Maryland—The East Coast Hub of the Gaming Industry
Maryland is considered the East Coast hub of the gaming industry. According to Maryland Interactive Technologies, "Already Maryland boasts the largest cluster of entertainment software companies on the East Coast."
According to the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development, "the game development and digital media industry contributes $15 billion in economic activity in Maryland each year." (Read more below).
In addition, an industry survey by Game Developer Magazine recently found that Maryland is the number one East Coast state for game developers!
See the map below -- the orange circles are local MD game and simulation companies and organizations. (Map created by MD Board of Economic Development -- click the map for the full PDF list. Please note that this is not an up to date list, and many newer developers have joined the local game industry)
MD Game and Simulation Companies (click to enlarge)
According to the University of Baltimore, "Even in a slow information
economy this number is expected to increase by about ten percent annually.
As defense planning and industrial training integrates more simulation
technologies, hundreds of new jobs will be created in the field."
Maryland's economic development officials have targeted the interactive
technology industry as "a business sector on the rise." Maryland
Secretary of Business and Economic Development, David Iannucci explains, "The
technology that brings these games to life is also being used for virtual
training in medical, defense, consequence management and other simulation
programs."
From entertainment games to so-called "serious games" (games
used for simulation or training), Maryland has a significant presence in
this new technology industry.
On the East Cost, Maryland has the highest game developer salaries!
(Source of image below: gamecareerguide.com)
Read more about how much you can expect to make as an entry level game developer.
The text below is quoted from an newsletter published by the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development on 7/27/2010:
New Study Shows Economic Impact of Game Development and Digital Media Industry
A new study reveals that the game development and digital media industry contributes $15 billion in economic activity in Maryland each year, adding over $1 billion to State and local government revenue in fiscal year 2008 alone. Baltimore County is home to one of the nation's leading clusters of computer and video game companies.
The new research report, produced by Sage Policy Group for the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, included these key findings:
- Digital media is $5.6 billion industry in Maryland. Once the multiplier effect is considered, the industry is associated with $15 billion in economic activity in Maryland each year.
- In fiscal year 2008, Maryland's digital media industry contributed more than $1 billion to State and local government in tax revenue.
- Industry employment in Maryland has expanded in every year since 2005, topping 32,167 in 2008.
- In 2008, average annual pay in Maryland's digital media industry exceeded $100,000 rising 26 percent from its 2003 levels at a time when wages increased 16 percent nationally.
"Baltimore County's game development community is recognized around the world as creating some of the best-selling games of all time," said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith. "We value their economic impact as and their contributions to the dynamism of our creative class."
Since gaming legend Sid Meier co-founded MicroProse in Hunt Valley in 1982, the game development industry has flourished in Baltimore County. Companies include Firaxis Games, Big Huge Games, ZeniMax Online, Day 1 Studios, Zynga East, e4e, and Digital Steamworks. Companies such as BreakAway and Training Port Strategies use game technology for so-called "serious games" applications including military, emergency management and medical training, and K-12 classroom education.
For more info, contact David S. Iannucci, Executive Director, Baltimore County Department of Economic Development, businesshelp@baltimorecountymd.gov
Game-Related Companies in Maryland
(Please note that the lists below are not up to date, and many newer developers have joined the local game industry)
• AAI
Corporation
• Absolute Quality
• Aeon Electronic
Entertainment, Inc.
• Anvil Studio
• Anthrotronix
• AT Kid Systems
• Artistech, Inc
• Atari/Infogrames
• Avantium Technologies
• Bean Creative (Flash games)
• The Berndt Group
• Bethesda Softworks
• Big Huge Games
• Blue Omega
• BreakAway Games
• Claymore Audio
• Cryophyte Entertainment
• Day 1 Studios
• Digital Magnet
• Digital Velocity, LLC
• Discovery Communications, Inc.
• DMK Art
• EelTail Interactive
• Epic Games (started in Rockville, now in NC)
• eBrainyGames
• EyeMaginations
• Firaxis Games
• Five Forks
• Gene Logic
• Genex Technologies |
• Gentle
Revolution Software
• GhostLight Collective
• GMA Industries, Inc
• GSE Systems, Inc.
• Heatherstone Digital Solutions
• HeroEngine/IdeaFabrik
• Immersion Medical
• Intense Entertainment Interactive
• Interact Accessories
• Juxtopia
• Leaping Lizard Software
• Legendary Studios
• MDLogix
• Meyer/Glass Interactive
• Micro Focus
• Microprose
• Nemetschek N.A. Inc
• OpenPath Products
• OPNET Technologies, Inc.
• Powergrid Fitness
• RandomSoft
• Red Aphid
• Shadow Realm Games
• Skye Boat Games
• Strategic Solutions Group, Inc.
• Talonsoft
• Take One Digital Media Works
• Vertis Inc.
• Vir2L Studios
• Vision Videogames
• Will Interactive
• Zenimax Media
• Zenimax Online Studios
• Zynga |
Game-Related Companies in Virginia
• Antic
Games, Inc.
• Nikan Hills Media
(formerly CyPR Media)
• Dynamic Animation
Systems, Inc. (DAS)
• Fourth Wave
• GameDogma
• Health Management Consultants of VA
|
• Infinite
Ventures, Inc.
• Mythic
• My3D
• Qwato Interactive Studios
• Paradigm Interactive
• Qove Studios
• SAIC
• SimVentions
• SouthPeak Interactive
• Valador |
Game-Related Companies in Washington, DC
• Electric
Sheep Company
• Imangi Studios |
• Live Elements
• Future
Prototype |
A Few of the Many Games Made in Maryland and Virginia
• Airport
Tycoon
• Axis & Allies
• The Battleground Series
• Battleship
• Bridging the Divide
(to teach players about International debt relief)
• The Campaign Series
• Cleopatra: The Official
Pharaoh Expansion
• Dark Age of Camelot (VA)
• Diplomacy
• Eurofighter Typhoon
• Green Berets
• Hidden & Dangerous
• Mafia |
• Morrowind
• Oblivion, Skyrim
• Operational
Art of War
• Railroad Tycoon
• Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
• Sid Meier's Civilization I, II, III
• Sid Meier's Civil War Collection
• Sid Meier's SimGolf
• Silent Hunter
• Space Station: SIM
• Tropico: Trouble in Paradise
• Unreal
(Epic was once located in Rockville, MD)
• Villiany, Inc (Web game)
• Waterloo: Napoleon's Last Battle |
Quotes
“Sid Meier’s Civilization” and “SimGolf,” developed
by Firaxis, and “Rise of Nations” by Big Huge Games, are among the
best-selling titles in a world where virtual reality and simulation generate
a seemingly unreal $10 billion in annual sales. Both Firaxis and Big Huge Games are headquartered
in gaming-rich Hunt Valley and are among some 20 gaming-related companies that
quietly have made Maryland the new frontier for gaming development."
"Local high school students who fantasize about getting a job playing video games
might not be too far off the mark. Baltimore County boasts the largest concentration
of video game and simulator technology firms on the East Coast, and local schools
are working to put their students at the head of the line for employment in this
emerging new field."
"We are working with the schools and with employers to make sure our students
are prepared for the workplace of today and tomorrow," said County Executive
Jim Smith. The county's Department of Economic Development is collaborating
with industry insiders, schools, and state agencies to develop academic programs
that prepare area students for employment in the county's burgeoning game and simulator
development industry."
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