One wonders what tone the Escapist would have taken with this article would be if the word "violent" was replaced with "sexist".
Washington Tax Plan Would Punish Violent Game Makers
- Thread starter StewShearerOld
- Start date
They probably, or rather their creators probably fall under, we don't even know how to get tax credits...BrownGaijin said:
So I'm seeing that lawmakers what to take the R&D tax credits away from "violent" video game devs. My question is how did they qualify for the R&D credits in the first place? To the best of my knowledge R&D stands for Research and Development but not development in the sense of producing a thing in mass. Perhaps I just don't understand the law but it seems kindda sketchy that any video game dev would be able to get those tax credits.
To answer your question, this particular tax credit is meant to provide a level playing field for American goods in markets where other countries offer similar government backed incentives and credits to their companies. The "what qualifies as R&D" part is very much secondary to the purpose of the credit.Sarge034 said:
As to why the credit might apply to game developers though, one could make the argument that the development of new software engines or even just middleware could qualify as R&D, even if it's eventually packaged into a product that's sold to the masses. Afterall, any successful R&D is likely to eventually end up in some kind of popular product.
Canadian studios have already been praying on UK developers since they have no tax breaks there yet. Now I can see them doing the same in the US.
So... we encourage video game development to go overseas like all other American industry? And so, politicians will keep pointing fingers at businesses for "taking away American jobs". Sorry, Congress, business leaders are just making economically-sound decisions based on the rules you imposed.
It's not neutrality that bothers me, it's appeals to false equity or statements to the tone of dishonesty. When someone is pointing to a trend, pointing out there are exceptions borders on the latter. The previous post I addressed was certainly the former.Neronium said:
Neutrality isn't pretending both sides are equal offenders or the like. Neutrality involves being willing to call people out when they do wrong.The educated tend to run liberal to the point that conservatives have accused colleges of being liberal indoctrination and there to be a large ants-intellectual movement in this country. And yeah, there are a lot of dumb liberals, but that wasn't the thrust of the argument you addressed.
Honestly, the left has enough problems to deal with I don't see what's wrong with calling them on their own bullshit instead of some sort of false equity claims.
EDIT: To clarify, I used to count as a moderate. My views haven't really changed, but about a decade or so ago, suddenly people like me became super liberals and elitists and whatnot. went from being slightly left of center to being accused of fellating Noam Chomsky. Despite that, I still vote Republican sometimes in elections (Vermont doesn't register people), though less so because of that same doctrine that basically reviles liberals and moderates. I've watched some awesome Republicans in New England get primaried or leave office in disgust with their party, and now we're not just seeing it in the Northeast.
I don't particularly have an anti-Republican bias, but I do think a lot of what's been going on of late is absolute garbage and they need to be called on it. Since you addressed your political leanings, I figured I would clarify where I'm coming from. I border ideologically on libertarian, though I refuse to throw down with the sociopaths of the Libertarian party.
The Supreme Court that neutered the VRA and opened the floodgates of discriminatory voting laws? I'm not so sure.Neronium said:
The article or the forum? For the latter, I'd assume it'd start with a bunch of people raging that games aren't sexist.thepyrethatburns said:
Because it's in reference to the Research and Development Tax Credit and Movies and TV shows don't get it. Arguably, video games don't do much research into new technology, and they shouldn't be getting it at all, but they expanded it so far that Video Game Companies could claim it, and take valuable tax dollars that should be going towards artificial limb, cancer cures, or god knows what else. It probably effects all Video Games if you read the draft of the bill, and not the executive summary. The executive summary is to get votes. No one cares if you cut the tax for all video games, but a few do care if you phrase it as it cuts funding from Violent Video Game makers. Technically true, but is a lie of omission.Saltyk said:
What I would like to know is what game companies actually took advantage of the R&D exception. If say Call of Duty is claiming the exception I'd argue it fails on the overly broad "uncertainty" of development. Then again most games fail that and are just clones of someone elses game. Indies might be able to claim it, but are usually too small to afford a lawyer and accountant that can do the needed footwork to get it.
This is a fantastic idea. I especially love how it claims "American manufacturers the certainty they need to compete against their foreign competition who have long had permanent R&D incentives." when it's actually taking away the incentive.
The net result of this is really simple. "Violent" video games would end up being made in Montreal or other countries with more favourable dispensation toward developers. It would mean less American talent creating games, less games getting made in the US, US publishers outsourcing development to other nations, less taxes for the US govmt. and more American dollars leaving the country and going to other countries developers.
The net result of this is really simple. "Violent" video games would end up being made in Montreal or other countries with more favourable dispensation toward developers. It would mean less American talent creating games, less games getting made in the US, US publishers outsourcing development to other nations, less taxes for the US govmt. and more American dollars leaving the country and going to other countries developers.
The article. I have a feeling that, if this were about sexist games, the Escapist would be praising it as a bold move to address gender inequityZachary Amaranth said:
If I were to wonder anything about the posters, I would quote something like:
and openly wonder about whether there would be the same level of outcry if "video game company" were replaced by "oil/gas company"KingsGambit said:
Im going to go out on a limb here and say that its because this is an R&D bill and there is no R&D involved in making movies or tv shows.Saltyk said: