AP GAME policy set to be unveiled soon

The Andhra Pradesh GAME (gaming, animation, media and entertainment) policy is almost ready for launch, and the incubation centre coming up at Madhapur in Hyderabad is going to be ready by August 15, 2013, according to state information technology and communications (ICT) minister Ponnala Lakshamaiah.

Also, the 800,000-sft gaming and animation facility, coming at Rayadurgam near here, will have facilities so that even small companies can carry out their projects. It will be the foundation for the growth and prosperity for the animation and gaming industry, he said.

Inaugurating Andhra Pradesh's first virtual online college - Creative Mentors Animation and Gaming College -- in Hyderabad on Sunday, Lakshamaiah said despite having creativity, there was no connectivity here and hence the government was trying to bridge the gap. "In the $100-billion software exports worldwide, the animation and gaming industry's share is just one per cent. There is a huge opportunity here," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, K Basi Reddy, president of AVCGI (Animation, VFX, Comic and Gaming Industry of Andhra Pradesh) Association, urged the state government to provide software, motion control and motion capture facilities too, to give a new fillip to the gaming and animation industry in the state.

The Indian animation industry is estimated to be growing at between 15 per cent and 20 per cent, and with the industry growing at such a pace, the demand for skilled professional is also increasing. According to the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Assocham), there is a shortage of 300,000 skilled workforce in the industry.

According to Suresh Kovvuri, managing director of Creative Mentors, the new college, with a 100-seat lab, will be open 12 hours a day for students to learn and practice their newly-acquired skills.

"It will offer BA and MA courses online to students with 10+2 qualification of any stream," he added.