Aussie games industry veteran and head of 2K Marin Canberra Tony Lawrence has weighed in on the intellectual property debate, saying he believes that the Aussie development industry should strive to create original games that reflect our identity.

　　Speaking at the inaugural Gametech conference held in Sydney last month, Lawrence praised the work of Aussie developers such as Team Bondi (L.A. Noire), Firemint (Flight Control), and Halfbrick (Fruit Ninja), and he admitted that while the local industry is smaller than it has been in recent years, there is more potential for independent developers and smaller projects to succeed.

　　"Putting a product out there is a lot tougher than it's ever been," Lawrence said. "True indie development is where you'll find a lot of the success. We are in that state now; Big Ant, for example, has a great Aussie content game with AFL. I think we should strive for own intellectual property; we shouldn't let that slide."

　　Lawrence believes that the recent troubles faced by the local development industry have led to growth in the indie sector, something that has given Aussie game makers independence and a fresh start. However, even markets like indie and mobile come with their respective challenges.

　　"Sure, these are smaller platforms, but the iOS market, for example, is saturated. Marketing is also a problem--having great marketing is the key to having a game that sells. The work-for-hire business model is also one we have to look at; we have a great economy, but the dollar is not great for those kind of contracts."

　　"What happened in the local industry was tragic to watch. Those guys built the industry into what it is today. I still speak to a lot of Aussies who have moved around the world and are doing well. It's been good and it's been bad."

　　Check out the video below to see more of Lawrence's comments on his role and the future work of the GDAA.

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