AUSTIN — Video game company Electronic Arts announced July 18 its intentions to grow its Northwest Austin operations by creating 150 jobs and adding an additional 150 contract jobs.
EA's Austin operations, which include BioWare/Austin, has about 450 people in IT, product support and additional game development areas. BioWare, located off MoPac near The Domain, developed the game "Star Wars: The Old Republic."
Wendy Spander, EA spokeswoman, said that Bioware will be adding to its development and customer support departments. The jobs would be newly created positions, Spander said. EA Sports, the division that develops the Madden NFL series of games, will also be expanding in Austin.
Gov. Rick Perry joined EA Games President Frank Gibeau and EA Sports COO Daryl Holt on Monday for the announcement at the BioWare offices near The Domain. The governor credited Texas' sound economic principles for helping grow the video game industry in the state.
"On behalf of the State of Texas, I'd like to congratulate EA on expanding its presence in Austin and welcome the quality jobs that will be created here as a result," Gov. Perry said in a news release from EA. "Much like the video gaming industry, our state is built on the foundation of competition; thanks to our low taxes, reasonable and predictable regulatory climate, fair legal system and skilled workforce, we continue to attract companies from around the nation."
Spander said the governor has a focus on Austin's gaming industry.
"He's a big gamer," she said.
Gibeau said in a news release that Gov. Perry's passage of the Texas Moving Image Production Incentive has created an economic environment that is very supportive of game development. Texas is a great place to make games—that's why EA is expanding here."
Texas ranked second nationally in computer and video game employees in 2009, with more than 13,600 individuals directly and indirectly employed by the industry, according to the Entertainment Software Association. The state ranked third in number of schools offering video game design and development programs with 21 for the 2010–11 school year.
"Texas has been an important creative center for EA's growth as a global leader in technology and entertainment," Gibeau said. "We are continually searching for the best talent in the industry and the best locations for our operations."
Source: [http://impactnews.com/northwest-austin/256-recent-news/13833-ea-games-expanding-austin-presence-adding-150-jobs]
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