The dynamics of global visual effects and games development industries: lessons for Australia’s creative industries development policy

Abstract

The paper critiques the focus of creative industries policy on capability developmentof small and medium sized firms and the provision of regional incentives.It analyses factors affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of the gamesdevelopment industry and visual effects suppliers to feature films. Interviewswith participants in these industries highlight the need for policy instruments totake into consideration the structure and organization of global markets and thepower of lead multinational corporations. We show that although forms of economicgovernance in these industries may allow sustainable value capture, theyare interrupted by bottlenecks in which ferocious competition among suppliersis confronted by comparatively little competition among the lead firms. Weargue that current approaches to creative industries policy aimed at buildingself-sustaining creative industries are unlikely to be sufficient because of theglobalized nature of the industries. Rather, we argue that a more profitableapproach is likely to require supporting diversification of the industries as‘feeders’ into other areas of the economy.