Article found here: http://www.igda.org/newsletter/2011/07/20/louisiana-fastest-growing-game-production-hub-in-the-us/

Here in Louisiana, IGDA and our gaming developer community are constantly growing! We are proud to announce two IGDA chapters in Louisiana, one in Baton Rouge and the other in New Orleans, both of which started in the last six months. We are making great strides in our efforts to grow our industry and the wellbeing of the developer community. Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative (LDGI) is working closely with state, private and public organization to make sure IGDA communities foster and continue to grow.

Production Incentives: Our first step in building a stronger gaming hub in Louisiana was the creation of the Digital Interactive Media Tax Credit program, which has developed into the most advantageous tax credit and incentive program for developers not just in the United States but all of North America. Louisiana’s programs provide the most aggressive business incentives for the design and development of software, web platforms, mobile applications, digital interactive media applications, digital media, and web applications for digital gaming industries.

Growth: Louisiana is proud to announce several projects this year within our industry: new expansion of EA North America – to increase their labor force by 200 quality assurance testers; BitRaider – a new MMOG solution provider to get gamers in their MMO’s quicker without multiple hour downloading time; FireBrand Games, a leader in racing console game development both of which landed in the Louisiana Technology Park; the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) – a private training college for the digital arts and game design programming in Lafayette; Gameloft – a leader in mobile game development is now recruiting talent for a New Orleans operations, Scorch Digital Studios – an indie outsourcing game development studio, and Game Builder Studio – which is a new startup building 2D game engine so players and small studios can create games much faster. With IGDA, LDGI, and other Louisiana stakeholders offering assistance, we will be having many more projects to be announced throughout the year.

Education: Talent generation is one of the many industry needs that Louisiana is undertaking through different educational programs. One of these programs is LSU Avatar, which is a leading producer of qualified local talent within Baton Rouge. The Mentorship Academy, also located in Baton Rouge, is teaching high school students digital media. Other collegiate programs and universities that are now implementing game design, programming, and digital arts include University of Lafayette, University of New Orleans, Baton Rouge Community College and Delgado Community College. Finally, with the addition of AIE in Louisiana, we are sure to never short on skilled, talented game developers.

Resources: Louisiana features a variety of agencies that are supporting the growth of the digital media industry within the state. Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) is providing visionary support for the training of serious gaming and simulation functions for the development firms that operate in Louisiana. Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) is working with LITE to recruit digital gaming firms to use their resources, as well as the fiber optic bandwidth the city enjoys. Louisiana Technology Council (LTC), a technology trade association, is sharing its expertise and the collective knowledge of its members in order to promote digital media throughout the state. Both the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and Greater New Orleans Inc. (GNO Inc.) have digital media economic development organizations, BRADIC (Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium) and GNO Inc.’s DMA (Digital Media Alliance), which exist to promote and encourage digital media production in their local regions. Baton Rouge hosts the annual Red Stick Festival, which includes an international competition to promote the advancement of digital media and 3D animation productions.

Facilities: Louisiana is fortunate to have technology incubator facilities, such as Louisiana Technology Park. The facility allows a small independent game studio to benefit from affordable office space, subsidized utilities, and additional amenities. Louisiana Technology Park also provides an entrepreneur center for education and counseling called Tech Park U. Other facilities include Launch Pad that offer affordable spaces for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creative professionals in the newest concept in collaborative workspaces in downtown New Orleans. Financing options, consultancy, and investment funds are growing and making themselves more available to Louisiana’s digital gaming industry. South Coast Angel Fund, Advantage Capital, and Voodoo Ventures are a few of these firms that are working to provide funding for the digital media industry.

Benefits: The benefits directly associated to the digital media industry pale in comparison to the high quality of life and low cost of living that Louisiana affords to all industries. The state has not reached its final goal despite becoming an international focus point for digital media, software and video game manufacturing, but we are getting nearer every day. Louisiana and IGDA of Louisiana endeavors to promote the growth of developers and increase the level of awareness of the digital media industry in the state of Louisiana. IGDA and Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative, and also with the help of its members, consultants, and in concert with the variety of digital media friendly organizations, will keep the focus where it belongs: on entrepreneurial opportunities, networking events, community support, and overall industry growth and IGDA members.

