Fast Rising Popularity of Video Games in Canada

By: .JohnSmith.


Canada is one of the world?s largest economies having a thriving entertainment industry. Besides movies, music, television, the industry of video games is becoming popular day by day. Video games have been invented in the 1970?s and the popularity has just been increasing since the last 40 years. Young adults are getting addicted to this form of entertainment to reduce stress and tension from their studies. It has become a way to vent out anger and frustration for children of this generation. Video games are quite different from watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a computer game. Video games are played on a console, unlike computer games which are played on a PC.

The console can be Sony?s playstation or Microsoft?s Xbox, which is then connected to a television set or they can also be played on a portable hand-held device such as Nintendo Game boy. There are renowned gaming industries and other well-known game makers in Canada. Montreal and Vancouver are one of the biggest gaming hubs in the world. Globally, the video game business gains about $30 billion, and Canada is responsible for 3% of its sales, which is equivalent to around $1 billion. Forty percent of the Canadian households possess a video game console, and the video game sales are second to music sales in this country. Hence, the rising popularity of video games in Canada.

The Canadian style of gaming is quite different from the ones around the rest of the world. Due to this, there have been many controversies and debates in the country. The foremost controversy that is associated with video games is violence. Many argue that the violence in the games can be a bad influence on young children. There have been lawsuits filed against games such as Grand Auto Theft and Soldier of Fortune due to violence presented in the games. The other aspect that aroused controversy is the gender discrimination. Most of the games are male-oriented and show women in a low limelight. But, there are many ways to solve these problems. Censorship can be set up to avoid violence and women can be presented in a more positive manner. But it has been scientifically proven that video games reduce chronic pain by the Canadian researchers. There are many true incidents which have proven how video games are a good form of entertainment. In this country, the great Canadian video game challenge has been set up to inspire new ideas in the gaming industry and make it more popular.

Over hundred companies around Quebec and Great Britain produce and publish video games. There are many small budget video game companies and a handful of world-renowned companies. Edmonton?s BioWare is credited for creating the best fantasy games; Neverwinter Nights, being one of the popular games. Relic Entertainment in Vancouver is also a successful company with many sales world wide. Canada is also responsible for international sales of their video game products and the best selling games are sold US and Europe, where they top the charts. It is estimated that after US and Europe, Canada will become one of the strongest in selling and manufacturing of video games as the popularity is increasing.

For more information related to Games in Canada, visit GamersCanada.com