One developer furious at ‘Canadian firms circling like vultures’
A number of British game developers are outraged at being handed what they’re describing as “mock-up Canadian Passports” at a recent UK trade event.
They also have expressed alarm that – separately – a Canadian business is booking a ‘VIP Reception’ networking event at this year’s Develop Conference in Brighton.
One source revealed dismay at the speed in which some companies are encouraging British developers to look beyond their own country.
“Where's the British support for our industry,” the source asked.
“The Canadians are circling like vultures since the news broke that we aren't getting any tax breaks.”
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In regards to the ‘passport mock-up’, the item in question was a pamphlet distributed by leading multinational business group Quickstart Global. The pamphlet encouraged British studios to remain more competitive by outsourcing to North American firms.
The brochure was handed out to attendees of GameHorizon, a part-RDA-funded game industry event looking to aid British developers.
“A lot of us were very pissed off at finding mock-up Canadian Passports placed on our seats,” said one attendee, who suggested that the pamphlet included “all of the benefits of relocating your British business to Canada - all cheekily packaged as a Canadian passport”.
The source added: “Myself and the other delegates were furious but not knowing the organisers didn’t know who to complain to”.
Quickstart Global CEO Neal Gandhi told Develop the outrage was due to a misunderstanding, and called for a wider debate on being realistic in protecting British business.
“Of course I don’t want to see Canadian companies succeeding at the expense of UK firms,” he explained.
“Our view is that a company that is founded in the UK and has a huge chunk of its work done out of Britain can also leverage global resources. This is with a view to having towards having the best business possible. With a view to survival.
“We work with Monumental, with Sumo digital, and what we’ve done is help those groups grow significantly and help those groups get better publishing deals because they are more cost-effective.
“Studios are free to stick their heads in the sand and say, okay, we are going to source exclusively from the UK and price ourselves out of the business.”
Develop asked why, then, the ad featured a Canadian passport on the front cover.
“Yes, it is a Canadian passport to success,” said Gandhi. “This is aimed at UK studios, we want them to grow and survive and tap into the talent abroad.”
“Publishers have a choice of who they contract with and typically don’t care if the studio they work with is in the UK, France, Canada, Japan or the US. They’ll go with whoever gives them a better deal and the best quality.”
Quickstart Global is now in process of building a hub of development talent in North America, which UK studios can use at a cheaper rate than British studios.
“What this scheme offers is up to 30 per cent cash rebates on the salaries of people employed on their behalf, paid quarterly in arrears,” he said.
“In light of the current difficulties with respect to bank and other financing routes, this rebate paid in cold hard cash can mean the difference between survival and failure.
“Or to put it another way, the difference between some jobs being retained in the UK or not.”
The passport was an interesting marketing stunt. Admittedly I'd spent the evening before with a group of 10-20 producers and studio heads bemoaning the slow exodus of talent and projects from the UK, so it was "interesting" with a wry frown, but, seriously:
* UK devs have a load of problems, of which Canadian government support is not the largest.
* UK devs also have a lot of strengths. For co-dev, modular-dev and subcontracting work we (Beriah) typically find that the UK will provide some of the most cost-effective options, due to the skill, culture and exchange rates (the other top option is Poland, not Canada!)
* QuickStart are an interesting medium sized company, not a global monster (as the article implies)
The UK industry has a load of real challenges, and a load of strengths. Its a tough time for everyone, but singing a chorus of "Blame Canada" (Southpark-stylee) isn't going to help.
K
it was a damn cheek for people to be handing us canadian passports.
I've got no problems with Canada and I'm not going to 'blame them' - just the companies that are circling the UK when we've got enough on our plate.
I've seen Britain's game industry create the very pinnacles of game design. I have no interest in seeing that dwindle
There was a similar CANADA all out PR/glamour assault (without mock passports) at the recent GDC San Fran, with its own VIP event booked at the W hotel.
UK folks definitely need the similar level of backing and governmental support. Its akin to being properly equiped prior to heading out into the field of battle :)
i thought it was a good piece of marketing actually! sheesh any1 finding that offensive nneds to get a life!
Earlier this year - February, I think it was - TIGA was advertising a seminar organised by Quickstart on outsourcing and offshoring. The same TIGA that's crying blue murder at how other territories are getting our business.
Now that is spot-on. The UK absolutely *can* go head to head with Canadian dev studios, but the perception is that Canada is in the ascendant, is cheaper, etc. It's PR, not facts - but PR is probably more powerful than facts!
If someone (e.g. TIGA + UKTI?) could put together a decent charm-offensive for UK development, that could have a huge benefit for the UK industry.
There is marketing and then there is a issue of insensitivity and going to far.
I believe this aspect for many obvious reason was a line to far, and thus sparked multiple feelings of outrage.
Imagine coming home, and to find some Canadian delegate has decked out your home in all things canadian, and left a mock passport on your favourite sofa.
Or akin to leaving a 5 course banquet in the workplace of some folks who choose to fast during religious seasons.
The UKTI folks have a bunch of seminars to help books UK trade overseas, but not once targeted specifically towards a charm offensive/team UK approach.
I'm sure they are amenable to this and some further discussions of the pro and plus points of our local talents can be reboostered.
We may be fighting for the UK but in the grand scheme of things, when it comes to publishers looking at margins, when it comes to the cold realities of business, the UK's workforce is drying up, moving out and failing to survive.
If some company is trying to help British firms by being realistic, so be it.
It's a bit rich to hit out at this sort of stunt. As a former UK dev making the switch to Canada I can honestly say it was the best move I ever made. The dev community is really valued over here, unlike at home where we're too often viewed with an air of disdain. So stop being so snobby and jump at the chance before the UK dev market has been drained of talent and you've missed the chance!
I love the idea of Canadians circling like vultures! So out of character! ha!
This is just a single company and their clever marketing campaign, which taps directly into the nervous system of the uk's economic crisis. Though I think the sense of 'furor' is being manufactured a little here.
To be honest, Develop gives a lot of oxygen to Canadian development through their pages, with numerous special features and frequent bulletins on tax breaks etc... hmmm
Develop will say they're just reporting the news, that they don't take sides.
Quite frankly, sometimes you have to.
How many jobs really got lost in the last 5 years?
In my time in Canada I've seen a great many studios from (mostly) the UK going to Montreal .
Canada and especially Quebec enjoy huge tax-breaks, employees that can be fired at a moments notice, that have 14 days of vacation and 3 sick-days.
How would England possibly get even close to that?
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I'm all for supporting the UK games industry - I'm heading up a fledgling UK start up myself - but isn't all this outrage a bit over the top?
The UK games industry has and still does outsource huge amounts of asset creation etc. to China and elsewhere. What's wrong with the Canadian games industry looking to make use of UK talent?
Granted the passport thing is perhaps a bit aggressive, tasteless even in the current economic climate, but come on, business is business.
Somebody pulls a passport trick and suddenly it's all a brilliant "marketing stunt".
But when the Israeli Mosad (supposedly) uses Canadian, British or other kinds of passports - suddenly everyone gets all so mad.
I think it's an amusing stunt, good for the Canadians, and if we can't support our own, I am glad they can.
We did get support in the past, in around 2005 we were invited to the Ambassadors hacienda in LA during E3 (no ferrero rocher before you ask), and they made a speech about how great the games industry was (although the guy making the speech clearly had no idea what he was talking about), after which we all returned to the free drinks & food...
I think we all got little UK flag pin badges. Go UK!
