London has developed a “significant” cluster of companies in Canada’s fast-growing video game sector.
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada has released a new report showing video game development is a $ 1.7-billion industry in Canada employing more than 14,000 people
Despite the slumping economy, the report predicts the industry will grow 29% this year, even faster than in 2008.
The report notes that much of the industry is centred in Vancouver, home of the giant EA Games, and in Montreal, where companies have benefited from provincial incentives.
Toronto has a number of small companies, but its total employment lags well behind.
London is identified in the report as a secondary cluster with six video gaming companies.
Association executive director Danielle Parr said London is emerging as a “quite significant” centre for video games in Ontario
Parr said a few established companies tend to spin off talented people that form their own firms to create a cluster.
“ When you form a pool of talented people, you can build on that,” she said.
The largest London company is Digital Extremes, which recently released the new title Dark Sector. The other London firms are Big Blue Bubble, Beanbag Studios, RedJade, and two new companies — Ponder Games and Antic Entertainment.
Gerry Macartney of the London Chamber of Commerce said the annual DIG London video gaming conference has brought attention to the city.
“ I think we can make some hay out of this. I think this is one of the knowledge industries that has to be in our portfolio,” he said.
He said London video game companies officially joined the mainstream last year when Big Blue Bubble won a Business Achievement award.
Macartney said Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario are in a position to help support the growth of local video games industry that will employ their graduates.
Parr said the video-game industry is often overlooked as a “ frill” in technology and many Canadians are unaware of its economic importance.
“A lot of people don’t know . . . and the government certainly doesn’t know it, either,” she said.
Parr said the Ontario government was slower to get into the market, but is “on its way” to developing its video game industry through tax credits and other incentives.
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The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
____________________________________
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London racks up points as video game developer
London Free Press, March 25, 2009
hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca
London has developed a “significant” cluster of companies in Canada’s fast-growing video game sector.
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada has released a new report showing video game development is a $ 1.7-billion industry in Canada employing more than 14,000 people
Despite the slumping economy, the report predicts the industry will grow 29% this year, even faster than in 2008.
The report notes that much of the industry is centred in Vancouver, home of the giant EA Games, and in Montreal, where companies have benefited from provincial incentives.
Toronto has a number of small companies, but its total employment lags well behind.
London is identified in the report as a secondary cluster with six video gaming companies.
Association executive director Danielle Parr said London is emerging as a “quite significant” centre for video games in Ontario
Parr said a few established companies tend to spin off talented people that form their own firms to create a cluster.
“ When you form a pool of talented people, you can build on that,” she said.
The largest London company is Digital Extremes, which recently released the new title Dark Sector. The other London firms are Big Blue Bubble, Beanbag Studios, RedJade, and two new companies — Ponder Games and Antic Entertainment.
Gerry Macartney of the London Chamber of Commerce said the annual DIG London video gaming conference has brought attention to the city.
“ I think we can make some hay out of this. I think this is one of the knowledge industries that has to be in our portfolio,” he said.
He said London video game companies officially joined the mainstream last year when Big Blue Bubble won a Business Achievement award.
Macartney said Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario are in a position to help support the growth of local video games industry that will employ their graduates.
Parr said the video-game industry is often overlooked as a “ frill” in technology and many Canadians are unaware of its economic importance.
“A lot of people don’t know . . . and the government certainly doesn’t know it, either,” she said.
Parr said the Ontario government was slower to get into the market, but is “on its way” to developing its video game industry through tax credits and other incentives.
The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
____________________________________
Visit my blog at http://www.exgamer.net
ExGamer.net is not directly affiliated with or officially endorsed by OLGA/OLG-Anon