FTFA:
In May, pop superstar Elton John jointed McGuinty

I am sure he did, too.

Ah well - it was still $10 billion cheaper than bailing out GM & Chrysler.

It's over 10 years. 26.3 million a year.

Let's say those 800 people make 50k/year (that's low-balling it).

That's 40 million a year in paid wages. The company will pay more in rent, utilities, equipment, etc... A big chunk of all of this will come right back to the government in taxes.

They're also more likely to grow even further than pack up and leave in 10 years. It will also stimulate the industry as a whole in the area. Directly, they'll probably be hiring local consultants and contractors to work with.

It's unfortunate that the norm these days is to throw money at companies like this, but this is a relatively good deal.

Is that US dollars or Canada dollars? I think I got a few million of Canadian dollars on me.

pnjunction: It's unfortunate that the norm these days is to throw money at companies like this, but this is a relatively good deal.

It'd be an understandable deal if Ubisoft was being wooed from Europe or Silicon Valley, but Quebec is only 4 hours up the road. Seems a little parasitic.

Playerslight: pnjunction: It's unfortunate that the norm these days is to throw money at companies like this, but this is a relatively good deal.

It'd be an understandable deal if Ubisoft was being wooed from Europe or Silicon Valley, but Quebec is only 4 hours up the road. Seems a little parasitic.

Article doesn't say anything about their operations in Quebec shrinking at all. This seems like it is growth in the company.

pnjunction: Article doesn't say anything about their operations in Quebec shrinking at all. This seems like it is growth in the company.

Fair enough, it doesn't say that in the article. The could be bringing them in from France or elsewhere, or hiring. However, adding 800 employees is like 17% of their total workforce, which is a sizable hiring spree in the middle of a recession, especially for a videogame maker. We'll have to see how they source their employees.

The Stealth Hippopotamus: Is that US dollars or Canada dollars? I think I got a few million of Canadian dollars on me.

Wow - I've never heard that one before. Let's see this wad of loonies you have there.

Playerslight: Fair enough, it doesn't say that in the article. The could be bringing them in from France or elsewhere, or hiring. However, adding 800 employees is like 17% of their total workforce, which is a sizable hiring spree in the middle of a recession, especially for a videogame maker. We'll have to see how they source their employees.

I don't think they're hurting very much, they had a record year last year. The recession isn't that bad outside of housing, auto companies, the retail sector and a few other sectors which have mainly become too bloated in recent years. The rest is just fallout. Video games are a massively growing industry right now (maybe they'll bust later).

There will be some transfers no doubt (to bring in experience), but mostly hiring. Obviously they won't discriminate, but I would think that they are looking at local qualified people or they would've located somewhere else despite the government cash.

good news.

Didn't they hear Minister Flaherty? Nobody should develop in Ontario. Nobody.

What we need is a real go-getter, staunch traditionalist like Maurice Duplessis. He'd turn this province right around, you'll see!

/Stops painfully channelling my father.

hmmm i should dust off the old french book if i'm goingto apply. they need sales/marketing/qanda folk right?

If subby thinks this is strange, subby must think they house programmers in tents and have them bring their personal laptops to do development work on.

Playerslight: pnjunction: Article doesn't say anything about their operations in Quebec shrinking at all. This seems like it is growth in the company.

Fair enough, it doesn't say that in the article. The could be bringing them in from France or elsewhere, or hiring. However, adding 800 employees is like 17% of their total workforce, which is a sizable hiring spree in the middle of a recession, especially for a videogame maker. We'll have to see how they source their employees.

Hell, I'd even move to TO for that gig.

Does this mean we'll get a real sequel to Far Cry then?

*Checks Wiki on Far Cry2*

Oh shiat, Far Cry 2 was made by Ubisoft Montreal!!!


Fark you Canada!!!!

damn right they are. they know which country has its act together and which is full of greedy conservative crony capitalists.

Also, note it's an investment not a grant. There may be a return for the government on this, and in any event it's cheap at the price to attempt to create a new outpost for this industry and a climate for innovation.

I'm not really a fan of our provincial government, but I do enjoy video games and like the idea of them being made here.

Glad to see the article included a map of where this land you call "Toronto" is located.

Bag of Hammers: Does this mean we'll get a real sequel to Far Cry then?

*Checks Wiki on Far Cry2*

Oh shiat, Far Cry 2 was made by Ubisoft Montreal!!!


Fark you Canada!!!!

Certainly explains the driving skills of the AI... ;)

Sounds interesting. I'd be on a road trip right now if Valve was hiring a shiat-ton of people like that, though.

BumpInTheNight: Certainly explains the driving skills of the AI... ;)

LOL

I was listening to CBC radio and McGuinty said his favourite game is Max Payne.

It's good that the man knows a thing or two about a damn good video game series - but if you're spending a quarter of a billion dollars you should probably keep the love of a competitor's franchise on the down-low and express admiration for one of Ubisoft's many fine Tom Clancy products instead.

Good stuff. Ontario is being upstaged by Montreal and Vancouver. Canadian game design firms have already developed a rep for quality, let's keep it going. It encourages other companies to move here too.

All in all, thumbs up.

olapbill: Playerslight: pnjunction: Article doesn't say anything about their operations in Quebec shrinking at all. This seems like it is growth in the company.

Fair enough, it doesn't say that in the article. The could be bringing them in from France or elsewhere, or hiring. However, adding 800 employees is like 17% of their total workforce, which is a sizable hiring spree in the middle of a recession, especially for a videogame maker. We'll have to see how they source their employees.

Hell, I'd even move to TO for that gig.

If you would do that would promise to make good games?

would you make a game for this SFW (new window)

Linux_Yes: damn right they are. they know which country has its act together and which is full of greedy conservative crony capitalists.

I think it is your bedtime, spanky.

Stay tuned for "Donut Wars" and "RCMP Musical Ride: The Game"

whatshisname: Stay tuned for "Donut Wars" and "RCMP Musical Ride: The Game"

They already make most of their games in Montreal. You won't be getting those games you want anytime soon.

You forget about the trickle down like how many Tim Hortons will be opening to keep the programmers happy? Will they be able to become new dues paying members of the Possum Lodge?
Is there anything else in Toronto?

Sir_Dude: Is there anything else in Toronto?

Garbage. Lots and lots of garbage all over the place.

But hopefully the strike will be over by the time the tech workers visit.

So, Ubisoft gets this, but we still haven't see Harpoon 4?

Good. More people to work on the Beyond Good and Evil trilogy.


/sad Jade is sad
//wants her sequel
///and more slashies

Aw come on, Toronto's not that bad. The CN Tower's nice to look at:

/hot like a summer day

I only care if they put out a Heroes of Might and Magic 6.

Bag of Hammers: Does this mean we'll get a real sequel to Far Cry then?

*Checks Wiki on Far Cry2*

Oh shiat, Far Cry 2 was made by Ubisoft Montreal!!!


Fark you Canada!!!!

I was playing through that game recently. The environment is gorgeous, but there were some design choices made with the gameplay that bug the hell out of me. Number one being the fact that an enemy camp you spend 10 minutes clearing out will be full of enemies again as soon as you drive about a mile away, pretty much making travel anywhere a repetitive hassle.

A lot of Ontario companies get tax credits this way for expansion. Just many of them are small to med sized operations. Par for the course, nothing to see here move along.

Linux_Yes: damn right they are. they know which country has its act together and which is full of greedy conservative crony capitalists.

I've got a challenge for you: try to make it through one thread without saying something so stupid and/or cliched that it makes me want to punch your mom in the twat for having you.

Ooh, good good good, I was worried that there'd be a shortage of sequels to this series...

BumpInTheNight: Bag of Hammers: Does this mean we'll get a real sequel to Far Cry then?

*Checks Wiki on Far Cry2*

Oh shiat, Far Cry 2 was made by Ubisoft Montreal!!!


Fark you Canada!!!!

Certainly explains the driving skills of the AI... ;)

As an American who sees plenty of 'je me souviens' plates, I approve of this message.

/Hey, Ahs-WEEP-ay, remember this!

Slag Heap: Ooh, good good good, I was worried that there'd be a shortage of sequels to this series...

Those games are made with pure evil from Bill Gates's anal leakage.

I don't get all the Toronto hate. Srsly. Best goddamn city in the world. I've lived in a bunch.

Great weed everywhere, great clubs/bars, lotsa people from everywhere (the most diverse city in the world according to The Hype), clean beaches, short ride to virgin forests, close to Montreal, NYC, Chicago (and even Detroit!). Chill people. Chill cops. Hell, even the criminals are chill.

In fact, people who complain about it are just haters, plain and simple.