Ontario has helped Canada surge past the United Kingdom to become the world's third largest game development region behind Japan and the United States. Members from Ontario's Technology Corridor are currently attending GDC Europe 2010 in Germany this week to show developers all that Canada can provide to businesses. Recent gaming-related improvements with the Ontario Technology Corridor include:
- The Communitech Hub: Digital Media and Mobile Accelerator, a $107 million dollar digital media center located in Kitchener, Ontario. The facility offers 30,000 square feet of space to local businesses focused on digital media research, with Google recently having acquired two floors to increase local staff.
- The Stratford Insititute for digital media at the University of Waterloo is beginning its first classes this Fall. $20 million has already been invested to train students in digital media collaboration.
- A $3 million digital media production facility called the Generator at one, located in St. Catharines, Ontario. With a full Vicon T160 Motion capture system, it was funded by the Govenrment of Canada's Community Adjustment Fund. The center is run by nGen, Niagara's Interactive Media Generator.
Ontario's local entertainment industry produces $15 billion in revenue and over 200,000 jobs. Digital media and gaming graduates from Ontario colleges have become excellent employees at companies like Pixar Animation Studios, Electronic Arts, Walt Disney and Microsoft. Ontario's Media Development Corporation also offers local digital media businesses targeted tax incentives for operating in the area.
“Our job now is to add to our tremendous home-grown crop of companies and help demonstrate that Ontario is a prime destination in North America for gaming investments,” said Gerry Pisarzowski, Vice President of Business Development for the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, a partner in the Ontario Technology Corridor.
