The New Media Industry in British Columbia

May 5, 2005

ISRN Conference, Toronto

Lynda Brown

Executive Director, New Media BC

Executive Producer, Vancouver International Digital Festival

/Definition

New Media is the use of new and

emerging interactive digital media for the

purposes of entertaining, educating or

informing

/Who is New Media BC?_

Not for profit industry association

200+ member companies

To grow and support the industry

Research, networking events, training,

mentoring programs, advocacy, lobbying,

strategic direction

/BC Industry Highlights_

800 companies – close to 1200 including supporting services

Employs 14,000+ people in FT positions

Three quarters of companies export

81% of companies are producing own IP

Over 1 billion in annual revenues

/Age_

62.9% of companies are less than 6 years old

The average company is 6.5 years old

Nearly one third of companies started during the boom period of the late 1990s

Start-ups are involved in: • web development/design• mobile content

• eLearning• game development

• digital film and animation

/Work_Force/Numbers_

Industry employs 14,000 people in FT positions

Rapid growth in games sector – 1000+ predicted new hires in next year

Outside of games sector, most positions are in small companies (fewer than 10 people)

Significant contract labour – 81% of respondents employed between 1 to 5

contractors

/Growth_Expectations_

Highly optimistic, almost one in two expect growth of 25% or more in the next 18 months.

Nineteen percent anticipate growth of 100% or more.

Salary Survey Results

Average Base Pay for the Following Positions:

Creative Director: $74,000Art Director: $67,500Sr. Designer: $55,000Int. Designer: $43,000Jr. Designer: $30,500Production Designer: $52,000QA Lead: $58,250Content Strategist: $60,900Sr. Information Architect: $64,000Information Architect: $55,000Sr. Usability Specialist: $65,000

/Sectors_

Within BC’s digital media realm there are many thriving subsectors including:• Video Games• Animation and Digital Film• eLearning• Mobile Content• Interactive Design

Why a Market Map?Applied BasisTech.Axis InteractiveBacklash StudiosBardel EntertainmentBarking Bullfrog CartoonsBeatty Lane StudiosBlazing GamesBluebrain MultimediaBroken SaintsBudget Monks ProductionsC4 Digital Ent.Chalk MediaCharacterstreet AnimationClayman’s FunhouseClockwork ProductionsDurinium EntertainmentETI EntertainmentTechnologiesExile InteractiveFalcon-softwareFatBlues Music LicensingFurious EntertainmentGabrielle FrizzeraGnosis GamesGoady GamesGreg White DesignHot Dog DayIdeas That PlayInlight EntertainmentInterScape CreationsJarhead GamesKalador EntertainmentKokoHead StudiosKrabbitsoft StudiosL2EdLavaMindLivewire DesignLoaded ImageLost Boys StudioLudicorpLulu StudioLunny InteractiveMainframe EntertainmentMcMillan Games

Mercury FilmworksMoBroMyriad StudiosNext Level GamesNoise MediaNorthwest ImagingPhoton SoupPiranha GamesPixelweaverPure IllusionRadical Ent.Radius MediaRaider ProductionsRain Jester EntertainmentRainmakerRealWorld MediaRelic Entertainment (THQ)RocketsnailSecondSun Entertainment7th Floor MediaStudio X LabsStudio B ProductionsSwitch InteractiveThreewave SoftwareThrive MediaUbiquity InteractiveVeggie GamesWikkedwaresYamisoft Entertainment

Amber InteractiveAnimetixTechnologiesArtifex StudiosCondition30Credo InteractiveCYOP Systems InternationalEOS SystemsExpontentia CommunicationsFactory1 GamesGekido Design GroupInphinity InteractiveIUGO Mobile EntertainmentLightRoomLuna Seven ImageryMobile OperandiOrangeview OnlineQA LabsQuiver StudiosSingular InversionsSxipYummy Interactive

PhoenixTechnologiesSaneWaveTactex Controls

Air Games WirelessBackbone EntertainmentElectronic Arts CanadaElectric PlaygroundGame Goose MediaMagnetar GamesNintendo of CanadaNokia CanadaProving Ground MediaRob Edgar (Independent)RockstarVancouverSollers GroupTelus

GAME DEVELOPMENT MARKET MAP

CONTENT TOOLS PUBLISHING

Developer – PlatformSoftwareHardwarePublishingService Provider

MobilePersonal ComputerConsoleHandheldOnline/WebEdugamingRich Media

DEVELOPER SOFTWARE HARDWARE

LEGEND

PUBLISHING

Training InstitutionsArt Institute ofVancouver(+Burnaby campus)BCITTech CentreCapilano CollegeCentre for Arts &Technology inthe OkanaganCollege of Interactive ArtsEmily Carr Institute of Art & Design

Simon Fraser UniversityUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouver Film SchoolVancouver Institute of Media Arts

AssociationsNew Media BCIGDAVancouver ChapterACM SIGGRAPHVancouver

DistributionPlaydiumCompusmartElectronic BoutiqueLondon DrugsWalMartMicroplayOffice DepotRadioShackToys R' Us

PlatformSecondary Business

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Other Growth Sectors – eLearning

BC also boasts a thriving eLearning

industry

More than 80 companies working in this

area

Home of large international companies

such as Bridges.com and Web CT For more information: www.elearningbc.ca

Other Growth Sectors – Wireless

200 companies in BCNearly 25% of which develop and/or publish content for mobile applications

Emerging mobile content cluster

BC Mobile Industry Map

Key Challenges

1. Lack of Financing2. Economic Volatility3. Lack of Access to Markets4. Lack of Business Network5. Human Resource needs

Lack of Financing - Strategies

Business partneringVC educationCompany educationSubsidies and creditsLobbying and advocacy

Economic Volatility - Strategies

Global marketGovernment advocacyLong term vision and strategic directionCross-fertilization

Lack of Access to Markets - Strategies

Coordinated trade and marketing activities

International Partnering Forum (VIDFEST)Business matchmakingBuyer workshops (TradeRoutes)Exploring consortium models

Lack of Business Network - Strategies

Networking eventsPersonal introductionsPeer to peer mentoringVIDFESTNational opportunities

Human Resource Needs

Research and competenciesGraduate program in digital entertainmentStronger linkages between industry and academia

Vancouver International Digital Festival

June 15th – 17th, 20055 Streams: Interactive Design, Digital Film, Animation, Video Games, Mobile Content

Creative Exchange: Keynote Panels & Master Classes

Screenings: Digital Film, Animation, Experimental

International Partnering ForumAnd… the VIDFEST Gala!