GamesLab E3 2015 Application Form Application Guidance: April 2015 1
GamesLab: E3 2015 Creative England operates with the core purpose of supporting the sustainable growth of independent creative businesses and the talent that feeds them, in every part of England outside of London. Creative England’s GamesLab is a programme of funding and business support, designed to aid and sustain the growth of the burgeoning games industry through the development of innovative games and IP. Working with emerging and established companies, the GamesLab programme aims to create the conditions necessary for the most innovative and commercially astute games companies to flourish. GamesLab is offering studios based in the South West and West Midlands an exciting opportunity to attend the E3 Games Expo in Los Angeles from 16-‐18 June 2015. E3 is the world's premier trade show for computer, video and mobile games and related products. At E3, the video game industry's top talent pack the Los Angeles Convention Center, connecting tens of thousands of the best, brightest, and most innovative professionals in the interactive entertainment industry. For three days, leading-‐edge companies, groundbreaking new technologies and never-‐before-‐seen products will be showcased. E3 connects you with both new and existing partners and provides unprecedented exposure to emerging markets. E3 is where your evolution happens The GamesLab Offer GamesLab is able to the cover the following costs, for up to 5 successful applicants • Return Flight from UK to Los Angeles, USA • Up to 4 nights accommodation ( max $200 per night ) E3 is not open to the general public. You must be part of the interactive entertainment industry in order to attend the show, and you must be able to provide documentation demonstrating your direct and current professional affiliation to this industry. To be considered for registration, two forms of industry ID must accompany your online application. If your registration application is approved then you will qualify for a free ‘Industry Pass’. However, free ‘Industry Passes’ are limited, and if your application is rejected you may still have the opportunity to purchase an ‘Expo Pass’ for $795. In this instance GamesLab may also consider reimbursing this additional cost 2
The Application Process • Read the eligibility criteria ( below ) to check you qualify for this opportunity • If you are eligible, complete Creative England’s internal application form ( below ) and return to [email protected] • Creative England will notify you if this initial stage of your application has been successful or not • If your application has been successful, you may go ahead and complete the official E3 ‘attendee registration’ form which can be found here • You will receive an email from E3 directly within 2 weeks of submitting your registration application. This will inform you of whether your application has been successful or not • If your E3 application is successful, you should inform Creative England promptly and they will give you formal approval to book your flights and accommodation. • Creative England will reimburse the costs of flights and accommodation on receipt of an invoice and all corresponding receipts and invoices Please note • You should not book any flights and accommodation until you receive an email from Creative England expressly advising you do to so. • Flights and accommodation must be paid for from a business not a company account • Creative England can only pay reimbursements into the same business account the purchases were initially paid from • Creative England reserves the right not to reimburse any expenditure which cannot be fully evidenced by correct receipts • Creative England will not reimburse any additional costs ( eg internal travel or subsistence ) incurred during E3 itself FAQ Answers to FAQs can be found here and here 3
Eligibility This programme is s open to companies who satisfy the following criteria: • Are a company based in the following areas: Ø The West Midlands (Birmingham and the Black Country, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire) Ø The South West (Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol and Bath ) • Registered at Companies House • Qualify as an SME -‐ For advice on business types, please visit the European Commission Website and an online “SME Checker” paying particular attention to the thresholds for number of employees, turnover, and permissible amount of ownership by a parent company. http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-‐figures-‐analysis/sme-‐
definition/index_en.htm • Have game development experience, or similar. • Companies who plan to release a game for sale by October 2015 and will retain the rights of any IP created (i.e not working on a “work for hire” basis) • Have not already had support from a GamesLab programme (either via a grant or business support e.g. GamesLab masterclasses) • The Creative England GamesLab programme operates under ‘De Minimis’ State Aid rules. This means a private company cannot receive over €200,000 worth of public sector support granted under ‘De Minimis’, from whatever source in any three year rolling period. It is the applicants sole responsibility to do their own thorough due diligence, to ensure that any financial support received would not take them over this state aid limit For the avoidance of doubt SEIS investment does contribute to a company’s overall ‘De Minimis’ State Aid allowance 4
The Application Form To apply, please complete the application form below and return it to [email protected]. Q1. Please confirm that you satisfy the criteria for the Creative England GamesLab programme by ticking the relevant boxes below. If you are unable to confirm your eligibility, then unfortunately your application will not be progressed Please tick to confirm that the applicant company; £ Is a games company £ Has plans to release a game commercially by October 2015 £ Is an SME. Read the guidelines here -‐ http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-‐
£ £ £ £ figures-‐analysis/sme-‐definition/index_en.htm Is registered at Companies House Is based in the South West and West Midlands of England Has not already had support from a GamesLab programme (either via a grant or business support e.g. GamesLab masterclasses) If successful, will not be taken over the current state aid threshold of €200,000 by the financial value of the offer made here. Q2. Company Name Q3. Company Address Q4. About the Applicant • Contact Name • Position within company • Email Address • Contact Number Q5. Please provide a brief summary of what your company does >> Insert Here << Q6. How and why do you feel your business would benefit from attending E3 2015? >> Insert Here << Q7. Please provide a brief summary of the game you are currently developing. Please also forward any assets in your email when submitting your application. Q8. Do you currently have a pending application for a grant or loan from Creative England? Yes/No 5
Q9. Have you received funding from Creative England in the past 3 years? Yes/No >> If Yes, please provide details here << Q10. If you are successful in your application for complimentary travel and accommodation to E3 2015 you will be required to provide Baseline Company details, such as turnover and number of employees at the point of acceptance, in order that we can map the sector in the region for statistical purposes. You will be contacted 6 – 24 months after the event to revisit your company data and identify growth or ongoing company needs. Are you happy to provide the information required by the programme? Yes/No Timeline • Please submit your completed application form to [email protected] by 9am Monday 13th April 2015. • Creative England will inform you if your application has been successful or not by Friday 17th April • Successful applicants should complete E3’s official online registration form by Tuesday 28th April • E3 will inform you whether your application has been approved or denied approximately two weeks after it was submitted 6