March is Gaming Month at the WTIA, and this week we’ve created a tech news roundup special edition partially focused on the world’s largest and longest-running professionals-only game industry event – The Game Developer’s Conference, which wraps up this afternoon. After checking out the latest in GDC news, head over to the WTIA events calendar to see what we have in store for the rest of Gaming Month, and be sure to register for the Tech in Focus: Monetization of Gaming event on March 17 and the Gaming: eSports event on March 24. Additionally, last week we released an Executive Summary of the WTIA ICT study, which is an inaugural economic impact analysis of the Information and Communication Technology industry. Sign up here to receive a copy, and take a look at the latest news coverage on the study for more information (below GDC roundup).

Game Developer’s Conference News Roundup 

The 5 Biggest Video Game Announcements You Missed This Week

TIME | Matt Peckham | Mar. 6

http://time.com/3735160/video-games-news-gdc/

“The Game Developers Conference currently transpiring in San Francisco wraps up Friday, meaning all the major announcements have already dropped. If you missed the show or didn’t catch all the news, here’s a recap of the highlights.”

• Valve showed Steam Link, a $50 box that’ll stream your PC gaming library to any TV
• Nvidia unveiled its first set-top media box, the Shield
• HTC and Valve announced a virtual reality headset
• Sony’s Project Morpheus is coming…by mid-2016
• Sony’s PlayStation 4 has sold over 20 million units

 

Microsoft’s Vision for Games: Unifying Xbox and Windows 10

Wired | Bo Moore | Mar. 5

http://www.wired.com/2015/03/microsofts-vision-games-unifying-xbox-windows-10/

“Microsoft has a vision for the future of gaming: A unified experience across Xbox One and Windows 10. Xbox head Phil Spencer laid out that plan at the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco, where he conceded Windows lost the plot with gamers. The time has come, he said, to change course. ‘Our goal in gaming at Microsoft is to let people play games wherever they are,’ Spencer said. ‘Gaming was once central to what we did on Windows, but we lost our way. Now we hope to have a Windows release that’s the best Windows release for gamers.’ To that end, Microsoft is heavily pushing cross-platform play. The idea is for gamers to use Xbox Live as a hub for their gaming experience across both platforms…This also means gamers can enjoy a communal multiplayer experience, playing with and against players on Xbox and PC…But for this cross-platform dream, Microsoft also had to tackle the issue of input. To do that, the company announced a wireless adapter that would allow all Xbox One controllers and peripherals to work on Windows 10 PCs.”

 

Facebook Beefs up Its Recommendations for Mobile Games

VentureBeat | Dean Takahashi | Mar. 5

http://venturebeat.com/2015/03/05/facebook-beefs-up-its-recommendations-for-mobile-games/

“In 2015, Facebook wants to help game developers by making better recommendations to gamers based on what it knows about them. Dan Morris, the head of game partnerships at Facebook, said today in a talk at the Game Developers Conference that the company aims to help mobile game developers with monetization, reach more players, and boost installations and re-engagement with apps in 2015. Right now, Facebook assists developers reach players by targeting ads to those who have shown that they play games based on what they have installed on their smartphones and tablets. But that’s where its information stops. So Morris is asking developers to integrate Facebook’s App Events technology into their apps to get better performance. App Events collects data on whether a gamer completed a tutorial. It also collects social data (guild participation), and information on level completion and purchases. With this data, Facebook can make much better recommendations through its GameRankings engine.

 

‘Shadow of Mordor,’ ‘Monument Valley’ Win Big at Game Awards

Washington Times | Derrik Lang | Mar. 5

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/5/shadow-of-mordor-monument-valley-win-big-at-game-a/

“ ‘Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’ is king of the Game Developers Choice Awards. Monolith Productions’ gritty action-adventure game set between J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ was honored as the game of the year at Wednesday’s 15th annual ceremony, which is held during the Game Developers Conference…The artsy mobile puzzler ‘Monument Valley’ from Ustwo captured the most trophies, picking up the best visual art, mobile and innovation awards…Bungie’s shared-world sci-fi shooter ‘Destiny’ was honored for best technology, while Creative Assembly’s intergalactic horror ‘Alien: Isolation’ was awarded for best audio…Other winners included Cardboard Computer’s adventure game ‘Kentucky Route Zero’ for best narrative, Blizzard’s trade-carding title ‘Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft’ for best design and Stoic Studio’s Viking-themed role-playing game ‘The Banner Saga’ for best debut.”

