Video Game Clusters

What is this all about?

What is a cluster?

Where are some of the most successful video game clusters?

What does it take to have a competitive cluster?

Why be in a cluster?

What is a Cluster?

Network of compatible businesses & industries They are related or inter-related in a geographic area

Clusters can effect competition in three ways (Porter) By increasing the productivity of the companies in the

cluster By driving innovation in the field By stimulating new businesses in the field

Seattle’s Video Game Cluster

Seattle video game cluster is one of the largest and most developed.

Washington’s economic development clearly supports the industry convergence and recognizes the need to create incentives and understand the industry’s future needs.

Seattle’s Video Game Cluster

“The Seattle area is known for many things. But right up there with the coffee, the weather, and the music scene would have to be the gaming community.”

Casual Connect and the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) drew an estimated 50,000 people in a celebration of all the latest in gaming tech, business, and culture.”

Vancouver Video Game Cluster

Vancouver’s game-development industry now includes about 75 companies that directly develop games

In all, approximately 3,500 people are working in the video-game industry in the Lower Mainland.

Vancouver GC - Continued

“Being in Vancouver, where there’s a major gaming cluster, that gives us a lot of information and understanding of how games are put together…

We can work closely with the game companies where we incorporate animation and visual effects.”

Montreal Video Game Cluster

Montréal is rapidly becoming one of the most attractive cities in the world for the establishment and expansion of companies in the game development industry.

The industry employs over 5,000 people in trailblazing companies such as Ubisoft, Eidos Interactive, Electronic Arts and Activision

Montreal Gaming Community

The cluster has a vibrant online community through sites like Montreal Tech Watch & Games Montreal, along side major conferences like the annual Montreal International Game Summit & International Game Developers Association.

Thanks to fairly low operating costs and generous provincial support, Montreal is a leader of the game industry in Canada

Austin Video Game Cluster

“Converging Industries Make Austin a Great Place to Do Business: Austin is a high-density technology and creative environment that has become a fertile venue for industry interaction”

Midway, Nintendo, NCsoft, Sony Online Entertainment, Take Two Interactive, and Ubisoft are in Austin.

Austin – Why?

Why are so many MMOG developers based in Austin?

Austin's high tech segments of manufacturing, information and other IT, engineering, and R&D employ nearly 80,000.

Austin – Game Developers Conference

“The Game Developers Conference® Online (GDC Online) is the premier game developer event focusing on online and connected gaming including virtual worlds, social games, casual games, and MMOs.”

Clusters – A Moving Advantage

From the point of view of an employee there are many advantages to working in a cluster. Job mobility without moving house and security of employment are significant advantages to anyone.

“you increase your likelihood of getting a job if you live in one of these key hubs”

Thank you