Quebec’s international reputation as a leading centre for the development of video games and other digital content continues to grow. A major contributor has been Beenox studios, the developer of such recent titles as Guitar Hero Smash Hits, Monsters vs. Aliens and Quantum of Solace.  In 2008, the company cracked the top 35 in Game Developer Research’s list of the world’s top 50 studios.

Founded by young entrepreneur Dee Brown in 2000, Beenox is a remarkable success story. The company joined the Activision family in 2005 and now has a staff of 330, including 190 in the development studio. California-based with offices in 12 countries, Activision-Blizzard is one of the world’s largest publishers of video games and posted net revenues of more than $5 billion in 2008.

Partnerships with academic institutions contribute significantly to Beenox’s success. The company works directly with secondary and post-secondary schools to align curricula with modern industry standards. Beenox is also a founding partner of the National Institute of Digital Entertainment, an independent training program, and Ma carrière en jeu, an initiative that promotes career opportunities in Quebec’s video-game industry. These efforts help ensure that the industry has the skilled workforce needed to support further growth.

Beenox [www.beenox.com] is another example of Canadian leadership and excellence on the international stage.

Additional Facts

• Beenox continues to develop games for next-generation consoles such as PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.
• In 2005, Beenox partnered with Collège Sainte-Foy to establish a one-year course in video-game programming.