vinci is the talk of the town. But when a mysterious message calls to Da Vinci, he finds himself torn between the love of his fans, the wrath of his enemies, and his boundless desire to learn more. Featuring hand animation, players will make friends and enemies, solve puzzles, and talk their way out of all sorts of scrapes. This game is a collaboration between Secret Lab, including Creative Director Jon Manning, Producer Paris Buttfield-Addison, and Writer and Animator Jim Capobianco.
Moonlight In Garland (VIC): An open-ended life simulation game created by solo Developer Violet LeBeaux. Inspired by LeBeaux's own experience of moving to Melbourne, this game is about finding your feet in the big city. Players can decorate their apartment, make new friends, grow lots of houseplants and enjoy their newfound city life. Moonlight in Garland has also received support from VicScreen.
Servonauts (QLD): A casual, multiplayer puzzle game from Maxart where players take on the role of a goofy Servonaut in an intergalactic petrol station, and need to manage chaotic pipes to provide fuel, air and snacks to customers. The team includes Creative Director Thomas MacNamara, Lead Artist Johan Becconsall, Producer Tom Smeltzer and Managing Director Peter Clowes.
Totem Teller (VIC): A pensive and deeply philosophical game that charges the player to reflect on their own past and how history shapes us as humans. Classic, source' folktales are retold through exploration, poetry, dialogue and a highly distinctive glitch-art style. The team, Grinning Pickle, includes Creative Director Ben Kerslake, Lead Programmer Jerry Verhoeven and Writer and Narrative Designer Alexander Swords. This project has also received support from VicScreen.
For the full list of fun
More from Screen Aus
12/05/2025
10 05 2025 - Media release Australian Filmmaker Lucy Mckendrick Set For Directin...
01/05/2025
01 05 2025 - Media release Screen Australia empowers 100 distinctive Australian narratives
All The Boys Are Here writer/director Goran Stolevski and It s All...
09/04/2025
09 04 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and ACTF Kids IP Incubator Initiative enters next phase
Kids IP Incubator recipients in Melbourne for the workshop...
01/04/2025
01 04 2025 - Media release Bus Stop Films' first feature Boss Cat to begin production in June
Boss Cat cast (L-R): Olivia Hargroder, Penny Downie and Juli...
06/03/2025
06 03 2025 - Media release Powerhouse Speakers named for Untapped 2025
Top (L-R): Jet Wilkinson, Michael Shanks. Bottom (L-R): Ryan O Connell, Megan Park.
Au...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Feisty Feminist Murder Mystery He Had It Coming Announced
Stars of He Had It Coming, Lydia West, Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Liv Hewso...
20/02/2025
18 02 2025 - Media release Screen Australia and Stan Announce New Comedy-Horror Series Gnomes
Gnomes writers Tegan Higginbotham and Paul Verhoeven, and creato...
05/02/2025
04 02 2025 - Media release Sanctuary Pictures Unveils Punk-Horror Feature Penny Lane Is Dead
Writer/Director of Penny Lane Is Dead, Mia'Kate Russell
Sanc...
12/12/2024
12 12 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, ABC and NITV announce Proper Loved Up Short Film Initiative
Short Film Last Drinks at Fridas from Pitch Short Bla...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Much-loved series Austin returns for a second season
Austin season 2: Ingrid (Sally Phillips), Julian (Ben Miller), Austin (Michael...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new documentary series Eat The Invaders
Eat The Invaders: Tony Armstrong, Kirsha Kaechele and Vin...
21/11/2024
21 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce drama series The Family Next Door
Teresa Palmer as Isabelle in The Family Next Door. Photo credit...
20/11/2024
20 11 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, SBS and NITV unveil Digital Originals shortlist for 2024
Digital Originals recipients with Screen Australia, SBS ...
31/10/2024
30 10 2024 - Media release SBS, NITV and Screen Australia announce documentary series 2.6 Seconds
2.6 Seconds. Photo credit: Jesse Marlow.
SBS, NITV and Scr...
10/10/2024
10 10 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $8.1 million of production funding for 15 projects
L-R: Love Adjacent director Louise Alston, Watching Y...
17/09/2024
16 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Paramount Announce New Murder M...
11/09/2024
10 09 2024 - Media release Endemol Shine Australia and Screen Australia announce...
04/09/2024
04 09 2024 - Media release Screen Australia invests over $2 million in Australian Games Industry
Zodiac Mountain
Screen Australia has announced over $2 milli...
