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ESA publishes '2010 Essential Facts' for Canadian game industry
The Entertainment Software Association recently released its "2010 Essential Facts" report, an annual catalog of statistics regarding video game sales and consumers, for the Canadian games industry (PDF). According to the group's study, 47 percent of Canadian households own a PS3, 360 or Wii, and the average gamer's age is 33 -- both of which mirror the 2010 Essential Facts report on the American games industry (PDF). The similarities don't stop there -- the study found that 38 percent of Canadian gamers are women, compared to the US' 40 percent. Also, stats regarding parental supervision while purchasing and playing games is as reassuringly high as it was for American parents. Check out a few video testimonials from Canadian game developers about the relative radness of their nation's gaming industry after the jump.
ESA Canada employs games to push anti-piracy legislation
In an effort to ... ahem ... coolly persuade Canadian members of Parliament towards passing future anti-piracy legislation, the Canadian ESA hosted 10 "MPs" this past Tuesday in Ottawa. With the intention of "updating politicians on the condition of the Canadian gaming industry," the event showcased a variety of games developed in Canada and helped to educate lawmakers on the effects Canadian game development has on the country's economy, according to Canada.com.Danielle Parr, executive director of the ESAC, told the MPs that Canada is the, "third-largest game developer in the world, behind only the U.S. and Japan" and urged them to pass legislation banning the sale of mod chips, apparently still not illegal in the country. In hilariously stereotypical fashion, MP Mike Lake "took a break from playing the popular video game NHL 09" and spoke to the event's cause, saying legislation should be passed "in this Parliament," which is to say by 2010. This is a decidedly different tactic than those employed in the past by the ESAC and seems to be significantly more effective, no?[Via GamePolitics]
