Village Gamer

A slew of major Canadian-produced video game titles are shining at this year’s E3 Expo, highlighting the strength and vitality of Canada’s video game industry. At this year’s E3 Expo, taking place in Los Angeles from June 5 to 7, 2012, Canadian-developed blockbuster titles such as Ubisoft Montreal’s Assassin’s Creed III, WB Games Montreal’s Batman Arkham City: Armoured Edition for the WiiU, Electronic Arts’ FIFA Soccer 13 and United Front Games’ Little Big Planet Karting are taking centre stage.

“Some of the most anticipated titles at E3 are produced in Canada”, said Julien Lavoie, Director of Public Relations at the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC). “Publishers and developers in Canada are making waves with games that will be enjoyed the world over. With each passing year, Canada cements its international reputation as a top location to create video games.”

New ways of gaming, including innovative peripherals, new game genres and digital business models has helped to make video games more accessible to gamers of all ages. New research by NPD Group for ESAC reveals that 58% of Canadians are gamers (defined as someone who has played video games in the past four weeks), a 5% increase from 2010. Games and gaming devices are becoming nearly ubiquitous, with a majority of households (80%) reporting having at least one cell phone, tablet computer or other mobile device, and about 3 in 5 (61%) owning at least one video game console.

Gamer demographics are also reflecting some of the changes in the video game industry. The average age of gamers remains relatively stable at 31 (the average was 33 years old in 2010) but the gender mix is shifting with 54% of males and 46% of females reporting being gamers, a rebalancing of the 62% to 38% mix reported in 2010.

E3 Expo is the foremost trade show of the newest trends, products and technologies for the global entertainment software industry. Hosted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the expo brings together developers, distributers and media from around the world to experience the future of interactive entertainment.

ESAC is the voice of the Canadian computer and video game industry that employs approximately 16,000 people at nearly 350 companies across the country. By contributing $1.7 billion in economic activity and cultivating workers with a combination of creative, technological and management skills, the video game industry is supporting Canada’s position in the changing global economy. This dynamic and growing industry is currently the world’s third largest and holds first place on a per capita basis based on employment levels in other countries. ESAC works on behalf of its members to ensure the legal and regulatory environment is favourable for the long-term development of Canada’s video game industry. Association members include the nation’s leading interactive software developers and publishers:

• Electronic Arts
• Ubisoft
• Activision Blizzard
• Microsoft Canada
• Nintendo of Canada
• Sony Computer Entertainment
• Disney Interactive Studios
• THQ
• Take Two Interactive
• Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Ludia
• Silicon Knights
• Distributors Solutions 2 Go and Team One Marketing

New made-in-Canada games from ESAC-member companies showcased at E3 2012:

• Assassin’s Creed® III (Ubisoft Montreal)
• Batman Arkham City: Armoured Edition – WiiU (WB Games Montreal / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• Cartoon Universe (WB Games Montreal / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• Far Cry® 3 (Ubisoft Montreal)
• FIFA Soccer 13 (Electronic Arts)
• Little Big Planet Karting (United Front Games / Sony Computer Entertainment)
• Marvel Avengers™: Battle for Earth (Ubisoft Quebec)
• NHL 13 (Electronic Arts)
• Sound Shapes (Queasy Games / Sony Computer Entertainment)
• The Amazing Spider-Man Game (Beenox / Activison)
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell® Blacklist™ (Ubisoft Toronto)
• Watchdogs (Ubisoft Montreal)