Missouri’s video game industry adds $39 million to economy
Send this to a friend
- Brian Feldt
- Reporter- St. Louis Business Journal
- Email | Twitter | Facebook
Missouri's video game industry grew more than 41 percent between 2009 and 2012, according to a new report out from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
The data also show that the video game industry added $39.4 million to the state's economy in 2012, up significantly from the $14 million it contributed in 2009, and accounted for nearly 300 jobs that had an average annual salary of $87,922.
Missouri also tripled the number of video game publishing or development shops during the three-year period to nine.
The numbers are encouraging, but Missouri still trails game development hubs like Austin and Silicon Valley.
California, Texas, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Florida and Illinois collectively employ 32,652 workers in the sector, or 76 percent of the total direct employment for the U.S. video game industry, according to the national data provided by the ESA.
St. Louis has quietly become a mini-hub for video game developers over the past several years.
Game developers such as Pixel Press and Upheaval Arts have found particular success in crowdfunding, with St. Louis-based companies raising nearly $300,000 on Kickstarter in 2013.
"St. Louis has become this IT mecca... the startup scene has really started to take off over the past couple of years," said Jonathan Leek, chair of the International Game Developers Association's St. Louis Chapter. "With all of that, we have these technical people and a lot of those tech jobs are just not that exciting. So these guys are starting to make games in their free time."
Nationwide, more than 42,000 people are employed by the video game industry in 36 states. Between 2009 and 2012, direct employment grew 9 percent while total U.S. employment grew just 0.72 percent.
Tech, Venture Capital, Startups, Real Estate
Most Popular
- Most popular
- Emailed
- Mobile
- Growth in The Grove: $85 million Grove development planned
- Nixon to announce law enforcement plans for grand jury decision
- Leisa Zigman leaving Channel 5
- Looming grand jury decision leaves tensions high
- Four new tenants move into Taubman
- 5 St. Louisans nominated to most innovative list
- Tackling Rams rumors:
- St. Louis businesses prepare for the Michael Brown grand jury decision
- Nixon: ‘Violence will not be tolerated’
- Rams watch: Kroenke to meet with L.A.-area mayor
Email Subscriptions
-
Regional Vice President – Missouri & Illinois 4M Building Solutions | Saint Louis, MO
-
Consultants for Senior-Level Project Work / Accounting & Finance Robert Half Management Resources | Saint Louis, MO
-
Chief Financial Officer Missouri Foundation for Health | Saint Louis, MO
-
Program Director Opti-Port | Saint Louis, MO
-
Executive Administrative Assistant St. Louis Mental Health Board | Saint Louis, MO
Comments
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.