Canada to Give Ubisoft Grants 51
The Canadian and Quebecois governments have announced millions of dollars in grants and tax subsidies for the Montreal studio of French developer Ubisoft. Bloomberg has the news that these monies will be given to the studio over the course of several years. From the article: "Paris-based Ubisoft plans to hire programmers, game designers and computer animation specialists in the city over the next five years.."
Time (Score:1, Funny)
All your Development shop are belong to us.
Re:Time (Score:1)
Outsourcing To Quebec (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Outsourcing To Quebec (Score:2, Informative)
- People speak (lot of them) both French and English.
- Highly qualified hi-tech work force (McGill, Polytechnique and Sherbrooke universities for instance).
- The province has a touch of America and Europe so it's fantastic place to live in.
- Crimerate is very low.
- Poutine.
So why not outsource?
Re:Outsourcing To Quebec (Score:2)
So why not outsource?
Because of the last item:Poutine
You gotta admit it's a negative point in your listRe:Outsourcing To Quebec (Score:2)
The Ubisoft Studio in Montreal date back to 1997. [ubisoftgroup.com] They are the ones made Prince of Persia The Sands of Time, Myst IV Revelation and the Splinter Cell games.
So, Yes, Quebec is an preferred location for French companies because they can easely ask for bilingual candidates(No suprise here) and can get Tax breaks from both the provincial and Federal Gouv.
The same reasons why EA games also has a developpement house here, so it's not just French
Re:Outsourcing To Quebec (Score:1)
Compuware is a good example that set up shop here.
Here they can take advantage of a weaker dollar, tax benefits and perhaps grants from the provincial and federal gov'ts. You can't beat the location. It's outsourced and very close proximity to the states.
The cost of living is much lower, unfortunately you can get highly technical people for less.
I'm just happy for the work, so I can't complain.
Separationism? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Outsourcing To Quebec (Score:2)
New version of Frogger? (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Splinter Cell 8, here I come! (Score:1)
Re:Splinter Cell 8, here I come! (Score:1)
Judging by every single other funded IT project (Score:1, Offtopic)
Gov. funded stuff seems to leak money worse than a striper in a wind tunnel.
Re:Judging by every single other funded IT project (Score:2)
Re:Judging by every single other funded IT project (Score:2)
many, many countries finance films in the name of culture(and novel authors and painters and...).
why not games? not that far away.
Not that I'm bitter... (Score:5, Interesting)
I love computer games, but I like health care more, which is what our MINORITY government *should* be spending more money on. $57 million dollars would go a long way in hiring new doctors and nurses, equipment, and other hospital staff. I'm also really appalled that the first I've heard of this is on Slashdot and not on CTV, CBC or Global (three major news outlets in Canada).
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:3, Interesting)
I think that they should give this 34M to fund *independant developers* instead. They would help our economy better IMO.
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:3, Funny)
Well, as a Winnipegger.. Let me just say thank god we're not giving it to the Jets anymore. The only thing worse than spending 40M a year to fund a hockey team, is spending 40M a year to prop up a BAD hockey team.
You're welcome [sfgate.com], Phoenix.. No refunds.
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:1)
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:2)
Maybe the money is coming from what would have been wasted on keeping the Expos in town.
You're welcome [wikipedia.org], Washington.. No refunds.
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:2, Interesting)
Are we a tad jealous that only in Montréal, you can congregate the talents needed to have a big videogame (and pharmaceutical and aeronautical) industry? As the french don't have a culture where becoming an entrepreneur* is de rigueur, high-tech employers are very glad to setup sho
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:2)
Of course. The entire country is jealous of the millions of dollars of Corporate Welfare that Quebec has seen from Ottawa over the years.
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:2)
As for the rest, me to.
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:1)
As for stealing the tax payers money, this has been going on for years, its called "equalization payments".
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:1)
The Province of Quebec is giving 52 million while the federal government is doing 5, both of these are over about 5 years.
The 52 million that got you all worked up comes from a very lucrative setup the Quebec government has going to entice businesses there. Essentially they will give you $10,000 a year for each technical worker that is employed in the province as well as a 50% return on all R&D work
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:2)
Re:Not that I'm bitter... (Score:2)
Calculate 1000 people with an average pay of 45000 over 5 years. That's 225 million $ in gross payroll. That's at the very least 100 million in tax revenue from the employees alone. A very good investment imho. Plus the products are exported worldwide, increasing our trade surplus.
Hopefully. (Score:1)
Government grants?!? (Score:4, Interesting)
But why does the government have to give money to them? I was under the idea that they were doing quite well for themselves. Could this possibly be a move to try to force out EA, or allow Ubisoft to get a majority of their own shares? I think that as long as they continue to pump out great games, us gamers will be more than willing to fill their coffers.
OTOH, this will be a good bolster to their equipment, and allow them to more fully exploit the next generation systems coming out. Next-gen titles will certainly be more expensive and/or take longer to develop. Maybe we can now get a Splinter Cell 4 soon for the PS3, XB2, or Revolution.
Finally, a little OT, but I am always glad to see game innovation coming out of somewhere other than Japan. And maybe we should all get out there and buy some stock now, before it shoots up.
Re:Government grants?!? (Score:2)
Government Financial Support.. (Score:1)
Nothing new in Canada (Score:3)
Maybe, with government subsidies.... (Score:2)