Report outlines how Ontario should maintain edge in digital game industry

Ontario's digital game industry has established strong roots in the province, but with technology constantly evolving, a collaborative effort by public and private partners is required to maintain a competitive edge, says a report from the Ontario Media Development Corporation.Titled Ontario 2012: Stimulating Growth in Ontario's Digital Game Industry, and released this month, the report examines Ontario's digital game industry in the context of a global market. It contends that the global digital game industry is growing rapidly, raking in $32 billion in 2006. Currently the industry is expected to experience a 10% annual growth for the next five years. In Ontario, the industry employs 850 digital game developers and generated $70 million in revenues in 2006.While the report says this is admirable, it also outlines that more effort is needed from stakeholders if Ontario is to remain ahead of provincial counterparts like Quebec and British Colombia, new entrants who have developed a competitive advantage in Canada. On the global scene, new players like China and India have recently joined the digital gaming bandwagon and have began to "curve out a piece of the lucrative market for themselves", the more reason Ontario must strive to stay ahead of the competition, the report says.Overall the report identifies five key findings that will drive the digital game industry in Canada and the rest of the world in the next five years. These are a strong global competition, a highly lucrative industry in which Ontario has an important role to play, Ontario's advantages and benefits to support growth, recommendations outlined in the report and four trends that are likely to have a significant impact on revenue avenues for the industry. The four trends are the following: The evolution of existing platforms, especially hardware with advanced processing power, the emergence of lighter platforms (best exemplified by growth in mobile and broadband penetration on cell phones and computers, which has increased demand for game content), development of a middleware industry and consolidation of the industry.In the face of competition from provinces in Canada and other countries, Ontario has advantages that could work in its favour, the report says. These include the fact that the province has a strong base of existing companies, where technological advances have spurred the opening of more studios. Another factor identified as an advantage for Ontario is the existence of a "world-recognized" talent pool, 81% of whom come from the province's post-secondary school institutions. Lastly, the report identified the province's innovative funding programs as contributing significantly to developing the digital game industry.The report outlines 17 recommendations that would help push Ontario's gaming sector forward. Among those ranked "high", include calls for resources to stage regular training sessions, streamlining the eligibility requirements for cluster funds and leveraging the next generation of jobs fund for the digital game industry.

Report outlines how Ontario should maintain edge in digital game industry

Broadcast | August 23, 2008

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