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    Canadian video games are made here. Why are so few set here?
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    Canadian video games are made here. Why are so few set here?

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    38 Comments

    1. dcarden4 on

      Genuinely a thoughtful article, I can’t help but hope the new Wolverine game features a good chunk of a Canadian setting to “show” investors our country has its own charm in a video game. The Scott Pilgrim Vs the World game proved Toronto can make a vibey beat-em-up city

    3. NeoNova9 on

      Mass effect. Canada is indeed in space.

      Assassins creed. Name me a handful of interesting historical figures in canada people care about, were tearing down our own statues..

      Far Cry . Shit game in general doesnt need to be set here.

    4. NightmareExpress on

      US population is a lot bigger, certain US States are basically learned about on a global level (eg: some rando in Japan or Sweden or Nepal will probably know what New York is and be at at a total loss as to what Toronto is), a lot of subtle and not so subtle pushes to make something targeting larger markets (which means a higher likelihood of it being set in the US or an entirely fictional location).

    6. marslo on

      Because they’re work of fiction…

      But last I checked, raccon city shares the same skyline as Montreal and you play a whole level inside the Olympic stadium in Deus ex.

    7. Dont_Hurt_Tomatoes on

      For starters, 95 percent of video games are set in fantasy/fictional/abstract environments. 

      I love our Canadian cities and geography, but I can’t think of any that would make for a compelling video game map. 

    8. Canadianman22 on

      You can set a survival game here in Canada (see The Long Dark or Kona 1 & 2) but really Canada is not exactly an exciting setting for most games. It would be generic North American city and generic North American country side. We dont have a unique setting outside of survival type game play.

      Games use American cities because they are heavily recognizable. They use places that are hundreds if not thousands of years old because of their history and mystery surrounding them. We have neither as a young country compared to most where games are set.

    9. ADHDBusyBee on

      Why was Juno American?

      Why was Slap Shot American?

      Why was the Greyhound about an American ship, when it was based on the HMCS Sackville?

      Why is Argo American instead of about the real life Canadian Caper?

      Why is the miracle on ice even a thing, when the Canadians beat the Soviets many times, and the US influenced the Olympics to ban professional hockey players which meant Canada had no chance at a viable team anyways.

      It’s because American media is the best in the world and to sell to Americans it must be American. If you just watched American media you’d think they single handed won WW2 after it begun in 1942.

    11. Rryann on

      It’s kind of like asking why more games aren’t set in Australia. Or Ireland. Or France. Or even England.

      The US is just kind of a great place to set modern day narratives. Especially since guns are such a huge part of their culture, and aren’t in any of the countries I mentioned.

    12. jimababwe on

      The Montreal skyline is featured during the present day segments of one of the assassins Creed games

    13. IndividualDish7004 on

      i’d say metro exodus is a pretty accurate depiction of anywhere south of toronto

    16. Techno_Gerbil on

      I’m down for Far Cry 7 set in Gaspésie anytime, against the Crâââbe Cartel.

    19. Consistent-Study-287 on

      One of my favourite random facts is that the Mjolnir armour in Halo is created by Lethbridge Industries which was named after Lethbridge, Alberta.

    20. MajinNekuro on

      As an Albertan (Forever Canada!!!), I was pretty surprised when I played Until Dawn and learned it took place here. Game was made in the UK, but it absolutely made me appreciate it more than I would have otherwise. I think the Mass Effect games also make reference to some fictional Canadian sports teams to go along with the opening of 3 being set in Vancouver.

      But yes, it’s what everyone else is saying. America is the biggest audience so western games are usually set in America. Asian games frequently take place in Asia or made up fantasy worlds too, to appeal to their markets too.

    21. Johnny-Unitas on

      A question being asked by someone who clearly doesn’t game or understand it.

    22. alamarche709 on

      Because the U.S. has 10x our population and 95% of them won’t buy a game that is set in Canada.

      Same reason shows/movies are rarely set in Canada. Americans simply won’t consume the media.

    25. lazykid348 on

      Most video games are made for American audiences and also Canadian cities aren’t unique enough.

    26. Bad-job-dad on

      When you’re a writer you learn that a setting can do a lot of storytelling for you. The character of Canadian cities aren’t well known to the masses so it falls short.

    28. hedges747 on

      Honestly it feels like more Canadian games feature Canada than most films that are made here. Especially the indies like A Short Hike.

    30. jam66539 on

      Zelda in Canada:

      “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this eh?”

      Hands Link a hockey stick

    31. raz_kripta on

      It’s really the same with movies & TV shows, or anything else. Canada is like the country that is culturally invisible. This undermines our visibility internationally. You can see the impacts, because asking any random foreigner abroad what they know about Canada, they will know less than about just about any other G8 country. Even non-G8 countries like Australia, they will know more about.

      Part of the reason is the negative, corrupting influence of American money. Usually, when US funding is involved in a project like a movie, television series or even a video game at times, they will insist on a US setting. No-one wants to risk losing funding so they go along with it. Thus Toronto subs in for New York or Chicago, BC for California, etc. They all change the license plates of vehicles so they have American plates. Over time, it just becomes the default that nothing is based in Canada …writers, planners, producers, game story designers, etc just start with Anything But Canada as a default.

      Edit to add: Canada is a bit better represented in video games than in TV/movies, but there is still bias. It really is time to change this.

    34. jaimonee on

      Fallout has some great Canadian lore set within the game, there were rumours that rhe next game would be set here. Bring on the giant mutant raccoons!

    36. thepluralofmooses on

      Give me a GTA style game for Winnipeg. Or a Red Dead style from an Indigenous perspective

    37. Yantarlok on

      Canada is consistently mentioned in one of the most popular RPGs of all time, Fallout. It makes an appearance right on the opening sequence of fallout 1, in fact. After that, it becomes something of a hidden running gag for every subsequent game; like an easter egg.

      Once the series has run out of interesting US locations, Canada might make a brief cameo in a future game. Maybe.