I am sorry but if they can make some of the absolutely garbage movies in Michigan that they have lately or bring more game developers to the state and increase the move away from an economy driven by the sole fortunes of the Big 3 - I would not say it was a waste.
I have no idea why the "grants" aren't used more like investment capital where the state gets a profit cut of the film if successful?
But I digress, I kow that Michigan has spent hundreds of millions on battery factories that went bust, movies that were complete trash and other technologies that were pie in the sky. This is a PROVEN commodity. It was making a profit and if a company kept the staff at the 15-20 level of Devs the game could within 5 years pay the entire investment back and even spawn more content.
If you live in Michigan you would understand that the auto industry is what we live and die on. Right now we are flush with a 15 million vehicle upsurge, however a few short years ago dropping it to 12.9 million brought us 20% unemployment. Yes, 20% and the state was in a shambles. Imagine one of the largest union states in the country voting in a "right-to-work" law? Yes, Michigan did that because the terrible state of our past economy forced us to make chabges.
To spend $8-10 million to bring in a successful game - one that is well known and pun intended a Paragon of family gaming and community would be to me a wonderful idea.
