Love Splinter Cell? Blame Canada!

by Ross Miller { Sep 1st 2005 at 8:00PM }

It is not all just hockey-playing and beer-drinking up north of the United States – in fact, Canada, besides being very thick-skinned (both from cold weather and cold humor), is home to good lot of video game developers. Prince of Persia? Thank you, Ubisoft Montreal. NeverWinter Nights, Jade Empire? Everything by BioWare is made up north. Jive Magazine has an amusing article on the merits of Canada and its video game industry. The piece is light-hearted but an interesting defense of the maple leaf capital of the world.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

John @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

CANADA PWWNNNSSS!

Mr. Clark @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

BioWare is situated in my city. Edmonton, Alberta.

I remember back in Junior High they sent representatives for Career Day. I hung out in the computer lab the whole day watching the guys dreamily.

gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

It's true. We do own. I guess you could say we *ahem* "pwn."

We're just talented that way. Same with comedians, athletes, actors, yummy mary jane and sweet-ass hot girls. For a country of 30 odd million, we pump out a lot of good stuff.

I don't know why. I don't know what causes this. Something in the water? In the air? Only dear old Mr. God knows for sure.

Lets not forget that most of EA's better games come from their Canadian offices. SoftImage (for making games) that's us too. You're welcome.

Why do we do what we do? To make the world a better place to live; that's why. Do we have to do it? Nah, I guess not. But do we do it anyway? Yah, I guess so.

From beautiful Vancouver BC to hustle bustle Toronto to the hearty (and drunken) shores of PEI ... Canada PWNS U SUCKAZ!!!

*Lights doob, cracks open 5.5% beer, taps girlfriend on ass*

retro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Oh god, finally, at least a bit of respect for us over here. :) Gaming our nationality? Hehe, I love it. Would definitely boost our dollar's worth (YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), and all those games I love to play.

Hanging Gardens @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

I live in Canada and it is a great place. Just the goverment sucks ass, i dont recommend everyone should live here, buts its safe quiet (if you want it to be otherwise...) and big, lots of space to do things. Librals are ruining our country, after a couple scandals the idiots here still vote for librals (not insulting anyone) I think US is great also, hate those people who dont like US because they just dont, or the war.

The only thing that bothers me about US is the gay people that think we live off seal flab and its winter all year round. Or they think we cant go outside with out 7 layers of clothes on us, God i hate those people, saw one of them on millionare.

Dan @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

No way bro, canada totally doesn't have any good games out for it yet. The PSP is WAY better than canada. Just look at tiger woods, and wipeout, and all those sweet UMD movies.

PSP totally kicks Canada's ass.

metal_gear_jello @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Yes, we do own. And we will once again demonstrate our "ownage" in the turino winter olympics where are hockey teams (men and women) will once again own the rest of the world. the other events are just time slot fillers. :)

Let us not forget that Metrowerks also started in Montreal. They own the developer tools! Ati pwns video cards too. Yah...

Momus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

w00t!� minus Warrior Within. Everything else we make r0x0rz and let's not forget Buck Bumble, everybody.

Right about now it's time to ruck with the king of bees, Buck Bumble.
Bump to the bump to the bump to the bass, bump to the bump to the Bumble.

chris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

OMG, I JUST FOUND OUT MY CUSIN IS SWITCHING FROM THE UBISOFT OFFICES IN FRANCE TO MONTREAL!!! i wasnt sure it was ubisoft cus all i knew was he wanted to go to the companies office in montreal and i wasnt sure what company had an office in montreal and france, i thought ubi did but this confirms it :D

chris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

retro @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Dan, if your post was a joke (Which I'm pretty sure it is), LMFAO.

If it wasn't,

O_o

James MacAulay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Don't forget Relic in Vancouver (of Homeworld/WH40k Dawn of War fame).

I have a feeling about half of joystiq's readership is Canadian. I've noticed a lot more Canadian-content slashdot posts in the past while, too. I'd be interested to see the web stats. (I'm an Ottawa boy, by the by.)

gozer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

don't forget silicon knights

http://www.siliconknights.com/main.html

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Well, we'll do a impromptu survey, then, to find out: if you're canadian and you know it clap your hands.

LINES @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

gozer, as am i :D. Ottawa for life. Oh, no wait, i hate Ottawa. But either way, Canada owns.

epobirs @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

They used to say similar things about the explosion of game coding talent in the UK in the 1980's. The weather sucked and there weren't a lot of jobs for teenagers, so they were very motivated to stay home and get good at writing games on the Spectrum. Or a C64 if they were posher.

Aerospace people also have remarked about the great effectiveness of the X-plane prgrams in the 60's. You stick a bunch of engineers and test pilots out in the desert with nothing to do but work and they got more done for the money than anything since.

Dralt @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Most of the staff at Ubisoft Canada is French Canadian... :)

keaksneak @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Canada has some fine h0es and Hanging Gardens

learn how to spell Liberal.

late

kartoon

Infinity Boy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Actually there's a bit of controversy over this gaming "boom" in Montreal.

If you're a game developer the Quebec govt (provincial govt) will help subsidize the costs of creating games, thus creating an unfair advantage. Which means there's money to be made and other Canadian video game companies outside of Quebec will be run into the ground.

Jafar @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

They also forgot Pseudo Interactive which is making Full Auto for the Xbox 360.

http://www.pseudointeractive.com/fullauto.shtml

Matt @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

He also forgot conveniently EA's largest studio is in Canada (Burnaby, just outside of Vancouver). They make the Football (Soccer for this continent), Baseball, Basketball games, Need For Speed, SSX, and Marvel series too. I'm kinda biased that I work for them; but it's also good to see an article focus on the other amazing developers within Canada. Digital Extremes, Ubisoft, Alias (they do Maya), Discreet, EA, Rockstar, Radical, Relic, Pseudo Interactive, Silicon Knights, NextLevel, HB Studios, and a whackload more that i'm forgetting too.

Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Wow, Matt, helluva list. Thanks for the info.

jake @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

let's not forget UT2k4 (Digital Extremes) and while not games per se, ATI is also Canadian (without getting into an ATI vs. nVidia war, let's just say they're one of the top 2 video chip makers on the market!)

jc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

go leafs go...

Oh sorry, I got all excited there.

Nice to have the hardworking Canadian Game Makers receive some credit.

kevin @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

T.= NYC, Vancouver= LA, Calgary= Chicago, we make great games, whats nt to love my American friends? peace

John @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

OMG GUYS!!!

Digital Extremes maker of unreal tournament and stuff is actually in my city!! Holy poop!

Im gunna go downtown and check it out, thats awsome! Now to get Myamoto to move here.

OmegaSupreme @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

Yo Canada if the UK ever goes 'tits up' ( as we say ) I'm coming over, sounds good, I hope I can seek assylum there but forget about this winter olympics crap.

Martin @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

First of all I am from Canada and I don't appreciate the comments. You Americans are just as thick skinned and cold humoured as us. I would even add that you are DRY. North of US like Michigan, New York� have just as much cold weather as us so !@#$ ^%#.

PS Little something that I don't believe any of you Americans will understand. In the US you can your selves Americans. Think about it, US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil.... we all live on the continent called AMERICA. So in theory we are ALL Americans. Think your so smart are you...

Momus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM

So, in theory, they're all arrogant nationalist morons. : D

Eh, comes with being the most powerful nation on the planet. Don't worry, they'll fall soon enough. (: