• April 30, 2012

Computer and Video Game Industry

Computer and Video Game Industry

150 150 Elect Todd Hunter

Computer and Video Game Industry

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Texas Film Commission which was established in 1971 by then Governor Preston Smith.  Governor Smith believed that it was ” in the social, economic and educational interest of Texas to encourage the development of the film-communication industry,” and that “Texas has a uniquely vast array of resources, natural, human and economic, which lend themselves to the firm and orderly development of a healthy film production industry.”  These resources also impact the computer and video game industry.

The Texas Film Commission is under the administration of the Governor’s office and is currently headed up by Evan Fitzmaurice who serves as the Director of the Film Commission. The Commission outlines that “whether you are an industry professional or new to the business, we are here to help with your film, television, commercial, animation, and video game projects.” In fact you can go to the Film Commission’s website at www.governor.state.tx.us/film and search through their “Job Hotline” which offers information on computer and video game jobs available throughout the State of Texas.

In the United States, the computer and video game industry, also known as interactive entertainment, accounted for approximately $25.1 billion in sales in 2010 according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) www.theesa.com .  The ESA’s 2011 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry report found that roughly seventy-two percent of United State households play computer and video games.

It is important to know that computer and video games are not just for kids anymore. In fact, today the average age of video gamers is 37 years old and those video gamers have been playing games for at least 12 years.   While the average age of video gamers today is 37 years old, approximately twenty-nine percent of video gamers today are over the age of 50.  The percentage of video gamers over the age 50 who are playing interactive games is expected to grow in the coming years because of the incorporation of computer and video games into the daily activities provided by nursing homes and senior centers.  In addition to the wide array of ages among video gamers, one of the industry’s fastest growing segments is among females over the age of 18.  Today females account for forty-two percent of all computer and video game players.

While the computer and video game industry continues to grow, so do the opportunities it can bring to the citizens of the State of Texas.  Texas currently has the second largest concentration of computer and video game companies in the United States.  In fact, today there are more than 155 development and publishing companies located through the state.  These companies provided more than 4,000 well-paying full-time jobs.   Based on a 2010 report, in 2009 the average employee compensation provided by these companies was $87,630.  The 2009 impact on the state’s Gross Domestic Product  by the computer and video game industry was approximately $1.2 billion and provided roughly $600 million in employee compensation.

Here are some games that were made in Texas that you may recognize:

  • 1997 – Age of Empires for the PC
  • Soon to be released – Borderlands 2 for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC
  • 2010 – Epic Mickey for the Wii
  • 2012 – Hunger Games: Girl on Fire for the iphone/ipad
  • 1993 – Doom for the PC
  • 2008 – Wizard 101 is a massive multiplayer online PC game
  • Words with Friends for the iphone
  • 2011 – Star Wars: The Old Republic for the PC