Group seeks to turn Illadelph into 'the Hollywood for video games'

by Ben Gilbert { Aug 8th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Like the smattering of American states and, umm, international unions that have already begun financially incentivizing game development, a few Philadelphians hope to convince the city's legislature to do the same. Philadelphia's City Paper reports that the Video game Growth Initiative recently presented its case for economic growth through game development to "representatives from state government and city economic groups."

Though the representatives suggested the re-packaging of "already existing business incentives," the group has bigger plans for its ideas, saying, "That's still not enough, it's not like other cities don't have these kinds of incentives." For now, the VGI is preparing a website that will enlighten tentative game studios to the "already existing" financial reasons why they should move to the City of Brotherly Love. Personally, this writer thinks the incredible food, amazing selection of beer, and Joystiq's own Chris Grant would be incentive enough.

[Image credit]

[Via GamePolitics]

Tags: chris-grant, citypaper, game-development, philadelphia, tax-breaks, tax-incentive, vgi, video-game-growth-initiative

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Shadowbender (The Sweatshop Will Live On) @ Aug 8th 2009 9:10PM

Mmm, Philly Cheese Steaks...

Quiggy @ Aug 8th 2009 9:14PM

You've clearly never had a real cheesesteak. Note the space. Or rather, the lack of a space.

Also, to Ben: We call it Philly, not Illadelph. You could've asked Chris about that one.

Courtney @ Aug 8th 2009 9:17PM

Had a fella make me a Boston Cheesesteak once, trumped any Philly I had ever had, but I can't honestly say what he did that was different.

Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding @ Aug 8th 2009 9:21PM

Oops, wasn't paying attention. And you can chill, it's alright.

Quiggy @ Aug 8th 2009 9:39PM

I tend to have a knee-jerk reaction to people who don't know what a Philly cheesesteak is after seeing one too many signs for "Phillie Cheese Steaks", or worse, "Philly Steak & Cheese Subs." *shudders*

azuravian @ Aug 8th 2009 9:46PM

I'm admittedly somewhat ignorant of the cheesesteak (although I do like to eat them). However, I think I'm right when I say that in Philly they use terms like with or without (pronounced wit or witout) to specify whether they want onions or not. Some Philly locals also eat them with Whiz as opposed to provolone or whatever cheese is used. So it seems like, even in Philly, there is no consistency as to what a cheesesteak is.

MystileArmor [Wiizer Sweatshop Bathwater and Sam Raimi Specialist] @ Aug 8th 2009 9:52PM

I don't give a rats ass what a real cheesesteak is, as long as I can eat them and they taste yummy.

The Dark Wayne @ Aug 9th 2009 12:40AM

or quiggy he could have asked himself since, you know, he lives there and writes a blog called fucking Geekadelphia

Ben Gilbert @ Aug 9th 2009 9:13AM

@Quiggy: I live in Philly ("The Illadelph," which I believe is a term coined by The Roots, and is used by lots of folks to describe Philly, works too). I've lived in Philly for years. Thanks, though!

Wiizer (MW2 Sweatshop Entrepreneur) @ Aug 9th 2009 1:51PM

Quiggy: The Biggest Douche in Illadelph

Now, where's my Phillie Chease Steak Sammich?...

WINterfang @ Aug 8th 2009 9:13PM

Great shop, btw this is off topic but have anyone seen the Iron Man 2 comic con trailer with Whiplass and War Machine? Holy ****.

Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding @ Aug 8th 2009 9:19PM

It's online?! Yes!

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 8th 2009 9:23PM

What the hell does that have to do with Philly / Video Games / Cheesesteaks? Just because you said "off-topic" doesn't mean you can do a 180. There is a reason why people put time and effort into typing up articles on this site. They don't do it just so we can skim across and say "o yea thats great w/e".

Btw this is off-topic but my cat keeps meowing at the frog sitting on my porch.

WINterfang @ Aug 8th 2009 9:30PM

Yeah dude.

http://wearemoviegeeks.com/2009/08/iron-man-2-comic-con-teaser-leaked/

but it's leaked so they probably took it out already.

Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding @ Aug 8th 2009 9:33PM

Oh my gosh I just saw it and it was so cool! Can't wait!

sting @ Aug 8th 2009 9:44PM

Yeah, that trailer was super sick. Can't wait for it to come out!

~~
http://bit.ly/f5cyp

WINterfang @ Aug 8th 2009 9:52PM

Heck yeah man, seems like they took out the other War machine sadly.

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 8th 2009 9:16PM

Sorry, the position has already been filled by California.

The only way you can influence studios to come to your city is if you take millions in tax payer money and throw it in their faces, much like the Ontario government did.

DBuck_Eye @ Aug 8th 2009 10:45PM

I wouldn't want to work in either of those places.

Rocko @ Aug 8th 2009 9:20PM

hellz yeah, philly represent.

Right now, the name that has become synonymous with Philly and video games is Tom Fulp from Newgrounds, and that definitely has to change.

LaughingTarget @ Aug 8th 2009 9:44PM

Why bother? The city doesn't fix anything when it breaks. Need proof? They got this bell that has been cracked for a couple hundred years. Imagine how bad the office buildings get it. Though, a Philly makes good motor oil according to Coop, which is a plus.

