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It’s now almost impossible to argue that Canada is anything other than one of the global superpowers of videogame development, with investment at the local and federal level across its provinces leading to unique outcroppings of talent and drive, be they EA Canada’s thousand-strong studio in Vancouver or the remarkable story of Montreal’s development community. But there’s a new kid on the block and, as unlikely as it sounds, it’s Prince Edward Island – the smallest province in the nation.
Historically punching above its weight not only as a tourist destination but as a cultural force – it’s the home of famous Canadian novel Anne Of Green Gables – the local government is turning its eye to the technology sector, bringing home the very developers who would have had to travel to Vancouver, Montreal or further afield to make a mark in the industry. And the studios of PEI (as it’s colloquially known) are already making their mark, with Other Ocean’s Super Monkey Ball conversion for iPhone considered so strong that it was one of the first titles announced by Apple. With a clear aim to keep companies lean and mean, the other provinces might not yet be quaking in their boots, but with an emphasis on innovation and creativity, PEI hopes that the rest of the world is going to take notice.