Edmonton game developers pushing for government incentives for start-ups

Edmonton’s game-development industry employed more than 600 people and was being promoted as a potential source of economic diversification for Alberta. BioWare brought developers together with provincial ministers to advocate for stronger government support, while general manager Aaryn Flynn pointed to growth in startups driven by technologies such as mobile gaming and virtual reality. Thirty Three Games illustrated both the potential and difficulty facing small Alberta developers. Its three-person team self-funded RunGunJumpGun over several years, earning positive reviews and an Apple App Store Editor’s Choice designation, but found few provincial funding options available to support another project. Beamdog and industry advocates similarly argued for labour-based incentives comparable to those offered elsewhere in Canada. The discussions showed an established Edmonton industry seeking policies that could help independent studios hire employees, take greater development risks and retain game-development talent within Alberta.