 

Samsung, Oculus Plan Consumer Virtual Reality Launch in 2015

CNET | Ian Sherr | Mar. 4

http://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-and-oculus-plan-full-gear-virtual-reality-launch-by-end-of-year/

“Virtual reality is just about ready to hit the store shelves. The Gear VR, a virtual-reality headset designed to be used with Samsung smartphones, will reach consumers by the end of this year, said John Carmack, Oculus’s technology chief. The device, which was developed jointly by Oculus and Samsung, will be accompanied by a specialized app store, said Carmack…The launch plans mark an inflection point for the nascent virtual reality industry. Until now, most VR technology has primarily existed as an effort among game developers, with various prototypes of devices and games being shown at trade shows and in high-profile announcements…In just the last year, companies ranging from Sony and Microsoft to tiny startups have announced their plans to build virtual-reality devices. Even smartphone makers like HTC and game makers such as Valve have unveiled prototypes…‘In the long run, mobile technology is going to be the dominant platform,’ he said. ‘I do believe this is a good direction.’”

 

Game Developers Favor Steam and PC over Other Platforms

VentureBeat | Dean Takahashi | Mar. 2

http://venturebeat.com/2015/03/02/game-developers-are-favoring-steam-and-pc-platforms/

“About 75 percent of game developers say that Steam and the PC platform is “very important” for the future of the game industry, according to a survey by the International Game Developers Association. The survey of 2,200 developers shows that many view the PC as the top platform for the next five years. And 25 percent of developers said that “proprietary platforms” such as virtual reality are also very important, said Kate Edwards, the executive director of the International Game Developers Association, in an interview with GamesBeat…Edwards said that the outlook in North America isn’t as ebullient as it is in the rest of the world. That’s partly because other countries have been doing better in generating revenues from mobile games compared to U.S. developers, who are coming from behind to one of the fastest-growing sectors of gaming.”

 

HTC Takes on Sony with Headset that Lets You Roam Virtual Worlds

Bloomberg | Tim Culpan | Mar. 1

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-01/htc-teams-with-steam-maker-for-virtual-reality-challenge-to-sony

“HTC Corp. is working with Valve Corp. to challenge Sony Corp. and Facebook Inc.’s Oculus as an early player in the virtual reality market. HTC Vive — a set of VR goggles to pair with a controller and sensor towers — uses game developer Valve’s Steam VR tracking technology to let users walk around and explore simulated environments. Vive will run content from Valve, as well as Google Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and Time Warner Inc.’s HBO and will be available to consumers this year, the Taoyuan, Taiwan-based smartphone maker said…‘Virtual reality will become a mainstream experience for general consumers,’ HTC President Peter Chou said…Besides gaming, HTC expects its VR system will be usable for immersive training as well as virtual tours of homes and travel spots, HTC Chief Financial Officer Chang Chialin said in an interview in Taipei last month.”

 

WTIA ICT Report News Roundup

Dozens of Tech, Education & Nonprofit Execs Urge Passage of Washington Computer Science Bill

GeekWire | Frank Catalano | Mar. 4

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/dozens-of-tech-education-nonprofit-execs-urge-passage-of-washington-computer-science-bill/

“In a strongly worded appeal, five dozen business and education leaders — including those from Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks — are urging Washington lawmakers to approve a bill that would expand computer science education in schools across the state. The letter, sent by Code.org and Washington STEM today to leadership in the state House of Representatives, calls on legislators to support passing and funding House Bill 1813, which establishes a grant program with a private match requirement to both train educators in, and teach students about, computer science, as well as to fund equipment. The bill has already cleared the House committees on education and appropriations. ‘There are currently 20,000 open computing jobs across all industries in Washington, and these jobs are growing at three times the state average,’ the letter reads, noting only 1,200 state students graduated with computer science degrees in 2014. ‘We compare that to 20,000 open jobs and wonder: why is this course only offered in 7 percent of our high schools?”

 

Hey, State Reps: Every Tech Company in Washington Wants You to Pass this Bill

Puget Sound Business Journal | Rachel Lerman | Mar. 4

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/03/hey-state-reps-every-tech-company-in-washington.html

“Steve Ballmer, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the state teacher’s union all agree on at least one thing: The Washington state Legislature needs to pass a bill to expand computer science education to all K-12 public schools in the state. Seattle coding education company Code.org and Washington STEM sent a letter to state representatives Wednesday, urging them to pass HB1813. Nearly every major Washington state tech company signed on. The bill would set up a grant program that allocate state resources, including funding and education standards, to expand computer science courses to every public school. The call for expanded technology education has been getting louder and louder in recent months. Washington state has a booming technology industry, and the common refrain from every company is “we can’t find enough talent to recruit.” The state’s tech companies bring in $37 billion in revenue, according to the Washington Technology Industry Association, and there are 238,900 people employed in the tech industry in the state.”