Cheers and Game On,

Jeff Pellegrin
President of IGDA Baton Rouge
Executive Director and Founder of
Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative (LDGI)

07/27/2011
Gov. Jindal Breaks Ground on Louisiana Digital Media Center at LSU - Home to Electronic Arts' North American Test Center

BATON ROUGE, La. - Today, Gov. Bobby Jindal joined Electronic Arts Inc. Head of Worldwide Quality Assurance Mike Robinson, LSU Chancellor Michael V. Martin and Mayor-President Kip Holden to break ground on the 94,000-square-foot Louisiana Digital Media Center that eventually will be home to 600 video game development workers and LSU's Center for Computation & Technology.

Gov. Jindal said, "We are proud to make Louisiana the permanent home of EA's North American Test Center as part of LSU's Digital Media Center. We are quickly becoming a major player in the digital media industry, which is creating more high-paying and high-tech jobs for our people so they don't have to leave the state to pursue the career of their dreams. We continue to make major investments in higher education - at LSU and across our state - so we become the best place in the world for businesses to grow and succeed."

The $29.3 million project will result in a three-story structure on LSU's main campus. LSU's Center for Computation & Technology, marking its 10th anniversary this month, had long sought a contemporary, permanent home for its programs that drive academic and business research with high-performance computing. The state also sought a permanent home for the EA North American Test Center, which has been located on LSU's South Campus since 2008 with nearly 400 workers, half of which are full-time employees. Both of these goals will be realized at the Louisiana Digital Media Center when it opens in 2012 on LSU's main campus. The Jindal administration has contributed $26.3 million to complete the new center.

"This is a remarkable event for LSU and the State of Louisiana. EA is happy to be a part of the new Louisiana Digital Media Center at LSU," said Craig Hagen, senior director of government affairs at Electronic Arts Inc. "This groundbreaking is another example of how Louisiana continues its march towards establishing itself as an emerging tech hub in this exciting and growing industry."

The Louisiana Digital Media Center is funded by state capital outlay dollars and Louisiana Economic Development funds. The U.S. Economic Development Administration also contributed a $3 million grant for development of the center. EA will be the major private-sector tenant with 30,000 square feet, and LSU's Center for Computation & Technology will be the major university tenant, with 50,000 square feet. The Louisiana Digital Media Center also will include instructional space with cutting-edge audio/visual capabilities that will support LSU's academic research efforts related to digital media and software development. The building will be located between the John M. Parker Coliseum and the Louisiana Emerging Technology Center on the southeast corner of LSU's campus.

"EA and LSU have opened a new avenue as we continue to forge ahead in the world of digital media," Holden said. "Teamwork put Baton Rouge in the center of a global partnership. It shows people pulling together can make a difference in the quality of life for all."

"Digital media and software development will be one of Louisiana's top growth industries for the next two decades and possibly beyond," said LED Secretary Stephen Moret. "The future growth of this industry in Louisiana will depend to a great extent on the ability of our higher education institutions to produce the specialized talent that this industry requires. The Louisiana Digital Media Center will help accomplish that goal, as will other partnerships between higher education and LED that we are beginning to cultivate this year."

In addition to housing EA and LSU's Center for Computation & Technology, the facility will be home to the new AVATAR initiative at LSU. AVATAR - Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Research - unites faculty from many disciplines and enables students to conduct research and to complete projects in virtual environments, digital art, electro-acoustic music, animation, video game design, scientific visualization and more.

"This shows that LSU can be a key player in the state's economic development future," said Martin. "We are breaking ground on a new facility and on a strong partnership that supports our academic mission. This public-private partnership allows students to couple their studies with experience from the world's leader and will allow our faculty to interact with leaders from the private sector."

Gov. Jindal has worked closely with EA since taking office, originally announcing the NATC with local partners in August 2008. EA's presence in Louisiana represents one of Louisiana's most significant digital media industry wins to date, and has enabled LED to gain access to leading digital media and software companies around the world. EA committed to assist Louisiana FastStart™ and LSU in their curriculum development efforts, as well as to assist LED in the cultivation of a vibrant video-game development industry in Louisiana.

EA is among dozens of applicants that have taken advantage of Louisiana's Digital Interactive Media & Software Tax Credit.

"The Louisiana Digital Media Center takes EA and Baton Rouge's digital media sector to a whole new level," said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. "The cross-pollination of ideas between academic research experts and the world's leading game development company has the potential to fuel digital media innovation in exciting and unanticipated ways. This facility and the resources utilized for its creation will be a national model in public-private partnerships in higher education."