ParamountCell
02-09-2007, 07:57 PM
This is great news.
UBISOFT EXPANDS ITS QUEBEC OPERATIONS
• Plans 1000 New Jobs by 2013
• Opens a Studio Specialized in the Creation of Digital Cinema Content
Paris, France - February 9, 2007 – Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announces today a new phase of development for its operations in Quebec, Canada. The company, which currently boasts more than 1,600 team members in the province, could invest up to an additional 295.6 million euros (1) over the next six years with the goal of building up a team of 3,000 employees by 2013. This forecast exceeds current development objectives for 2005-2010 by an additional 1,000 jobs.
To encourage the successful implementation of this third phase of the group’s expansion in the province, both the Quebec and Canadian governments will continue to strongly support Ubisoft.
The plan for the creation of 1,000 new jobs revolves around two main objectives:
• Firstly, the group has set a goal of creating 500 new video game positions in Quebec by 2013.
• Secondly, Ubisoft will inaugurate a new production center, specialized in the creation of digital cinema content, i.e. computer generated images (CGI). The studio’s mission will be to produce short films whose inspiration is drawn from games based on Ubisoft brands. A first eight-minute short film will be based on the award-winning and highly anticipated game, Assassin’s Creed. By 2013, the new CGI studio should count 500 specialists.
Today’s announcement was made by Mr. Yves Guillemot, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Ubisoft and Yannis Mallat, Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft’s Montreal studio, in the presence of Mr. Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec, the Honorable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Canadian Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, Mr. Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Ms. Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Mr. Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal.
“In 1997 Ubisoft made the decision to wager on Quebec’s immense creative potential,” recalls Yves Guillemot. “Ten years later, the Montreal studio has been the driving force behind the conception and development of legendary brands, such as Prince of Persia, and the greatly anticipated Assassin’s Creed. The Montreal studio was recently ranked 4th development studio in the world by Game Informer, one of the most influential magazines in the game industry. Today, we are pursuing our strategy centered on innovation by increasing investments in our creative teams based in Quebec.”
“With this announcement, we are one step closer to reaching our goal of making Ubsisoft’s Montreal studio the most important center for video game development in the world, and especially to reinforce Quebec’s position as a reference in the creation of digital entertainment,” said Yannis Mallat.
Yves Guillemot followed, “Video game production has progressively moved closer and closer to film and television production and this convergence will only intensify in the coming years. This natural evolution is accompanied by revolutionary changes in online distribution channels via the explosion of free and paid-for digital content. Today’s launch of a studio specializing in digital film creation will allow Ubisoft to be a pioneer in the domain for the years to come.”
Ubisoft in Quebec – 10 Years of Creativity and Innovation
Ubisoft came to Montreal in 1997 to establish a development studio for console and PC video games. “At the time, we expected to create 800 new positions over 10 years. As we approach the celebration of Ubisoft’s 10th anniversary in Quebec, the company has surpassed initial expectations, doubling the number of jobs created” stated Yannis Mallat. “Ubisoft’s activities in Quebec have played a determining role in the growth of the company. Together with the Quebec and Canadian governments, we have created a vision of the industry’s future that has provided concrete benefits to Quebec and to Ubisoft’s business”.
link (http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/index.php?p=59&art_id=60&vars=c2VuZGVyPUFMTCZzZW5kZXJfdXJsPWluZGV4LnBocCUzRnAlM0Q1OSUyNmFydF9pZCUzRCZjb21faWQ9NDUwJmZpbHRlcl90eXBlPSZmaWx0ZXJfbW9udGg9JmZpbHRlcl95ZWFyPQ%3D%3D&PHPSESSID=f1f280f14c18acfaac3621ba58d3c765)
UBISOFT EXPANDS ITS QUEBEC OPERATIONS
• Plans 1000 New Jobs by 2013
• Opens a Studio Specialized in the Creation of Digital Cinema Content
Paris, France - February 9, 2007 – Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announces today a new phase of development for its operations in Quebec, Canada. The company, which currently boasts more than 1,600 team members in the province, could invest up to an additional 295.6 million euros (1) over the next six years with the goal of building up a team of 3,000 employees by 2013. This forecast exceeds current development objectives for 2005-2010 by an additional 1,000 jobs.
To encourage the successful implementation of this third phase of the group’s expansion in the province, both the Quebec and Canadian governments will continue to strongly support Ubisoft.
The plan for the creation of 1,000 new jobs revolves around two main objectives:
• Firstly, the group has set a goal of creating 500 new video game positions in Quebec by 2013.
• Secondly, Ubisoft will inaugurate a new production center, specialized in the creation of digital cinema content, i.e. computer generated images (CGI). The studio’s mission will be to produce short films whose inspiration is drawn from games based on Ubisoft brands. A first eight-minute short film will be based on the award-winning and highly anticipated game, Assassin’s Creed. By 2013, the new CGI studio should count 500 specialists.
Today’s announcement was made by Mr. Yves Guillemot, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Ubisoft and Yannis Mallat, Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft’s Montreal studio, in the presence of Mr. Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec, the Honorable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Canadian Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, Mr. Raymond Bachand, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Ms. Michelle Courchesne, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Mr. Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal.
“In 1997 Ubisoft made the decision to wager on Quebec’s immense creative potential,” recalls Yves Guillemot. “Ten years later, the Montreal studio has been the driving force behind the conception and development of legendary brands, such as Prince of Persia, and the greatly anticipated Assassin’s Creed. The Montreal studio was recently ranked 4th development studio in the world by Game Informer, one of the most influential magazines in the game industry. Today, we are pursuing our strategy centered on innovation by increasing investments in our creative teams based in Quebec.”
“With this announcement, we are one step closer to reaching our goal of making Ubsisoft’s Montreal studio the most important center for video game development in the world, and especially to reinforce Quebec’s position as a reference in the creation of digital entertainment,” said Yannis Mallat.
Yves Guillemot followed, “Video game production has progressively moved closer and closer to film and television production and this convergence will only intensify in the coming years. This natural evolution is accompanied by revolutionary changes in online distribution channels via the explosion of free and paid-for digital content. Today’s launch of a studio specializing in digital film creation will allow Ubisoft to be a pioneer in the domain for the years to come.”
Ubisoft in Quebec – 10 Years of Creativity and Innovation
Ubisoft came to Montreal in 1997 to establish a development studio for console and PC video games. “At the time, we expected to create 800 new positions over 10 years. As we approach the celebration of Ubisoft’s 10th anniversary in Quebec, the company has surpassed initial expectations, doubling the number of jobs created” stated Yannis Mallat. “Ubisoft’s activities in Quebec have played a determining role in the growth of the company. Together with the Quebec and Canadian governments, we have created a vision of the industry’s future that has provided concrete benefits to Quebec and to Ubisoft’s business”.
link (http://www.ubisoftgroup.com/index.php?p=59&art_id=60&vars=c2VuZGVyPUFMTCZzZW5kZXJfdXJsPWluZGV4LnBocCUzRnAlM0Q1OSUyNmFydF9pZCUzRCZjb21faWQ9NDUwJmZpbHRlcl90eXBlPSZmaWx0ZXJfbW9udGg9JmZpbHRlcl95ZWFyPQ%3D%3D&PHPSESSID=f1f280f14c18acfaac3621ba58d3c765)