28/08/2024
28 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce four new children's programs
Andy Lee at Richmond Primary School with his nephews Freddy Mile...
22/08/2024
22 08 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces $3 million for 13 documentaries
We Are Jeni
Screen Australia has announced 11 documentaries through the...
19/08/2024
19 08 2024 - Media release Production starts on RFDS season three
RFDS cast. Photo Credit John Platt.
Pre-production on the third season of the Seven Network...
15/08/2024
15 08 2024 - Media release Maggie and Arthur return to the ABC for a second season of Mother and Son
Denise Scott and Matt Okine in Mother and Son
Fans of t...
06/08/2024
06 08 2024 - Media release Bruce Beresford's Film Overture starts production in Western Australia
Overture cast (L-R) Susie Porter, Luke Bracey and Bryan ...
17/07/2024
17 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia announce Onlin...
12/07/2024
12 07 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce new comedy series Optics
Optics. Photo credit: Joel Pratley
ABC and Screen Australia have annou...
10/07/2024
10 07 2024 - Media release Shipwreck Hunters Australia back on the water for Season 2
Shipwreck Hunters Australia
Screen Australia and The Walt Disney Compan...
09/07/2024
09 07 2024 - Media release Applications Open for Digital Originals, and three new dramas coming to screens
(L-R) Moonbird director, co-creator and co-writer N...
30/05/2024
30 05 2024 - Media release Screen Australia, Australians in Film and VicScreen announce FUTURE VISION
Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo
Australians in Film, Scree...
08/05/2024
08 05 2024 - Media release Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Star in Sophie Hyde's New Project JIMPA
Olivia Colman and John Lithgow in JIMPA. Photo credit: M...
29/04/2024
29 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces James J. Robinson's debut feature First Light
First Light
Principal Photography is underway on Firs...
24/04/2024
24 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia celebrates Australian projects bound...
18/04/2024
18 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Dynamic Television announce new Scripted Initiative
Savage River
Screen Australia and Los Angeles-based telev...
11/04/2024
11 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Meta launch fourth year of First...
10/04/2024
10 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $2.3 million for nine documentaries
Guardians of the River
Screen Australia has announced nine doc...
21/03/2024
21 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $1.6 million in support of the games industry
Which Way Up: Galaxy Games
Screen Australia has anno...
18/03/2024
18 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and VicScreen launch new Screen Careers initiative
LTR Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, K...
15/03/2024
15 03 2024 - Media release The Creators 2024 Participants Announced
The Creators program recipients. L-R Thomas Duncan-Watt, Vanessa Gazy, Sarah Lambert, Lea...
13/03/2024
13 03 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces dramas Critical Incident and Sunny Nights for Stan
Critical Incident: Akshay Khanna and Zoe Boe. Photo c...
28/02/2024
28 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $810,000 in development funding for 29 projects
Willy
Screen Australia has announced 23 feature fi...
27/02/2024
27 02 2024 - Media release Michael Ebeid AM appointed as new Screen Australia Chair
Michael Ebeid AM and Megan Brownlow
The Hon. Minister for the Arts, Tony...
21/02/2024
21 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and Australians in Film Announce App...
15/02/2024
15 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $560,000 for crew and gamemaker skills programs
Liz Keogh Palmer (Australian Production Design Guil...
13/02/2024
22 01 2024 - Media release Six Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai
Six Australian screen projec...
12/02/2024
12 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and YouTube Australia Launch Skip Ahead 9
Uncovering Street Dance: Australia from Skip Ahead 8. Photographed by Ry...
08/02/2024
08 02 2024 - Media release Screen Australia and ABC announce Bay of Fires is back for season two
Marta Dusseldorp as Stella in Bay of Fires
ABC, Screen Austr...
22/01/2024
22 01 2024 - Media release Five Australian projects bound for South by Southwest Festival in the US
Audrey, Birdeater, The Moogai
Five Australian screen proj...
17/01/2024
17 01 2024 - Media release Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie star in Screen Austra...
14/12/2023
14 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces over $6.9 million of produ...
12/12/2023
22 04 2025 - Media release Applications Open for the Creators Program
The Creators program
Screen Australia and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have annou...
11/12/2023
11 12 2023 - Media release Screen Australia announces Talent USA: New York recipients 2023
Enoch Mailangi, Noora Niasari, Hannah Carroll Chapman
Screen Austr...