Video gaming in Belgium
This article is about the video game market and culture in Belgium.
Consumer availability
Distribution
Distribution in the Belgium is usually done by publishers that cover the entire Benelux, although some of the publishers' offices are located in Belgium. Since not every publisher has a separate office for the Benelux, certain publishers take care of multiple labels, including those of other publishers.
Rating
Belgium supports the PEGI rating system but there is no legislative basis. PEGI was developed and is owned by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe which is based in Brussels.[1]
Sales
In 2011, the Belgian consumer bought 6.54 million games. More than 84% of those games were console games. The sales generated a revenue of 220 million euro, which means they stayed stable compared to 2010.[2]
Belgium's appearance in video games
Belgium as a setting
Belgium is not often used as an originally created setting for video games, although it does appear in some types of simulation games.
- World War II games
The famous Battle of the Bulge is featured in the following video games:
- Battle of the Bulge, various wargames simulating the battle.
- Call of Duty: United Offensive, the American campaign is set during the Battle of the Bulge.
- Medal of Honor: European Assault, the final campaign is set at the start of the Battle.
- Bulge '44 (HPS Simulations) An operational level strategy wargame, covering many scenarios, both historic and alternative.
- Racing games
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a popular racing circuit. It's the host of the Belgian Grand Prix and has been featured in many Formula One games and other racing games like Need for Speed: Shift, Race Driver: Grid and Forza Motorsport 5.
Belgian video game characters
- Anna from the game Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a nurse who was born in Ypres
- In most of the international sports games, such as the FIFA football games and olympic video games, teams or players from Belgium are featured.
- Phillipe Loren, one of Saints Row The Third's villains is of Belgian origin.
Video games based on Belgian works
Many video games are based on Belgian comic books:
- XIII
- Video games based on The Adventures of Tintin
- Video games based on The Smurfs
- Largo Winch: Empire Under Threat
- Spirou
- Video games based on Lucky Luke
Video game development
Representation
The Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA) is the organization that represents the interests of the music, video and video game industries in Belgium.
The Flemish Games Association (FLEGA) represents the Flemish video game industry, the Walloon Games Association (WALGA) represents the Walloon video game industry.
Game developers from Belgium
| Company | Location | Founded | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| FrostyFroggs | Bruxelles | 2015 | indie games |
| Crazy Monkey Studios | Kontich | 2011 | indie games |
| Quantum Game Studio | Ostend | 2013 | indie games |
| Abrakam Creative Entertainment | Liège | 2013 | core games and indie games |
| I-Illusions | Brussels | 2011 | indie games |
| Rusty Bolt | Bruges | 2011 | indie games |
| Monkube | Brussels | 2010 | indie games and mobile games |
| Larian Studios | Ghent | 1996 | core games and educational games |
| Tale of Tales | Ghent | 2002 | art games |
| CatLab Interactive | Ghent | 2009 | web and mobile games |
| Newfort | Ghent | 2002 (as Endrone) | online and mobile games |
| Neopica | Ghent | 2007 | casual games |
| Playlane | Drongen | 2007 | custom games and serious games |
| GriN | Antwerp | 2002 | research and development |
| Nuclide | Antwerp | 2001 | casual and mobile games |
| Sakari Games | Antwerp | 2008 | game content |
| AIM Productions | Hove | 1994 | online games, custom games |
| PreviewLabs | Kontich | 2009 | rapid prototyping |
| Fishing Cactus | Mons | 2008 | mobile and downloadable games |
| DAE Studios | Kortrijk | 2010 | 3D visualizations and serious games |
| Fresh3D | 2004 | indie games and game services | |
| Visual Impact | Brussels | 1994 | handheld games and localization |
| Belle Productions | Mont-Saint-Guibert | 1996 | serious games and advergames |
| LuGus Studios | Genk | 2011 | serious games and experimental games |
| Triangle Factory | Ghent | 2010 | social and mobile games |
| Sileni Studios | Antwerp | 2012 | browser games |
| Vetasoft Studio | Mons | 2009 | social and mobile games |
| Hyperion Entertainment | 1999 | porting Windows games to Linux, Mac OS and Amiga OS | |
| Daoka | Gosselies | 2013 | motion games and core games |
| Gabitasoft Interactive | Kapellen | 2006 | indie games |
Defunct game developers
| Company | Founded | Endend | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Tacle Studios | 2003 | 2008 | founded as elseWhere Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy in August 2008 |
| Appeal | 1995 | 2002 | |
| Hippo Point Interactive | 2008 | 2010 | filed for bankruptcy |
| AMA Studios | 2009 | 2013 | fused with key people from Appeal to form Daoka |
Games developed in Belgium
- Adventure Rock
- Outcast
- Divine Divinity
- Battle for Donetsk
- Beyond Divinity
- Divinity II: Ego Draconis
- Divinity II: Flames of Vengeance
- Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga
- Divinity: Dragon Commander
- Divinity: Original Sin
- The Endless Forest
- The Graveyard
- The Path
- Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries
- Sunset
Game publishers from Belgium
| Company | Location | Founded | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Ben Interactive Belgium | Tubize | 1992 (as Atoll Soft) | publishing and accessory distribution |
| Transposia | Ghent | 1994 | localization and edutainment |
Education
University college
| Program | School | City | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Arts & Entertainment | Howest | Kortrijk | Bachelor |
| Bachelor en Techniques Infographiques (Video Games) | ESIAJ | Namur | Bachelor |
| Communication and mediadesign, profile game art & design | KHLim | Genk | Master |
Other
Syntra LIMBURG offers multiple gaming courses.[6]
Media
Print media
| Magazine | Publisher | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay (formerly known as PC Gameplay) | Tarsonis | 1994 |
| Officieel PlayStation Magazine | Think Media | 1996 |
| 9lives (formerly known as Gunk) | T.Vgas | 2004 |
| Chief | Think Media | 2007 |
Television
Programs
| Title | Channel | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Gamepower | JIM | 1996 |
| Gametown | TMF | 2010 |
Defunct Programs
| Title | Channel | From | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp tv | TMF | 2001 | 2003 |
| GUNK TV | TMF and VT4(from 2008) | 2004 | 2009 |
| Luna Park | RTBF | 1993 | 1996 |
Defunct Channels
Online media
References
- ↑ "About PEGI? Owners and administrators.". PEGI S.A. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
- ↑ "Belgen hebben meer dan 6,5 miljoen games gekocht". BEA. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
- ↑ drealmer (April 6, 2009). "Video Game Developers in Belgium".
- ↑ Vlaamse Game Development Blog (January 15, 2011). "Vlaamse Game Developers".
- ↑ http://www.gamecareerguide.com/schools/
- ↑ "Werken in de gamesector". Departement cultuur, jeugd, sport en media. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
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