2d ago

Open Discussion: What makes a game or studio Canadian?

As title. How do we define what a Canadian game is?

My gut says that the physical studio (if there is one) should be located within Canada. But there are a lot of situations where this can get muddied.

Example being: Rimworld.

Founded & owned by Canadian Tynan Sylvester, but according to Ludeon Studios' (Tynan's gamedev studio) website, they're based in New York. According to Tynan's LinkedIn, he works from Ottawa, however.

Does this count as a Canadian game studio, or a Canadian game? Or just a studio that happens to be owned by a Canadian? Or started Canadian, and quickly grew -- but in the US. I don't think a studio being owned by a Canadian inherently makes it Canadian. By that logic, twitter is a Canadian company because Musk hold Canadian citizenship.

I've emailed the Rimworld support address seeking more info, but I think its a worthwhile discussion to have early on in this community so we can come to some kind of consensus on what exactly is a Canadian game.

7 comments

Depends on the context, of course. I'm sure you're interested in that characteristic for a reason, aren't you?
What is that reason?
Just pure chauvinism? Well, it isn't easy in this case.
Or maybe you care about the theme because of the current USA craziness? In this case, everything is easy: the company helps the country by paying taxes (yes, there are some other nuances, but they are less important). So as long as Ludeon pays to Trump's regime and obeys this regime's laws, it is a USA company.
- Chill, it's not meant to be that deep.
  This is a community that seeks to celebrate and spread word of Canadian games and studios. I figured it would be nice to have a discussion and come to some kind of conclusion on how we determine if a game or studio is Canadian. Nothing more, nothing less. Any political commentary beyond that can be had in other more relevant communities.
  For a gamedev, an individual person? Just being Canadian, I suppose. For a studio? I think it should be by being based in Canada, even if it is owned by a larger entity based elsewhere (Such as the Ubisoft Montreal branch) For the game itself? Made by a Canadian studio.
  
  Jesus.....that went from 0-1000 pretty quick....
  To me there shouldn't be any ulterior motives for wanting to support Canadian, or any other country's, local studios. The more we're able to support smaller devs, the less likely we end up with a "monoculture" of game development.
  
  Dude commented within 1 minute of me posting this too.
  I agree. I think games fall into the realm of art, and much in the same way I might visit a Canadian history museum to see our unique historic cultural artefacts, or a modern art gallery featuring Canadian artists, I am also interested in seeing what Canadian gamedevs are brewing up. We absolutely have a respectable gamedev scene in Canada and I think that is worth celebrating and discovering. Same for any other country too. It's a exploration of the unique cultural fingerprint we leave in the things we create. VERY different from the concept of national exceptionalism -- a game/thing/person being Canadian does not make it inherently superior. It'd be silly to think that, and I'd never suggest so.
  
  Dude commented within 1 minute of me posting this too.
  🤦
  I think games fall into the realm of art, and much in the same way I might visit a Canadian history museum to see our unique historic cultural artefacts, or a modern art gallery featuring Canadian artists, I am also interested in seeing what Canadian gamedevs are brewing up.
  It's a stupid easy way to show that their art has value, that they're not just screaming into the void. Regardless of the situation with the US, it's vital to show Canadian Devs/artists/musicians that people are engaged, and that they have a space, that the market will support more than just the 1000+ person efforts with millions or billions backing the project...
  shrugs Some folk just don't see it like that I guess....

7 comments