Massachusetts may offer developer tax breaks
Proposal could reimburse 20 per cent of costs for building facilities in the region
Massachusetts may be the next US state to offer tax breaks to games developers located in the region.
A proposed bill would allow companies to claim tax credits for up to 20 per cent of the cost of building, converting or equipping a studio for game development if the company is investing over USD 500,000.
Lord of the Rings Online developer Turbine, Rock Band studio Harmonix and Zoo Tycoon outfit Blue Fang all have facilities in the region.
According to a report by The Boston Globe, Turbine is currently looking for a bigger headquarters and plans to recruit up to 100 new staff by the end of 2009.
The proposal is part of a larger bill geared towards the production of film studios in the area, and it's currently unclear whether the bill will be approved or if the section covering videogame development will remain part of it.
There are concerns the cost to the state could be too high – estimated to be around USD 100 million a year.