Welcome to Gameplan PEI
GamePlan is a targeted economic development strategy to foster development of the video game sector in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. Since 2005, the PEI video game sector has been growing in size and prominence. PEI is home to game development studios, testing services, customer service centers and audio studios. PEI companies are working on various platforms including iOS, Android, Blackberry, DS, DSi, Wii, XBLA, PC and other platforms. Games produced by innovative Prince Edward Island companies include: Simpson's Tapped Out, South Park: Tenorman's Revenge, Super Monkey Ball, Trade Nations, Puzzlings, Puffins: Island Adventure, Legends of Wrestlemania, and CSI: Unsolved.
A lot of jurisdictions are trying to lure video game companies to their area, many offering some level of financial assistance. Prince Edward Island recognizes that incentives are only one small part of what makes an attractive location for your company. That’s why Prince Edward Island has developed a video game mindset. We get the video game industry and culture, and we are passing it on to our partners and to secondary and post-secondary students.
So, yes, Prince Edward Island is one of those jurisdictions that offers incentives to eligible companies. But we offer so much more.
PEI has GameForce, offering basic 2D game design courses at junior high schools and basic 3D at senior high schools. IMpact Expo (Interactive Media – Play Achieve Create Think) gives high school students enrolled in art and/or computer courses the opportunity to spend a day with representatives from local video game companies, learning about career paths, the development cycle, and local and global industry trends and issues. GameGarage brings recent graduates to PEI to work in a studio and create a game of their own design, with experienced mentors to provide support along the way.
Our developers are interacting with one another to collectively grow the industry, are providing mentorship in programs like GameGarage, and are providing expertise to our post secondary institutions that offer targeted video game curriculum.
Recognized as one of the world’s ten most beautiful islands, PEI is a tourism destination for approximately a million visitors each year. Many of these visitors come during the summer season when they can enjoy our beautiful sandy beaches, world-class golf courses and an abundance of fresh produce and seafood. Throughout the year, there are many concerts, festivals and events including the Festival of Lights, Jack Frost Children’s Winterfest, the Jazz & Blues Festival, Festival of Fall Flavours, International Shellfish Festival, and Old Home Week. You can experience great music, cuisine, harness racing, and history in the “Birthplace of Confederation” any time of the year.
PEI has an excellent reputation for safety, quality of life, a friendly atmosphere, and has many more amenities than most jurisdictions of our size. Our size also results in a true sense of “community” – networks between developers, educators, businesses, and easily accessible members of all levels of government result in a cooperative environment to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Prince Edward Island has a ‘video game culture’. PEI is committed to growing the video game sector – your sector. We may be small, but we think big – locate a studio in Prince Edward Island for all the right reasons!