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Ubisoft Montreal

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Ubisoft Montreal
Company typePrivate (subsidiary of Ubisoft)
IndustryVideo games
FoundedMontreal, Quebec, Canada (1997)
Headquarters5505 Boul. Saint Laurent,
Montreal, Quebec
,
Canada
Key people
Yannis Mallat (CEO)
Mathieu Ferland (Game producer)
ProductsVideo games
Number of employees
1,600 (2007)
ParentUbisoft
WebsiteUbisoft.ca

Ubisoft Montreal is a Canadian video game developer located in Montreal, Quebec. Founded as a subsidiary of Ubisoft in 1997, initially developing low-profile projects, the studio is now one of the largest in the world, with over 1,600 employees[1], and is responsible for developing, among others, games in the very popular Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia series of games.

History

The studio was opened in 1997, with government funding. Ubisoft also cited Quebec's extensive French-speaking population and close proximity to English-speaking North America as reasons for opening a studio there.[2] Martin Tremblay joined the studio as executive vice president in 1999, but was promoted to chief operating officer a year later.[3]

Initially, the studio developed children's games such as Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers and games based on the Playmobil series of toys.[4] However, in 2000, the studio began work on a game called Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell.[5] Upon its release in November 2002, Splinter Cell was met with glowing reviews. IGN called the game "the best title on Xbox this year" and wrote in their review that it was "a game that will put the Ubi Soft Montreal development house on the map."[6]

In 2005, the government of Quebec gave Ubisoft 5 million dollars to expand.[7] That amount was later increased to 19 million dollars, and there are now plans to add 1,400 new employees by 2013, which would make Ubisoft Montreal the world's largest game development studio.[1]

During his time as COO, Martin Tremblay was a staunch supporter of non-compete clauses, in large part due to an incident in which Electronic Arts hired away several Ubisoft Montreal employees to the at the time newly opened EA Montreal studio.[8] Ironically, when Tremblay left Ubisoft in 2006 to become President of Worldwide Studios at Vivendi Games, he was prevented from taking the new position by a court order enforcing the non-compete clause in his Ubisoft contract.[9]

Upon Tremblay's departure, Yannis Mallat, a producer of Ubisoft Montreal's Prince of Persia series of games, became the new CEO, also filling the same roles as Tremblay's COO position.[10]

Notable games developed

References

  1. ^ a b Ubisoft Montreal to become world's biggest studio - News - www.developmag.com
  2. ^ Gamasutra.com - The French-Canadian Connection: A Q&A With Yannis Mallat, Ubisoft Montreal
  3. ^ Tremblay bids Ubisoft adieu - GameCube News at GameSpot
  4. ^ The Final Hours of Prince of Persia - Features at GameSpot
  5. ^ Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Q&A - Xbox News at GameSpot
  6. ^ IGN: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Review
  7. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6117649.html
  8. ^ Gamasutra - Electronic Arts, Ubisoft Clash On Montreal Hiring
  9. ^ Gamasutra - Ubisoft Wins Court Non-Compete Order Against Tremblay
  10. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6147407.html
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