So, Europe says videogames are culture

[Lorrac]

First a small intro for all you american guys.

Here in (most of) europe we have the longstanding tradition of governments subsidizing cultural business. The argument comes down to the characterization of the market as some barbaric, ignorant entity rewarding cheap and ugly things while products with an artsy, cultural value being eventually pushed out of the marketplace. This subsidizing takes various forms: from low-interest credits or tax cuts to more involving action like the government directly investing on the companies. Traditionally this treatment has been given to theater, cinema/tv and books while more artsy endeavours like painting or sculpture tend to have programs focused more on the individual artist rather than business.

As reported by Kotaku, the European Union has allowed the French goverment to subsidy videogames with specific cultural values including "quality, originality, cultural diversity" by providing a tax credit for the developers. Depending how this is managed, it can mean either ubisoft getting a tax discount for including non-white characters in their games or some projects that'd never see the light in these days of 20$ million budgets being greenlighted.

Anyways and no matter the outcome, it's official: as far as the governments go, videogames are a cultural vessel.

[ValkyrieIsAboutToDie]

People have finally begun to realize that games can be a legitimate form of artistic expression. They've also begun to realize that games make a fuckton of money. Put the two together and this happens. It's good for everyone involved and represents another set of babysteps gaming is taking in the public psyche.

Of course, we have some individuals here up on the election block who have opinions in direct opposition to what many of you Euros are doing (as it has always been), and they're probably going to end up in office, so clear a spot for me in your perpetual videogame-loving, weed smoking, crazy European sex party.

[Lorrac]

Cultural and artistic are related but different things. One can't deny art is culture, but everything cultural is art?

You're welcome to stay, but be warned - you're gonna need to sell your car to buy gas here.

[Leto Eu`Acumen]

Originally Posted by Lorrac

Depending how this is managed, it can mean either ubisoft getting a tax discount for including non-white characters in their games or some projects that'd never see the light in these days of 20$ million budgets being greenlighted.

I would not like the idea of incentives being given for putting specific types of content in a game.

[Flesseck]

Originally Posted by Lorrac

Cultural and artistic are related but different things. One can't deny art is culture, but everything cultural is art?

You're welcome to stay, but be warned - you're gonna need to sell your car to buy gas here.

H20, baby. That shit better transition quickly over in Europe because 70-80 cents a liter is fucking retarded.

But, yeah. Video games are definitely becoming apart of European culture. I'd like to say American as well, but some think otherwise. I love going to the internet cafes. I'm going to Greece in a week, so I'll be playing some extreme Tekken/Soul Caliber battles with my cousins who love games.

[Quineloe]

Originally Posted by Flesseck

H20, baby. That shit better transition quickly over in Europe because 70-80 cents a liter is fucking retarded.

uh, that's just the TAX on gas here. 1l super today was 1.34

[Lorrac]

Originally Posted by Quineloe

uh, that's just the TAX on gas here. 1l super today was 1.34

That's around 7,5$ per gallon. 20 miles of commuting per day on a hummer in europe = 15$ daily.

[Zerai]

I was gonna say, 70-80 cents a liter would be nice =x It's sitting around a buck a liter here, apparently heading to 1.50 in the summer. =/

But Europe is pretty much on the forefront of everything. RoHS, drugs, sex, this. Why isn't THEIR culture everywhere instead of the Americans =/

[The Ancient]

Because you guys were slacking off for 200 years.

[Kiely]

£1 per liter here. As much as I hate public transport... ;x

[RiskyChris]

I thought Europeans were too busy taking siestas to drive.

Or work, to buy gas.

[Darus Grey]

Yet one more reason I can't wait to move to France next year.

[rodahn]

Only further proving that European culture is much more progressive than ours in the US. Meanwhile, American culture is mired in political quagmires and legal ridiculousness.

[Algol Devilstar]

Originally Posted by Leto Eu`Acumen

I would not like the idea of incentives being given for putting specific types of content in a game.

I agree, we might see a glut of games with zombies as black people.... er.. uh... nm.

[Algol Devilstar]

Originally Posted by rodahn

Only further proving that European culture is much more progressive than ours in the US. Meanwhile, American culture is mired in political quagmires and legal ridiculousness.

I second that, PC is getting so ridiculous here you can't sneeze and not offend someone.