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 8th 2009 9:52PM

You're not fooling anyone, sting.
It was a witty comment but not worthy of an "LOL" / "xD".
Those caps-lock moments should be taken seriously.

We all know you're just trying to sell your stupid link.
Stop whoring yourself out to Bethesda.

MystileArmor [Wiizer Sweatshop Bathwater and Sam Raimi Specialist] @ Aug 8th 2009 9:54PM

The Liberty Bell doesn't have any money? Did it spend all of it on cheesesteaks?

Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding @ Aug 8th 2009 11:33PM

It spent it on the best of the BEST cheesesteaks.

Mr Khan @ Aug 9th 2009 11:13AM

Yes, but Coop also expressed his desire that all the monsters escaped from that cartridge prison go to Philly (and presumably destroy it)

Anonymouse @ Aug 8th 2009 9:44PM

Ze typo, she is big

Anonymouse @ Aug 8th 2009 9:53PM

Nvm... Ignorant poster is ignorant..

nickux @ Aug 8th 2009 9:50PM

Philadelphia City Paper? Not the best newspaper in town but I did intern for them once and would be happy to see more of the gaming industry come here. Although gaming industry members might balk when they hear some people refer to the city as 'Killadelphia'

SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 8th 2009 9:56PM

Death to print media.

B3astofthe3ast @ Aug 8th 2009 9:53PM

Isn't illadelph a high end bong making company?

WRYYYYYY @ Aug 9th 2009 7:24AM

Yeah. Now stop bojangling and pass that shit.

Sly @ Aug 8th 2009 10:11PM

philly cheesesteaks with chris grant?

sign me up!

WMcPete @ Aug 8th 2009 10:23PM

Philadelphia... Moved here a few years ago and am counting down the days like the tail end of a prison sentence till I can get the heck out of this hell hole of a city. Good food?! For a city with such a large Italian population, they sure make some nasty pizzas. And by the way, those internet polls about which city has the ugliest/unworldly/unfit people overall? They knew what they were talking about when they gave those awards to Philly.

Shaun c. @ Aug 8th 2009 10:45PM

lorenzos pizza is awesome, so is uncle oogies. your right it is a hell hole but it has it's highpoints. really good music scene! i was just in Chicago and couldn't believe how much nicer it was.

OnToGloryReturns @ Aug 9th 2009 12:51AM

Wow, well you won't be missed. How can you not find good food in Philly? There are so many excellent restaurants I don't even know where to start. Great sports town, too.

I moved here from the NY area about 17 years ago and absolutely love it. The Delaware valley is big but it still has that provincial small town aura.

Don't drive off the blue route on your way outta town.

Ben Gilbert @ Aug 9th 2009 9:18AM

I would be happy to show you around and bring you to the delicious pizza and beer. It took me a long time to warm up to Philly but it absolutely has its high points and now I'd be hard to convince to move away. For serious, shoot me an email (ben@joystiq.com) and let me know if you're interested. :D

alu @ Aug 10th 2009 5:08PM

@WMcPete: my fav pizza is Soho pizza on 2nd and market... lorenzo's is ok, you get a big ass slice for the money but i don't really like their sauce, too sugary/sweet.

@Ben: do i hear a philly joystiq meetup?

Shaun c. @ Aug 8th 2009 10:43PM

i just read this in city paper, its not a bad paper. better than philadelphia weekly. Illadelph is a bong company by the way...
also a philly cheesesteak is most commonly with onions and whiz but most places ask you what you want.

DBuck_Eye @ Aug 8th 2009 10:47PM

Why don't they just direct their attention a few hundred miles westward to the most livable city in America?

The Dark Wayne @ Aug 9th 2009 12:42AM

there's a lot of city's hundreds of miles west of the east coast, pretty vague there really

John @ Aug 9th 2009 4:22AM

He's talking about Pittsburgh.

Frankly, I don't see any PA city getting anything because they tax businesses to death there.

Plus the actual name for the town is Filthydelphia.

DBuck_Eye @ Aug 9th 2009 10:53AM

Finally someone called it by its rightful name.

John @ Aug 9th 2009 2:47PM

My favorite part about filthydelphia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M0VmEkGvPM&hl=it

Boo Hoo the eagles suck, get over it losers.

TatoBins @ Aug 9th 2009 2:33PM

go phillies.

j.howlett @ Aug 9th 2009 12:21AM

i would love for philly to get game companies. i could get a job and commute there, i don't want to move back.

Mr Khan @ Aug 9th 2009 11:19AM

That would be neat for my half-each-year adopted home town. Hopefully at least the initiative will make the Philly gaming expo a little more relevant.

psilver1 @ Aug 9th 2009 11:43AM

Yea, the food is good but the atmosphere SUCKS! Unless you revel in misery and nastiness. If you do, the general populace of Philadelphia is for you. I think Emperor Palpatine would even ask a typical Philadelphian, "Dude! Why so angry? Chill out. It isn't THAT bad!"

On the plus side, the people are completely honest and say "F-you!" with complete genuine honesty. After spending 20 years in the area, I was shocked to find that people actually waved with ALL their fingers outside the DelVal.