Local gaming industry gets $4 million injection
Posted May 30, 2013 10:48:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA, Ont. – The bubbling game development industry in Ottawa is getting a $4 million boost from local company, Magmic.
The announcement came at the Ottawa International Gaming Conference.
Magmic founder, John Criswick told 1310News, it will help grow the industry.
“At that level it’s going to offer up a lot of new jobs too,” Criswick said. “We’re looking to work with partners in Ottawa and the region.”
The money will allow small independent game developers the opportunity to create their own games which Magmic can publish.
Magmic currently employs 50 people and Criswick estimates about 500 in the city are in the industry.
“Ottawa’s reputation as “Mattel North” will continue to grow,” he said. “It goes back into high school really. Canterbury High School…there’s a lot of amazing talent comes out of that.”
This is the second year for the Ottawa International Gaming Conference, which is also the brainchild of Criswick and Scott Simpson of Playbrains.
Criswick says organizers are about 30 per cent ahead of bookings compared to the inaugural show.