 

Big Data Gets Huge in Washington: Study Ranks State 2nd in Big Data-Related Jobs

GeekWire | John Cook | Mar. 2

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/big-data-gets-huge-in-washington-study-says-state-ranks-2nd-in-big-data-related-jobs/

“How big is the field of big data in Washington state? Pretty huge. An estimated 38,170 people work in big data related jobs, making up 1.4 percent of the total workforce in the state. That’s second only to Virginia, according to research that’s set to be released on Tuesday by consulting firm McKinsey & Company at the Technology Alliance’s Insight to Impact conference. ‘It is an exploding space,’ said Ewan Duncan, who compiled the research on behalf of the Technology Alliance and serves as Seattle director for McKinsey & Company. ‘We are well positioned, but I think there is a lot more upside.’ That upside is seen in the number of open job positions in the Seattle area related to big data roles, higher than many other cities on a per capita basis. Even so, as the chart below shows, the number of graduates in Washington state with skills that could be applied in the field of big data are relatively low (behind Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, California and other states) — similar to a finding released in a report last week by the WTIA and consistent with the Technology Alliance’s repeated calls for more spending on education in the state.”

 

Washington State’s $600 Billion IT Industry: Study Shows Tech Jobs Drive Economic Growth

Puget Sound Business Journal | Emily Parkhurst | Mar. 2

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/03/washington-states-600-billion-it-industry-study.html

“Washington state is a hotbed of innovative technology companies, from Microsoft to Amazon to Expedia to Zillow. But those tech companies are also driving a massive amount of economic and job growth for the state. That’s according to a new study by the Washington Technology Industry Association, which claims that for each new tech worker who is hired, seven more jobs are created. Washington state has 90,000 science, technology and engineering workers, which are some of the highest paid jobs in the state. Tech employees have a median salary between $100,000 and $140,000 per year, according to the study. Those tech jobs support a variety of other positions, which means the Washington tech sector employs 238,900 people in the state….WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler said in a recent interview that the state’s tech sector needs to make more noise to ensure legislators and other leaders are hearing the industry’s concerns. He called on tech leaders to demand support for education in the state, and listed that as his top legislative priority.”

 

Do Tech Positions Really Create 7 More Jobs?

425 Business | Jake Bullinger | Mar. 2

http://425business.com/do-tech-positions-really-create-7-more-jobs/

“A recent report from the Washington Technology Industry Association puts hard evidence behind the easy-to-deduce benefit of the tech sector on the state’s economy. Among the report’s highlights:

• There were 8,610 tech firms in the state in 2013
• 90 percent of those firms employed fewer than 20 workers
• The market value of the state’s tech companies was more than $1 trillion
• Washington companies — both tech-sector firms and others — employed 238,900 tech-specific workers
• 90,000 Washington residents worked in tech jobs
• The tech sector paid $22 billion in wages in 2013

All numbers a state can be proud of, but one figure really stands out: The claim that each high-level tech job — think engineers and programmers — yields seven additional jobs.”

 

Study: For Every Tech Geek Hired in Washington State, 7 Jobs Are Added

GeekWire | John Cook | Mar. 2

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/study-for-every-tech-geek-hired-in-washington-state-another-7-jobs-are-added/

“A new study from the Washington Technology Industry Association finds that for every “code ninja” hired in Washington state, another seven jobs are added. The study defines these “code ninjas” as application software developers, computer systems programmers, computer engineers, network architects or computer science researchers. And when one of those roles is added to a company, it creates another 1.7 jobs within their own company and another 2.7 jobs across the wider economy for a multiplier effect of 7 jobs. In total, the study found that there were 238,900 workers in the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) workers in the state, including 162,900 who were working directly for technology-oriented companies. The tech sector as defined in the study paid out $22 billion in wages in 2013, with median wages in the core technical fields of $100,000 to $140,000. The State’s continued economic success is tied to developing and attracting the talent needed to serve the opportunities created by the ICT sector.”

 

State Tech Tally: 8,610 Companies, 238,900 Workers, $22 Billion in Wages

Seattle Times | Brier Dudley | Feb. 27

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/state-tech-tally-8610-companies-238900-workers-22-billion-in-wages/

“There’s much more to the tech boom than the forest of construction cranes, horrific traffic and hordes of geeks in Seattle, according to a new report on the industry’s regional effect. Across the state, information and communications companies employed 176,600 people in 2013, according to the report by the WTIA tech trade group, the state Department of Commerce and the Community Attributes research firm. About 62,300 other tech workers were employed at companies in other industries – the report noted the big tech team at Starbucks as an example – bringing the state’s tech talent pool to 238,900, in 2013. Compared with the national average, Washington has 2.5 times more people working in “essential” tech jobs such as application software developer, computer systems programmer, computer engineer, network architect and computer science researcher. The Seattle metro area has 4.3 times the national average for these types of jobs and 6.9 times more application developers than the average metro area.”