BETA | GAMES DEVELOPMENT IN CANADA
EA CANADA Founded: 1983 Headcount: 1,800+ Previous games: Skate series, Need for Speed series Currently working on: The Sims 3: Late Night
“WE HAVE such a deep history here in BC, going all the way back to Distinctive Software which started in 1982. We have our amazing campus here in Burnaby which is a great place to make games,” says EA Canada vice president Pauline Moller. “Being in the same time zone as California is an advantage, as is the pleasantness of the region and the strong local talent pool.” And clearly the overall effect of living within a development community in the verdant wilds of British Columbia is one the folks at EA Canada enjoy. “There’s always been a very strong sense of community amongst the developers in the town. We know each other and while we compete for the best people and for sales, we also recognise that we all play a role in keeping our industry as healthy and positive as possible.”
Moller is convinced that this has had a hugely affirmative effect on EA. “Our BC-based business is anchored by our EA Sports business, with blockbuster franchises life FIFA, NHL, Fight Night, and others. It has also been home to the Need For Speed franchise since its inception more than 15 years ago,” she explains. “Working in BC has allowed us to attract and retain world-class talent to drive world-class titles.” “We think that the products speak for themselves in relation to our reputation on the global stage. Two of the biggest franchises of all time, FIFA and Need For Speed, were originated in BC and continue to thrive. Our studio is one of the most successful in the entire world and it’s testament to the quality of our products and the amazing talents of our team.” www.ea.com
UBISOFT VANCOUVER Founded: 2009 Headcount: 115 Previous games: Academy of Champions, Pure Football Currently working on: Unannounced
“BRITISH COLUMBIA benefits from unique, tech-savvy talent that Canada boasts and is the birthplace of video games development for Canada,” enthuses Ubisoft Vancouver managing director Bertrand Helias. “Still be the location of a critical mass of game developers, the province can build on its successes and continue being a leading world force for games development.” That enthusiasm spreads to the work that this young studio is busy cracking on with as well. “Vancouver is known for some huge sport franchises so logically, the studio started by working on sport titles – specifically five-a-side soccer games, first Academy of Champions for the Wii and Pure Football for 360 and PS3,” Helias explains. “These projects managed to bring talent in and to create an Ubisoft culture. Now teams have started tackling different genres and they are facing the challenge of bringing quality and innovation to the next round of products.”
48 | NOVEMBER 2010
Armed with that rolling start in hand, Helias is determined that his studio will contribute to what he sees as the lofty standing which he believes the Canadian industry holds internationally. “Canada has always been well-positioned in the creative & technology industries. Canada’s population is concentrated in urban centres,” he says. “This allows each new generation to grow up with easy access to media and technology making Canadians very tech savvy and therefore some of the world’s best game developers. Canadians are known for being early adopters and can adapt easily to technology transitions. “Because of this unique reputation, it seems only natural that Canada should be seen as a global leader within the international development community and it is certainly not surprising that Canada is now third in rank for video game development worldwide.” www.ubi.com