Info: 17 high profile game companies

Objective: Publish a list of High Profile Game Developers that do business in Canada.

For a game developer to be included in this list of high profile game developers in Canada, it must have an active relationship with a publisher, it must currently be working on, or recently completed, a game, and it must be undertaking the bulk of the game development on its current (or recent) project, with a minority interest contracted out to other companies. Thus, contractors, publishers, software providers, and hardware vendors, or any other Canadian Game Company, except successful game developers, are not intended for this list.

A High Profile Game Developer must also meet one or more of the following criteria::

• employ over 60 people
• be included on the Deloitte and Touche Canadian Technology Fast 50 list
• maintain two or more development teams for big-budget titles
• be listed on the stock exchange
• also be a successful publisher with over 10 titles published
• be in business for over 10 years, always with a title in development
• be an active sponsor of any IGDA Chapter in Canada
• made 20 or more new hires in the last Fiscal year
• have 8 or more active job openings on Canadian Game Jobs
• have at least 2 big-budget titles in production
• have at least 5 low-budget titles in production
• have a well publicized internship program
• be recently featured in a major new article
• developed a hit game, currently in the market, which has sold over 1,000,000 copies
• developed a hit game, currently in the market, which has topped the charts (Canadian or international)
• have sustained 5 year growth of 400% or greater

Secondly, publish a list of the 'Top 10 Canadian Game Developers'. The Top 10 List will be drawn directly from the list of High Profile Canadian Game Developers, and will be based on a weight assigned to each criterion. As an example, a game developer with more than 60 employees will score 2 points, while a game developer with a recent hit game that sells 1,000,000 copies will score 4 points. For the time being, the top 10 list is empty, while I generate a list of High Profile Game Developers, and decide on a final metric.

One thing that has to be decided is whether two studios in different parts of Canada can each be listed on the Top 10 list, or whether only one can listed at a time. An example is if Rockstar Vancouver, and Rockstar Toronto, both qualify for the Top 10 list, only one might be included, or both might be included.

Comments: The definition of 'High Profile' when speaking about a Canadian Game Developer is tentative, and I am eager to hear your opinions on this matter. Do you disagree with any of the criteria? Are some of them too easy, but others too hard? Did I miss anything, like an easy way to tell a high profile game developer from a low profile game developer? Let me know!

Please be aware that while this list is generated openly and fairly, to the best of my ability, it ultimately represents my own personal opinion on this matter, and is fully at my discretion to change as I see fit.

In terms of the metric for the Top 10 list, it is tentative at this state. I welcome input on this subject, and I will credit you for your input. Who do you think belongs on the Top 10 List? Give me your thoughts.

Related Links:

• Canadian Game Companies