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CANADA FOCUS | BETA


The big chill or industry hotbed?


The Canadian game industry has been booming for many years, but is everything still rosy in North America? Craig Chapple asks those at the forefront how the industry is changing


THE CANADIAN GAMES industry has seen dramatic growth over the last decade to become a global hub for development. Whilst the North America scene continues


to grow at an alarming rate, there are always new challenges facing the region. We asked those at the forefront what obstacles they are facing in an ever-changing landscape, particularly in these harsh economic times, and how Canada and its studios are helping to shape the industry’s future.


HARD TIMES Despite growing overall, many studios in Canada have faced difficult times. The large studios in particular have been hit, especially those with links to the US and the problems with fluctuating exchange rates. Propaganda Games, owned by Disney


Interactive, closed in January this year following project cancellations. In 2010 Activision reduced the size of its workforce at Radical whilst in 2009 Nexon closed its Vancouver operations, and in 2008 EA shut its nearby Black Box studio. When questioned about the effects of


the economy, some of the big triple-A studios have noticed a decline in the purchase of blockbusters.


DEVELOP-ONLINE.NET NOVEMBER 2011 | 25





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