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Kifimbo · Mar 16, 2011

French article (credible newspaper): http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse...rrait-ouvrir-un-nouveau-studio-a-montreal.php

Basically, Square Enix wants to open a new studio in Canada. Three cities are studied: Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The director of Eidos Montreal, Stéphane d'Astous, is talking with local government to get tax incentives and/or subsidies. In the US, Raleigh, Atlanta and Orlando were also considered but dropped. Expect a decision in May.

Takao · Mar 16, 2011

maybe I can make them a fighting robot rpg one day

Rainier · Mar 16, 2011

Love to see it here in Vancouver, but I'm betting it's heading to Montreal. Seems to be the trend lately.

ZombieFred · Mar 16, 2011

It's always nice to see further expansion to hire more game developers. This is always good news to hear.

SketchTheArtist · Mar 16, 2011

That'd be cool if they picked Montreal. We've got so much studios and diversified ones, it's a pretty bright future for the industry here.

Huff · Mar 16, 2011

Why does it seem like Canada is the new hot spot for studios opening up? Tax discounts?

Crazymoogle · Mar 16, 2011

But they already have a studio in Montreal... (that being said with the tax breaks there another one makes sense over the other locations...)

The Interrobanger · Mar 16, 2011

BroHuffman said:
Why does it seem like Canada is the new hot spot for studios opening up? Tax discounts?

Yep.

Hope they come to Toronto.

StuBurns · Mar 16, 2011

It's aboot time.

distantmantra · Mar 16, 2011

BroHuffman said:
Why does it seem like Canada is the new hot spot for studios opening up? Tax discounts?

Same reason movies are made up North. Big tax breaks.

firehawk12 · Mar 16, 2011

Great, so what awesome game will our tax dollars fund next?
And don't they already have Eidos in Montreal? That pretty much means Vancouver is the only choice.

BGBW · Mar 16, 2011

Belts, zippers and lumberjacks.

LiK · Mar 16, 2011

maybe they wanna steal some talent from BioWare, huhuhu

-Pyromaniac- · Mar 16, 2011

Cool, yo. Come to Toronto!

Jex · Mar 16, 2011

Man, those tax discounts have really helped.

I hope you're paying attention, stupid UK politicians.

Kifimbo · Mar 16, 2011

SketchTheArtist said:
That'd be cool if they picked Montreal. We've got so much studios and diversified ones, it's a pretty bright future for the industry here.

The CEO of Ubisoft Montreal (Yannis Mallat) is saying the opposite. He thinks there is not enough talents in Montreal and the quality of games will suffer. According to him, too many studios, especially with Warner Bros. and THQ recently. Of course, he might be saying that because he doesn't want to lose more people (like Patrice Désilets).

But they already have a studio in Montreal... (that being said with the tax breaks there another one makes sense over the other locations...)

d'Astous is talking about a possible synergy with Eidos Montréal has an advantage for the city.

disappeared · Mar 16, 2011

New spell confirmed. Ice, Ice 2, Ice 3, Winnipeg.

FunkyPajamas · Mar 16, 2011

I like the direction Square-Enix/Eidos is heading in. Hopefully this means more games from them pronto.

Soul Reaver revival!

Nuclear Muffin · Mar 16, 2011

Secret of Evermore 2 incoming!

j3hg00 · Mar 16, 2011

Toronto! Though I've got mixed feelings about this. Hope it'll set them back on track.

Takao · Mar 16, 2011

Doesn't Eidos have a Montreal studio already?

Doesn't make much sense to open another one there. I imagine GVA or GTA.

Santiako · Mar 16, 2011

Hopefully we'll see mounties with zippers in their hats.

Slime · Mar 16, 2011

Cool. They should totally hire me.

It's really refreshing to see Canada get so much video game industry love lately.

Acquiesc3 · Mar 16, 2011

Nier 2 please?

Kagari · Mar 16, 2011

Seems like they should concentrate on getting their Japanese studios up to speed instead, at least on the console side of things.

Electivirus · Mar 16, 2011

Very nice to hear. Pretty excited.

Crazymoogle · Mar 16, 2011

AFAiK this is why it's lucrative:

Quebec: Up to 37.5% of labor costs, other misc coverage. Govt owns a chunk of Ubi through a 3rd party.
Ontario: 25-40% of labor costs with vrious strings attached. $263m sweetheart deal for Ubisoft.
British Columbia: Up to 17.5% of labor costs. Few other perks as most of their attention is the film biz.
NB: 1m over 5 years for Longtail, not sure if that's a generic credit or specific package.
PEI: 25-30% of labor over 5 years.

Singapore offers a more lucrative package (free building, great labor cost coverage) and a source of junior staff due to Digipen SG but obviously has a much harder time attracting people due to the move.

Kyoufu · Mar 16, 2011

Acquiesc3 said:
Nier 2 please?

That wasn't developed by S-E.

anaron · Mar 16, 2011

disappeared said:
New spell confirmed. Ice, Ice 2, Ice 3, Winnipeg.

Nothing is more devastating.

Shadow780 · Mar 16, 2011

No bagged milk jokes? IAMDISAPPOINT.

DaBuddaDa · Mar 16, 2011

Between Boston, Baltimore and Montreal, the Northeast has become the east coast's mini silicon valley for gaming.

D2M15 · Mar 16, 2011

SketchTheArtist said:
That'd be cool if they picked Montreal. We've got so much studios and diversified ones, it's a pretty bright future for the industry here.

Or it's a boomtown for revolving-door factory production. But hey, I can't complain about the poutine.

lupinko · Mar 16, 2011

West Coast is Best Coast.

ClosingADoor · Mar 16, 2011

Everyone going to Canada lately. Give Europe some new studios too

Zombie James · Mar 16, 2011

Come to Toronto, please. I need work.

Takao · Mar 16, 2011

Shadow780 said:
No bagged milk jokes? IAMDISAPPOINT.

Zippered bagged milk would be an amazing combination.

Huff · Mar 16, 2011

ClosingADoor said:
Everyone going to Canada lately. Give Europe some new studios too

More like get the hell outta Europe. Haven't they been hit the hardest with closings/layoffs?

Fernando Rocker · Mar 16, 2011

BroHuffman said:
Why does it seem like Canada is the new hot spot for studios opening up? Tax discounts?

And not only that... they also get unlimited bagged milk!

Meesh · Mar 16, 2011

BroHuffman said:
Why does it seem like Canada is the new hot spot for studios opening up? Tax discounts?

Because the women wear tight clothes and carry powerful hand guns...(?)

M3Freak · Mar 16, 2011

BroHuffman said:
Why does it seem like Canada is the new hot spot for studios opening up? Tax discounts?

Corporate welfare.

webrunner · Mar 16, 2011

Fernando Rocker said:
And not only that... they also get unlimited bagged milk!

I find bagged milk goes bad before the best before date, if i dont open it in time.

It sucks because its' twice as much milk for only a tiny bit more than a 2L carton.

Fernando Rocker · Mar 16, 2011

Mithel · Mar 16, 2011

It should be Toronto, being the centre of the Canadian universe and all.

AlphaTwo00 · Mar 16, 2011

Zombie James said:
Come to Toronto, please. I need work.

Ditto.

ElNino · Mar 16, 2011

Mithel said:
It should be Toronto, being the centre of the universe and all.

Fixed.

SuperSonic1305 · Mar 16, 2011

Mithel said:
It should be Toronto, being the centre of the universe and all.

Fixed

C-Jo · Mar 16, 2011

Come on Vancouver, we need this.

added_time · Mar 16, 2011

They will probably just set up in whichever city/province offers the best incentives. Ubisoft really got pampered here in Toronto so if something similar was offered then I'm sure they would come here.
Quebec is very aggressive with government handouts though so my guess would be Montreal.

Criminal Upper · Mar 16, 2011

firehawk12 · Mar 16, 2011

Kifimbo said:
d'Astous is talking about a possible synergy with Eidos Montréal has an advantage for the city.

I'm sure this is a silly question, but wouldn't it be cheaper to just add another team to Eidos Montreal rather than start up an entire new studio?

Unless it's a big dick thing and whoever they get to head up the new studio wants to be the one in charge.

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