NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Marketing Credit Program For Digital Games Made in NYC

Signature Component of Mayor Adams' Plan to Make NYC Global Digital Gaming Hub; Applications Accepted Now at nyc.gov/digitalgames

Announcement Made During Annual Game Developers Conference, where City of NY is a First-Time Exhibitor

NEW YORK, March 23, 2023 – The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) is proud to launch the 'Made in NY' Marketing Credit Program for Digital Games, which provides advertising opportunities for digital games made in NYC – the #1 media market in the country. The program launch was announced earlier today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, the world's largest professional game industry event. MOME and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) joined NYS Empire State Development for a first in the nation, statewide-coordinated presence at the Conference, with a goal of demonstrating all that New York has to offer the digital games industry. These efforts advance Mayor Adams' commitment to establish NYC as a global hub for digital games as part of the administration's "Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery."

"Our administration is focused on supporting industries that create jobs and change the lives of New Yorkers for the better," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "This marketing program for digital games gives visibility to game developers through discounted advertising and delivers the next step of our promise of making New York City a global digital gaming hub. The gaming industry generates $2 billion in economic activity and supports 7,600 jobs in New York City — and that's just the beginning. Gaming in our city is about to level up!"

"We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 'Made in NY' Digital Games Marketing Credit program during NYC's inaugural presentation at this year's Game Developers Conference," said Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Anne del Castillo. "This program aims to support and raise the profile of NYC's game developer community, and builds on our ongoing efforts to propel growth and innovation in the city's digital games sector."

This new program launch comes as the administration takes steps to transform NYC into a global hub for the digital games industry. The City's efforts include the following milestones:

• The First-ever appearance at GDC, where MOME conducted panels and hosted a 'Made in NY' arcade featuring six games by NYC developers, including Geneva Hayward, winner of the first-ever 2022 Game Devs of Color 'Made in NY' grant and two G.U.M.B.O. games collective members: Brooklyn indie developer Sam Eng and Computer Lunch.
• Biannual convening of NYC's Digital Games Industry Council, held at the Microsoft Experience Center on March 9 and attended by Mayor Adams, where stakeholders joined city officials to discuss efforts to strengthen and diversify the digital games industry.
• The Launch of the NYC Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs, where students can enter for a chance to compete in the scholastic K-12 Esports competition, designed to engage the youngest New Yorkers in shaping the future of this city.

Key components and guidelines for the Marketing Credit Program, which can be found at nyc.gov/digitalgames, include:

• Digital games may qualify if total eligible production costs are at least $100,000, and at least 75% of those costs are spent in NYC.
• Marketing credit is offered in the form of advertisements in subway cars and other City assets throughout the five boroughs.
• The production must make a donation equal to 0.1% of the game's production costs spent in NYC to a cultural institution or community organization.

MOME, whose portfolio was expanded to include digital games in 2018, has offered the 'Made in NY' marketing credit for the film/tv industry since 2013. All approved marketing content includes the option to feature the 'Made in NY' logo, signifying a mark of distinction for work created in New York City. Created within MOME, the term "Made in NY" encapsulates multiple programs and initiatives that seek to unify the city's entertainment industries, ensure the diverse population of NY is represented in its creative output, and support the local economy.