I surveyed a dozen gaming-focused VCs, and a handful of gaming entrepreneurs and executives like Scopely’s Walter Driver, about the most exciting cities for gaming startups right now. The aim was a guide for founders deciding where to base themselves and companies deciding where to add a new office.
The most surprising thing was how varied the answers were…that there are powerful clusters of gaming talent everywhere, as Zynga’s recent $1.8B acquisition of Istanbul-based Peak Games highlighted.
The top recommendation was Los Angeles though. There was also unanimous feedback that the benefits are not worth the excessive cost in the San Francisco Bay Area. Helsinki was the top recommendation for mobile gaming. Eastern European capitals and Canada’s major cities are attracting more attention. (Read the full post)