The announcement that an international games leader is to open a studio in Galway with the creation of 200 jobs could be the start of a new industry cluster for Galway which could potentially attract dozens of digital media multinationals to head west.
 

Electronic Arts (EA) - one of the world’s leading interactive entertainment software companies - is the first games company to open in Galway in what has become a burgeoning industry centred mainly in Dublin and Cork and employing over 1500 people.
 

The facility will be a European customer service and operations centre for EA’s subsidiary BioWare, which creates computer, handheld and console video games. Among its most successful games – which are renowned for being of high quality and story-driven – are Jade Empire, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
 

No decision has yet been made about the location but it will be in the city centre or in one of the industrial parks on the outskirts with a building of up to 30,000 sq ft required. The centre will be up and running early next year with recruiting beginning this week for around 200 staff.
 

So far just managerial positions are being advertised by the company, including a senior HR manager, three customer service managers, office manager and project manager/analyst.
 

Announcing the decision yesterday, Dr Ray Muzyka, senior vice president of EA and group general manager of BioWare, said the new Galway location for BioWare will help the company get closer to its fans in Europe.
 

“Galway gives us the right mix of solid technology infrastructure and international recruitment opportunities as we continue to focus on bringing the highest quality gaming experiences to market,” he said in a statement.

Spokesperson Tiffany Steckler speaking from Geneva said Galway also stood out as a vibrant and attractive place to live for employees.

“It seemed like a great location to get our new facility up and running, it’s a good environment for employees to live,” she enthused.

IDA media and public relations manager Thomas McEvoy said the authority has been trying to woo EA to Ireland for the best part of 20 years.

See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune