Find Books

This section will introduce several "how-to" books on business to help you get started with your research. These books will primarily introduce you to business plan writing. These books will also introduce general business types such as retail and service business models.

 

Find Books Using Relevant Subject Headings

• Computer games.
• Console games.
• Digital games.
• Entertainment software.
• Indie games.
• Mobile games.
• Online games.
• PC games.
• Software development – Video games.
• Video games.
• Video games – Design.
• Video games – Development.
• Video games – Marketing.
• Video games – Publishing.
• Video games – Testing.
• Video game industry.
• Video game software.
• Business planning.
• New business enterprises -- Management.
• Small business -- Management.

 

Google Books 
Google Books is a search feature offered by Google. It enables users to search the full text of approximately 10 million books that Google has scanned and stored in its digital database. It also offers previews of books that are currently still in print.

Worldcat 
A global catalogue of library collections from various libraries around the world. You can search for books on business planning, new enterprises, start-ups, or your specific industry. You can search for all the locations with copies of a specific item, and then locate the item in a nearby library. In Worldcat, you can also view research articles and other digital content directly online.

 

 

illume
A search portal to BC's post-secondary and public library collections (93 libraries). 

Find Business Plans

In the page below you will find examples of successful business plans. Researching your business plan can be a very time-consuming experience, but it is an essential and worthwhile investment. Your business plan will become your most important day to day operating tool. The information resources and strategies in this guide will help you create an effective plan and increase your chances for business success.

Review Sample Plans for Ideas

Most books about starting a business will include examples of business plans, as well as business planning templates. In addition to books, online business resources frequently include sample business plans. Here are a few to get you started.

 

Business Plans

Bplans.com
This site offers a selection of free sample business plans, as well as articles on business planning. Bplans.com also sells business planning software.

• Computer Programming Business Plan

 

Business Plans Handbook, Gale Publishing
This is a database of actual business plans written by North American entrepreneurs seeking financing for their businesses. Includes examples of many start-up business ideas. Access is available through many BC public libraries, made possible by a generous donation from the Sutherland Foundation. Affiliates of UBC can start here.

• Computer Programming Business Plan
• Video Game Studio Business Plan
• Video Game Testing Services Provider Business Plan

 

TIP: Need more examples? Search terms like “video game business plan” or “independent game studio business plan”. You’ll find a wealth of resources including this guide to creating a video game studio business plan from Empowered and this video game studio business plan sample from OGG.

 

SCORE
SCORE is a non profit association helping small businesses. Their library includes templates for business plans, SWOT analysis, financial projections and more.

 

Business Plan Template And Cash Flow Forecasting Tool
Our friends at Small Business BC provide two valuable tools in one download: the first is a well-structured business plan template that will help communicate what you plan to do, and how you plan to do it, while the second is a spreadsheet you can fill in to, among other things, project costs and expenses using common line items. These tools will set you on your way to being able to present your business plan to funders. 

 

Marketing Plans

Marketing Plan Outline from Government of Canada |This Government of Canada page reviews the components of a marketing plan and why a marketing plan is necessary for your small business. 

BDC Marketing Plan Template | This comprehensive marketing plan template from BDC is for Canadian entrepreneurs specifically and includes all the important sections of a marketing plan, including an executive summary, identification of your target customer, and how you'll measure your sales.

Small Business BC - How to Write a Marketing Plan
This guide shows you how to develop a marketing plan that includes details like how you intend to meet your customers’ needs and communicate the benefits of your products or services to them. When making any decisions about market positioning, pricing, promotions, and sales, your customers should always be top of mind.

Find Capital

In this section you will find links to information on funding for your business. No business can function without money to pay for overhead expenses and production or product costs. It is also unusual for a business founder to have the capital to fully fund their business. The sources in this section will help you consider the best source of funding for your business.

 

Other Suggestions for Obtaining Capital

With proper planning and a few resources to guide you on your way, identifying and securing capital to start and grow your business becomes a much smoother and gentler process. There are several ways to secure the capital needed to fund your business.

 

Government Funding

This is money that the government gives you to fund your business, based on your application to the funding grant. There are other types of government assistance you might wish to explore here: Business Grants and Financing.

Personal Savings

This involves saving your money from your current employment to invest in your business.

Personal Loans

This option means using your personal credit to secure a loan or using your personal credit card for business expenses.

Crowdfunding/Micro-Lending

Crowdfunding and micro-lending are both alternative ways of raising capital that involve having large groups of people pre-buy your product before it is launched or loan you small amounts that you can then use to finance your business.

Private Financing/Equity Financing

This type of financing comes in the form of loans from banks or individuals. It is obtained through your business’ credit availability or through providing equity in your business in exchange for money. This financing involves going into debt or giving up some control of your business.

Below, we have some resources that can help you find funding options for your business:

• Fundica
• Funding and Grants Database
• Innovation Canada

Industry Codes: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

At the start of your research, it may not be clear what specific industry you should be examining. A good strategy is to find out if your business idea is classified in an industrial classification system. These systems organize industries by assigning them a numeric code. The most commonly used system is the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Once you know your Industry Classification Code you can use this number to:

• Find industry-specific statistics on government websites or in library databases
• Generate lists of competitors in company directories

Another common classification system is the Standard Industry Code (SIC). NAICS have mostly replaced the SIC, but the SIC is still used by some commercial databases. Finding and using these classification systems to effectively search can be tricky, so don't hesitate to ask a librarian for help.

Start With These Suggestions

​​

Search or browse all NAICS or SIC codes on the NAICS Association website. Some NAICS codes are different in Canada — you can search by keyword or browse Canadian NAICS codes at Statistics Canada or Canadian Industry Statistics. To search for a SIC code using a NAICS code and vice versa, use the NAICS & SIC Crosswalks.   

For more information about planning your industry research, including identifying your industry codes, check out the video tutorial for Module 3: Planning Your Industry Research.

Library Databases

The Expensive World Of Business Information

Believe it or not, you cannot find everything on Google! Have you ever done an online search and found the perfect industry report only to find that it costs over $5,000? Did you know that libraries pay for many expensive databases that could be helpful in your secondary market research? 

Search engines like Google can only provide direct access to freely available information. Most of the web, including business information, lives in databases behind expensive paywalls. This paywall-protected section of the Internet is known as the deep web. Fortunately, some libraries pay to subscribe to databases so they can provide free access to their patrons — and many business databases can contain useful information such as articles, market research, and company reports.

There are several strategies you can use to access relevant business information on the deep web. First, we urge you to look up what business resources your local public or academic library can provide access to. Each database has its own arrangement, with unique interfaces and search features. It helps to know the structure and search terms of the specific database you are working with in order to retrieve effective results. 

Also, it is important to know that library databases are restricted by specific usage agreements. It can help to consult with a librarian if you have trouble navigating a specific database. They may also be able to help you find comparable information elsewhere. Libraries with robust business collections might have useful e-books, directories and trade journals. As you conduct your secondary market research you will likely need to consult both free and deep web resources.

For more information about how and why to use business databases, check out our video tutorial, Module Four: Conducting Your Industry Research.

 

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

 

Provincial Library Database Partners

How to access: Check out the database list and note the License Participants to find out which institutions have access. Otherwise, contact your local post-secondary library to see what they offer.

BC Electronic Library Network (ELN) Research Databases

ELN licenses databases with partner academic libraries. These include LexisNexis, Canadian Newsstream, Hoovers, CBCA Business, ABI/INFORM Complete and others that may be of interest to business researchers.

 

ABI/INFORM Collection

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.

• (2022, November 28).Video games market projected to grow with (CAGR) of 9.1% during the 2022-2028 forecast timeframe [76 pages report]. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
• (2022, June 28).The global video game market size is expected to reach $413 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 11.8% CAGR during the forecast period: A video game, often known as a computer game, is an electronic game that generates visual feedback through the use of a user interface. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• (2022, October 25). Video game software market to reach $751.4 billion by 2031: Allied Market Research: Surge in demand for remote education policies, growing popularity of work from home culture, emergence of advanced technologies such as virtual reality and mixed reality with video game software solutions suites, and rise in internet penetration to drive the global video game software market growth.NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• (2022, Jul 04). Global gaming accessories market to hit $14.4 billion by 2030: Allied Market Research: Massive demand for virtual reality headsets and acceptance of handheld gaming consoles drive the growth of the global gaming accessories market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large section of people turned to video games as leisure. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
• (2022, Jun 27). Esports market, segmented: By device type, by streaming type, by application, by revenue stream, and region – global analysis of market size, share & trends for 2019–2021 and forecasts to 2031: Esports Market to surpass USD 8. 8 billion by 2031 from USD 1. 4 billion in 2021 at a CAGR of 20. 6%. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• (2022, Jun 21). Video game industry proves once again to be recession-proof. PR Newswire Europe Including UK Disclose Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• Gross, A. (2022). Gaming tapers off post-pandemic as players return to the real world. FT.Com. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• Gaming, B. (2022, Nov 17). The video game industry's acquisition fever: 2022 was A year full of giant purchases and A few disappointments. Benzinga Newswires. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• Yardley, C. (2022, Oct 21). How Montreal's video game industry is changing to meet labour demands. The Canadian Press. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• Fernandez, E. (2022, Nov 28). What is the best video game of the year? These are the nominees for the Game Awards 2022, up for the top award of the industry. Benzinga Newswires. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• Fernandez, E. (2022, Nov 28). Video games on the downhill slope: A significant sector of the industry may be facing A considerable drop in revenues. Benzinga Newswires Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
• (2022, Sep 07). Global anime market report (2022 to 2030) - increasing internet penetration and growing demand for anime video games is driving growth. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• Espinoza, J., & Beioley, K. (2022). Microsoft’s Activision deal faces in-depth EU and UK probes. FT.Com. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• (2022, Nov 22). Video game industry joins forces to raise awareness on climate change. (Content Engine, L. L. C., trans.) CE Noticias Financieras. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
• (2022, Nov 18). Video games, national industry. (Content Engine, L. L. C., trans.) CE Noticias Financieras. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.

 

Mergent Online

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

• Electronic Arts, Inc. (NMS). Mergent Online. Retrieved from Mergent Online database.
• Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NMS: ATVI). Mergent Online. Retrieved from Mergent Online database.
• Zynga Inc. (NMS: ZNGA). Mergent Online. Retrieved from Mergent Online database.

 

BCC Research Centre

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Publishes 250 reports annually that are complete with market intelligence, five-year forecasts, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technological shifts and trends.

• BCC Publishing. (2023, January). Video Games: Global Markets. [Report Code IFT208B]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• TBRC. (2022, September). Video Game Software Market Global Briefing 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact. [Report Code MKB368F]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• TBRC. (2022, May). Video Game Software Market Briefing 2022. [Report Code MKB368E]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• TBRC. (2021, September). Video Game Software Global Competitor Market Briefing 2021. [Report Code MKB368D]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• BCC Publishing. (2021, May). Innovation Spotlight: IDGA: Video Games. [Report Code IFT227A]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.

 

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

• Morris, C. (2022). Global video games market expected to fall for first time since 2015. Fortune.Com. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Kim, T. (2022). Video Game Industry Struggles to Shake Sexist Attitudes. Bloomberg Opinion. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Anand, P., & Day, M. (2021). Amazon CEO Says Video Games Could Become the Largest Entertainment Business. Bloomberg.Com. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Cohendet, P., Simon, L., & Mehouachi, C. (2021). From business ecosystems to ecosystems of innovation: the case of the video game industry in Montréal. Industry & Innovation, 28(8), 1046–1076. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Cohendet, P., Grandadam, D., Mehouachi, C., & Simon, L. (2018). The local, the global and the industry common: the case of the video game industry. Journal of Economic Geography, 18(5), 1045–1068. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Kugler, L. (2022). How AI Is driving the esports boom: artificial intelligence is helping the esports industry take the world by storm. Communications of the ACM, 65(9), 17–18. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• COVID measures hampering esports market. (2022). China Economic Review.Com, 3.
• Wiegand, N., Peers, Y., & Bleier, A. (2022). Software multihoming to distal markets: Evidence of cannibalization and complementarity in the video game console industry. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 1–25. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Newverry, L. C. S. (2022). The Abcs of Gaming: Activision, Biden, and Covid-19 Set the Stage for Labor Unionization in the Video Game Industry. Wisconsin Law Review, 2022(4), 1027–1062. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Seitz, P. (2022, May 26). Video Game Stocks Hit Reset Button With Industry Consolidation. Investors Business Daily. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Le Roy, F., Robert, F., & Hamouti, R. (2022). Vertical vs horizontal coopetition and the market performance of product innovation: An empirical study of the video game industry. Technovation, 112. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Lehnert, K., Walz, A., & Christianson, R. (2022). The booming eSports market: a field day for fans. Journal of Business Strategy, 43(2), 122–128. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Ek, P., & Sörhammar, D. (2022). Effects of User Community Sensing Capability in Digital Product Innovation: Evidence from the Video Game Industry. International Journal of Innovation Management, 26(1), 1–30. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Hamouti, R. (2021). Alone or in Cooperation: What Is the Best Strategy for the Performance of Radical Product Innovation in the Video Game Industry? International Journal of Innovation Management, 25(9), 1–17. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Esports at HBCUs Promote Diversity in a Thriving Industry. (2021). INSIGHT into Diversity, 98(2), 16–17. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Wright, A. (2021). A precarious game: The illusion of dream jobs in the video game industry. New Technology, Work & Employment, 36(3), 429–431. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 

 

First Research Industry Profiles

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, or faculty you can access many of these reports through ABI/INFORM and/or Business Market Research Collection (Proquest).

Covers over 900 industry segments. Updated on a quarterly basis, these industry profiles contain critical analysis, statistics and forecasts to help you engage key prospects, coach key clients, and deepen customer relationships. You can search for reports by NAICS, SIC or keyword or browse by category.

• (2022) Electronic Toys & Games Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 10.31/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
• (2022). Entertainment & Games Software - Quarterly Update 10/24/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
• (2022). Computer Software - Quarterly Update 1/31/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
• (2022). Multimedia, Graphics, & Publishing Software - Quarterly Update 3/21/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.

 

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

• Burns, J. (2022, August. Video Games in the US / US INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT NN003 / INFORMATION. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• Burns, J. (2022, September). Video Game Software Developers in the US / US SPECIALIZED INDUSTRY REPORT OD4570 / TECHNOLOGY. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• Burns, J. (2022, July). Video Game Publishing Software in the US / US INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 51121E / INFORMATION. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• McGrath, S. Software Publishing in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 51121CA / INFORMATION IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• Ristoff, J. (2022, August). Software Publishing in the US / US INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 51121 / INFORMATION. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.

 

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

• Freedonia Focus Reports. (2022, April). Toys & Games: United States. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.

 

Business Market Research Collection (Proquest)

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Business Market Research Collection brings together four sources to help students more easily conduct the research they need to produce business plans, marketing plans, startup plans, market growth analysis, and strategic and financial plans. Includes access to: Hoover's Company Profiles, OxResearch, Barnes Reports, and the older Snapshots Series, which includes market research overviews on over 40 industries and 40 countries to 2008.

• (2022) Electronic Toys & Games Manufacturing - Quarterly Update 10.31/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
• (2022). Entertainment & Games Software - Quarterly Update 10/24/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
• (2022). Computer Software - Quarterly Update 1/31/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.
• (2022). Multimedia, Graphics, & Publishing Software - Quarterly Update 3/21/2022. Fort Mill, South Carolina: Mergent. Retrieved from First Research Industry Profiles.

 

Statista

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

A simple to use statistics portal that integrates statistics from thousands of sources, on topics related to business, media, public policy, health and others. Statistics can be exported in PPT, XLS, PDF, and PNG formats. Some basic content available for free.

• Kunst, A.. (2022, November 28). Hours spent on playing video games per week in Canada in 2022. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Kunst, A.. (2022, November 28).Digital video game purchases by store brand in Canada in 2022. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Kunst, A.. (2022, November 28). Video game purchases by store brand in Canada in 2022. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Kunst, A.. (2022, November 28). Video game usage by device in Canada in 2022. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Kunst, A.. (2022, November 28). Video game purchases in Canada in 2022. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Statista Research Department. (2022, June 28). Video game ad spend in Canada from 202o to 2022, in million Canadian dollars. PwC. Retrieved from Statista database. 
• Clement, J. (2022, November 14). Video gaming worldwide- statistics and facts [dossier]. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Clement, J. (2022, October 18). Best-selling video games - top publishers and titles - Statistics & Facts [dossier]. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Clement, J. (2022, October 18). Best-selling video games - top markets - Statistics & Facts [dossier]. Statista. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Digital video game shops in Canada [dossier]. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.
• Video game stores in Canada [dossier] Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.

• Video game subscription services in Canada [dossier]. Statista Consumer Insights. Retrieved from Statista database.

 

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

• Bell, S. (2022, September). The entertainment trends taking marketers into 2023. WARC Trends. Retrieved from WARC database.
• (2022, October). What we know about marketing via gaming. WARC Best Practices. Retrieved from WARC database.
• (2021). Ally Financial: Ally Island, the only bank worth visiting in Animal Crossing. Account Planning Group (UK). Retrieved from WARC database.
• (2019, November). What’s working in mobile, apps, and games. WARC Category Intelligence. Retrieved from WARC database.
• (2022, December 2). Forget the metaverse, focus on gaming. WARC Newsfeed. Retrieved from WARC database.
• Clapp, R. (2021, August). Gen Z spend more time gaming than using social media. WARC Data Points (Curated) Retrieved from WARC database.
• Clapp, R. (2021, January). Gaming activity grew quickest among older Americans in 2020. WARC Data Points (Curated) Retrieved from WARC database.
• Clapp, R. (2019, December). Gaming consumption tops nine and a half hours per week. WARC Data Points (Curated) Retrieved from WARC database.

 

Newspapers and News Sources - UBC Library Research Guide

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link below. Individual resources and databases will have different access requirements.

UBC Library has an excellent collection of current and historical newspapers from B.C., Canada, and around the world. UBC affiliates will have access to these resources.

• Gifford-Jones, W., & Gifford-Jones, D. (2022, Nov 24). Game on for video games. The Lethbridge Herald. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database. 
• Stone, S. (2022). Using virtual worlds to learn about the real one: Digital education firm Skewb Climate is working with utilities to get messages about energy and water efficiency through to the younger generation via bespoke video game minecraft. Utility Week, 38. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database. 
• Silvan, R. (2022). Game on: How mobile, mega-caps, and the metaverse are transforming video games. The Canadian Money Saver, 42(2), 18. Retrieved from Canadian Newsstream database. 

Industry News

In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.

 

Associations

Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for your business plan. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.

British Columbia Associations

DigiBC | DigiBC is to promote, support and accelerate the growth of BC's Creative Technology industry to the benefit of current and future generations, including the video games industry. Check out their curated resources, including ESAC’s Essential Facts about the Gaming Industry and the Diversity and Inclusion in Tech Project.

Canadian Associations

Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) | ESAC is the voice of Canada’s entertainment software industry. It works on behalf of its member companies so that Canada remains a great place to innovate, create, and publish video games. Their Essential Facts about the Gaming Industry contextualizes the video game industry’s growth in the past few years, and paints a hopeful picture for its future, along with its Essential Facts 2021, which provides information about EDI initiatives and general statistics in the industry.

Canadian Games Studies Association | The CGSA is an organization dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of digital games. Its primary goal is to support the work of Canadian researchers, graduate students, artists, game designers, programmers, theorists, and others working in the field. Check out their Journal, a forum dedicated to publishing original and interdisciplinary research about everything from the culture of the industry to educational approaches to the development of new games. 

Alberta Makes Games |   Created by game developer Craig Pfau, this website has become a leading resource and champion for game design in Alberta. The website collects the latest news from Alberta’s game design scene and provides a voice for game designers to voice successes, challenges, and opportunities through linking to other association projects such as the 2021 Canadian Video Game Industry Economic Impact survey. 
 

International Associations

 

Entertainment Software Association (ESA) | ESA is the voice of America’s video game industry. It facilitates information and communications support to help its members promote the American video game industry, their products, and the positive impact that video games can have on society. Read facts and statistics about the video game industry as a whole, beginning with their 2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry, and their conversations with industry leaders, Story Mode.  

Women in Games International | Women in Games International has been committed to investing our expertise and resources to highlight and celebrate women making an impact in the global games industry. They advance economic equity in the video gaming industry through their programs and events. 

TIP: Check out the Vancouver Economic Commission’s reports on the state of industries in Vancouver specifically. Their Interactive Media report contains information about the studios in Vancouver as well as the growth of the industry overall in the city. 

 

Magazines & Trade Journals

Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for business planning. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.

Game Developer | Video game magazine known for providing online resources for aspiring and professional game developers.

Game Informer | Game Informer collects features, podcasts, videos, and release lists about the latest and most hotly anticipated games in the industry, providing a resource for gamers and for industry professionals alike. 

IND13 | Video game magazine with a focus on independent game development. Ideal for independent video game developers and fans of independent games that want the latest news and articles related to independent gaming, businesses, start ups and more.

Retro Gamer | For devoted fans of the genealogy and evolution of video games, Retro Gamer is a British magazine, published monthly worldwide. It is the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject.

GamesIndustry.biz | A premier source for developers, designers, and others in the video game industry, GamesIndustry.bix delivers global video game news and talks about underreported aspects of the industry such as translating puns for global games. 

MCV | UK trade magazine that focuses on the business aspects of the video game industry. MCV caters to a wide audience including indie game developers, retailers, and video game studios.

 

Consultant & Other Websites

Full Indie | Volunteer organization by and for independent game developers working in Vancouver, BC. Ideal for independent developers looking for access to local talent, contacts, and resources, as well as constructive feedback from peers.      

PocketGamer | Video game website that focuses on mobile, portable, and handheld games. Provides industry news and insights on mobile gaming.

MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.

PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.

• Start here: Entertainment and Media Outlook 2019-2023

Firsthand | A free source of industry information. Use the Industry Profiles to research growing industries and best industries by major, and Company Rankings and Profiles to find news, company information, and industry-specific sample professions. Basic monthly membership is free and offers access to blogs, discussion forums, and job listings.

• Computer and Video Game Designers Profile
• Computer and Video Game Design Industry 
• Video Game Art Directors Profile 
• Video Game Producers Profile
• Video Game Testers Profile
• Mobile Software Designers Profile 
• Mobile Application Developers Profile

Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre | This free resource created by the Vancouver Public Library is an online and in-person resource that helps newcomers to Canada find information to get a job, explore different careers or start a business.

Blogs & Podcasts 

Blogs

Lost Garden | Containing readable and thoughtful essays on game design, theory, art, and the business of design by the Chief Creative Officer at Spry Fox, this game design blog will offer industry professionals know-how and connection. Check out the Worth Reading section. 

Designer Notes | Billed as Soren Johnson’s game design journal, this blog (and podcast) collects knowledge and tips from both independent and mainstream game designers on a variety of game design topics. 

The Game Design Roundtable | The Game Design Round Table is by game designers, for game designers. They explore the art and craft of game design from the perspective of tabletop, digital, and role-playing games. Currently, they have two series: Designing Thematic Games, which draws on the knowledge of many different game designers and developers, and a series with Soren Johnson of Designer Notes. 

That Video Game Blog | That Video Game Blog is staffed by a team of more than 20 experts, bringing you unbiased game reviews, editorials, and commentary on video games and the industry.

Touch Arcade | 49% of Canadians say they play on their mobile devices daily. Touch Arcade brings gamers and industry professionals alike the most complete source of content on iOS related gaming to capture this huge demographic.

Into Indie Games | Into Indie Games, run by gamers passionate about indie game development and play, is packed full of the latest independent game studio development news from around the globe, with reviews, previews, and release lists. 

Niche Gamer | Started by Brandon Orselli, hobbyist, activist, and game design student graduate, Niche Gamer discusses lesser-known games and the underbelly of the gaming industry. 

Gematsu | Straightforward and uncomplicated in its prose style, Gematsu is the most popular video game blog focusing on Japanese games. It was founded in 2008 by Sal Romano, and it’s a great source for video game news and information for those who love Japanese game titles.

 

Podcasts

Coffee with Butterscotch: A Game Development Podcast | A comedic podcast hosted by award-winning video game studio Butterscotch Shenanigans, best known for the hit game Crashlands. Hosts talk about how video games are developed, shipped, and sold, present their takes on building a small company from scratch, and discuss an all-time favorite topic of game designers: creative problem solving. 

Building the Game | Join Jason Slingerland and his fellow game design friends on this weekly podcast, as they discuss the ins and outs and ups and downs of being a game designers in a documentary style.

Game Dev Advice | “30-year game industry veteran John "JP" Podlasek interviews game designers, programmers, producers, artists, arcade owners, writers, CEOs and others about game development. Experienced or aspiring game developers alike will find useful, thought-provoking, and sometimes funny advice from others in the game industry.”

Elite Game Developers | Joakim Ackrem from Elite Game Developers talks founding, building, and making your game studio successful.

Game Dev Unchained | This podcast presents a huge backlog on a wide variety of topics, all concerning practical, financial, and creative aspects of the game industry. Their episodes are essential for those interested in game design.

 

TIP: As with all sources, news articles and blogs should be carefully evaluated. For information on how to evaluate your information, watch video tutorial Module Five: Using Information Responsibly.

Government Websites

In this section we have gathered some of the most reliable freely available online government and employment websites for you to use in your research.

 

Canadian Websites

BC Stats | Current reports and statistics from British Columbia's central statistical agency including labour market information, economic statistics and bankruptcies. Start by searching their Industry section and narrowing by industry type or go to the Business, Industry & Trade page to skim all the different business-related topics.

 

Government of Canada - Business and Industry | The Government of Canada's comprehensive page for business and industry guides you through important information on starting a business. You will find necessary permits and information on tax and regulation, as well as advice on how to protect your intellectual property through copyright or trademark, a primer for selling to the federal government, information on importing and exporting goods, and advice on managing and protecting your business operations. 

• Starting a business 
• Overview of federal government Services for Small Business

 

Statistics Canada Data | Formerly known as CANSIM, Statistics Canada's key socioeconomic database is updated daily. It is free to search the data tables.

 

Canadian Industry Statistics (CIS) - Industry Canada | CIS analyses industry data on many economic indicators using the most recent data from Statistics Canada. CIS looks at industry trends and financial information, such as GDP, Labour Productivity, Manufacturing and Trade data.

• 5112- Software Publishers
• 51121- Software Publishers
• 5415- Computer systems design and related services
• 54151- Computer systems design and related services

 

City of Vancouver’s Open Data Portal

How to access: The guide can be viewed through the link above and is free to use.

The Government of Canada routinely collects vast quantities and kinds of information on a diverse spectrum of topics. Now the City of Vancouver is making this information available to the public in a single concise searchable portal called Open Data 101. This data is accessible to the public and structured in an easy to understand format.

 

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada
Provides market research, industry statistics, licensing information for intellectual property, and information about doing business internationally. The Industry Canada site features interactive applications such as customizable trade reports, cost calculators, and online business planning guides. You can also search broad Canadian industry statistics.

 

The Daily - Statistics Canada
The premier source for Canadian statistical information, including census information. Search 'The Daily' releases by subject to identify corresponding census tables, latest news, and publications. Similarly, you can browse by data source, including surveys & questionnaires relevant to your market research, which also link to census tables, latest news and publications.

 

WorkBC | Find current employment outlooks, labour market information, relevant links, and a geographic representation of the BC workforce. Start by searching your Industry Profile.

• Report: Benchmarking the Creative Economy in British Columbia 
• Software Engineers and Designers (NOC 2173)

 

US & International Websites

Small Business Administration: Free Small Business Data
This site is created and managed by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and provides a list of free sources of information that you can use to obtain data about markets in the US.

Regulations

Learn More About Compliance Issues

When it comes to starting a business, one of the first decisions you need to make is the legal structure of your business - sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited company. You'll also need to register your business and you'll need to be aware of many municipal, provincial or federal regulations. The websites in this section will help you.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada - Permits and Licenses Search

Search for the permits and licenses applicable to your industry and location to meet all federal, provincial and municipal regulations.

 

General Business Resources

BizPaL
This is the one-stop website to assist Canadian businesses that are just starting up, or expanding into new areas. BizPaL asks you a short series of questions about the nature and scope of your current or proposed business. Based on your answers, BizPaL provides you with a customized list of government permits and licences that you may require to operate your business. All of the information that you provide is kept anonymous, and you may save or print your results for future reference.

 

Canada Revenue Agency - Business
This section of the Canadian federal tax agency's website contains important taxation and documentation requirements that businesses operating in Canada must adhere to.

• Keeping records
• Business Number (BN) registration
• Business expenses

 

Small Business BC (SBBC)
SBBC is a great place to start for information on BC specific regulations and guidelines, for whatever stage you are in your business development. This is a great post on the topic.

 

The Province of British Columbia
Provides information on programs and resources available to small business owners in British Columbia. Includes information on taxes and industry regulations. Start with the Permits, Licences & Registrations section.

 

BC Business Registry

British Columbia's online Business Registry is a self-serve application allowing small business owners to complete provincial registrations or incorporations of their business, file name requests on behalf of their business, and store maintenance filings required by British Columbia. Anyone with a BC Registries account may also search for existing businesses and clients, providing access to business information and filings for co-operatives, benefit companies, sole proprietorships, and general partnerships. Use the Business Structures Wizard to help you!

Tips on Company Research

An in-depth investigation and analysis of your competition is one of the most important components of a comprehensive market analysis. A competitive analysis allows you to assess your competitors' strengths and weaknesses in the marketplace, and to implement effective strategies to improve your competitive advantage. Here are some research strategies for doing your competitive analysis:

• Company directories can be used to create lists of competitors by industry, product line, size, etc.
• Doing a company name search in a general research database is an excellent way to learn more about your competitor’s products, services, prices, and media coverage.
• If your competitors are public companies, learn more about them by reading their financials and annual reports.
• News archives provide a range of competitive information on both public and private companies.
• Patents are a good way to learn about the technical and design features of a competitor's products. You can refer to this UBC Library Research Guide, created by UBC Engineering Librarians, if you are looking for patent information. Most of the resources listed are freely available.

For information on primary and secondary market research, as well as common sources for secondary market research, watch our video tutorial Module One: Introduction To Market Research.

Finding information on public companies is considerably easier than finding information on privately-held companies. Information on public companies is readily available online, or at your local library. Another good starting point is the list of resources in the next section of this Accelerator Guide: Find Competitors. Unlike public companies, private companies are not required to file with the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR). Searching for private company information is considerably more difficult and will require a lot of patience, and a healthy dose of creativity. 

Find Competitors

Learning About Competitors

To create a list of competitors and find basic information about them (e.g. number of employees, contact information) you will need to consult business directories. Many directories are available online for free, while others are fee-based commercial databases. You can find directories that are particular to an industry or geography. Your local library will likely have a good collection of directories that you can consult in person.

For further information about secondary market research, see our video tutorial Module Two: Secondary Market Research for Industry Analysis.

If you know of some public companies in your industry, then annual reports can provide a great deal of useful financial information including sales volume, revenue increases, and total market share. You can search the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) for Canadian Company filings. If the competitor you are researching does business in the US, then you search the Security and Exchange Commissions equivalent, EDGAR, which provides free public access to corporate information including financial information and operations by reviewing registration statements, prospectuses and periodic reports filed on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. You also can find information about recent corporate events reported on Form 8-K that a company does not have to disclose to investors. You can use advanced search features to search by Standard Industry Classification (SIC) codes.

 

Free Business Directories

CanadaOne - Canadian Business Directory
CanadaOne has a directory of over 20,000 Canadian businesses.

Federal Corporations Data Online 
Free searchable database of federally incorporated/registered companies.

Frasers
A comprehensive industrial directory and search tool, with information on products and services provided by Canadian industrial wholesalers, manufacturers, and distributors. You can search by product name, company name, or brand name.

• Video Game Suppliers
• Video Games Suppliers
• Software Publishers Suppliers
• Entertainment Software Suppliers

D&B Hoovers
Provides information on 18 million US and international companies, both public and private. D&B Hoovers' reports are generated quickly, and are easy to read. A fair amount of information is provided for free, but much more is available with a paid subscription. If you know the company name or ticker symbol of any of the key players in your industry, try searching for their Hoovers records to find key information. Use the link above for free information or contact your local library to see if they provide access. Affiliates of UBC may have access. 

• Kabam Games, Inc. 
• Sony Entertainment Video Game
• Electronic Arts (Canada), Inc.

Proprietary Business Directories

Business in Vancouver, Book of Lists
Comprehensive collection of BC business data compiled annually as the popular BIV Book of Lists. Provides data on over 1000 companies including: websites, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, top executives' names, company age, revenues, profits and much more. UBC affiliates and in-person community researchers can obtain access to a print version (here are details on how to locate it) or you can get your own online subscription.

 

Mergent Online
Provides access to detailed information on US and international companies. Data can be compared and exported into software applications such as Excel. Affiliates of UBC can learn more and get access.

 

The Blue Book of Canadian Business
Detailed profiles for over 60 Canadian corporations, including missions/values, history, operations, social responsibility and executive biographies. Also contains directory type information for 2,500 Canadian companies, a ranking of the top 500 companies and a list of the top 400 Canadian stocks. UBC affiliates and in-person community researchers can obtain access to a print version of this periodical (here are details on how to locate it at UBC in Vancouver).

 

Reference Canada
Provides information on more than one million businesses throughout Canada. Includes name, address, phone number, contacts, number of employees, annual sales volumes, line of business, and credit rating. Vancouver Public Library subscribes to this online directory so check with your local library about access.

 

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

 

Mapping Your Competitors

Online maps such as Google Maps or Bing Maps and popular directories such as Yelp are a fast way to locate nearby competitors, and to get a better sense of the region your business operates within. Try searching for the name of your product or industry and narrowing your results by focusing the map on a specific location, such as a city or neighborhood.

SimplyAnalytics

This is an Internet-based mapping application that enables users to develop interactive thematic maps and reports using thousands of demographic, business, and marketing data variables. Check your local public or academic library for access. UBC affiliates can learn more and get access.

 

Trade Shows

Attending trade shows is an excellent way to learn more about your competitors. Contact local associations or read trade publications to find out what trade shows are coming to your community.

10Times.com | The largest worldwide online directory of trade fairs, business exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, and seminars for various industries. Search for trade shows by industry, country, date, organizer, or venue.

Game Developers Conference | GDC is the video game industry’s premier event, championing video game designers and their craft. It boasts a comprehensive selection of educational panels, workshops, lectures, and roundtables; the latest game development tools and services from leading technology companies such as Amazon, Epic, Google, Intel, Nvidia, Oculus, and Sony; and community spaces where you can play in concert with other gamers. 

Indie Full Summit | Local to Vancouver, this new and upcoming indie game development conference features independent Vancouver game devs talking about topics relevant to indie game design, such as design, art, marketing, sound, production, and culture in the workplace. They delve into the process of making your favorite indie games; the same folks behind Indie Full Summit also organize monthly meetups. 

E3 | At E3 the biggest game developers, publishers, hardware providers, and accessory manufacturers come together to talk shop and to introduce the biggest upcoming games and game-related merchandise of the year. E3 is a must-attend for game devs who want to stay in the know about the industry. 

TIP: Trade shows and conventions are the most common way for new game designers and studios that are close to launching a game to get that game into the public eye. Search for even conventions that do not focus solely on game development, like Comic Con, to bring your work to. 

 

Find Financial Benchmarks

One thing you will need to do in the financials section of your business plan is discuss how you will price your products and/or services, and how this compares to your competitors. You will need to develop a financial plan that includes your projected revenues and net income. The following resources will help you find financial information on competitors in your industry.

 

Free Tools for Finding Financial Info

EDGAR
Filings with the US Securities & Exchange Commission by companies listed on US exchanges. 10-K Forms include detailed information on company history, structure, financial statements, and other relevant data.

 

SEDAR
A collection of corporate filings that are required by securities regulators, from companies operating in Canada. This website is an excellent source for information about a company's plans, competitive environment, markets, products, and assets. SEDAR is the Canadian equivalent of EDGAR.

 

Finding Benchmarks & Ratios

Ratios are tools that allow you to plan and assess your company's progress over time, and to compare it to other companies in the same industry. There are diferent kinds of ratios, including operating ratios, financial ratios, performance indicators, and benchmarks.

 

Financial Performance Data (formerly SME Benchmarking Tool)
Tool for benchmarking your financial reports with others in your sector. Website also includes a collection of financial data and annual reports of various Canadian companies. For instructions on using the Financial Performance Data click here. To create a report using Financial Performance data click here.

TIP: Remember to search using your NAICS code (eg.  511212 for Video Game Publishers)

 

Financial Performance Indicators for Canadian Business
Offers current financial ratios by industry, based on data provided by Statistics Canada. The indicators are designed to serve as financial performance benchmarks against which individual firms and industries can be compared. Affiliates of UBC, UNBC, UVic and SFU have access through Abacus Dataverse. If you are visiting, please contact your local library about access.

 

 

Proprietary Tools For Finding Financial Info

UBC Company Research Guide
This research guide was created by UBC business librarians. Follow this link to go directly to the section of the guide that features various UBC Library electronic resources that are recommended for searching for financial information on competitors, such as credit rankings, stock prices and investment analyst reports. You can explore the navigation on the right-hand side to find more recommended research sources on the general topic of company research.

 

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

 

Mergent Online
Provides access to detailed information on US and international companies. Data can be compared and exported into software applications such as Excel. Affiliates of UBC can learn more and get access.

 

Tools For Calculating Your Own Financials

• Financial Ratio Calculators - Business Development Canada
• Financial Ratios Calculator: Debt to Equity and Other Ratios - Canada One
• Business Calculators - GoForth Institute

Market Share & Size

Both market size and market share held by competitors are key factors when assessing the competitive environment. Keep in mind that there is no single source of market size and market share data. Market information is usually pieced together from various sources and is not often readily available for niche or emerging industries. One strategy is to combine a competitor's name or a comparable, established industry with the term market share in article databases or read market research reports. You will need to identify and describe your market – who your customers are and what the demand is for your products and services.

 

UBC Library Business Databases

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you may have access to business databases through the David Lam Management Research Library and Canaccord Learning Commons through the links below.

Full Listing By Title or Full Listing By Subject

There are two different ways to identify databases: Use "by title" if you already know the name; otherwise you can search the list "by subject" to find starting places for undertaking market research, finding articles or researching companies. To learn more about how you can access library resources if you are a community user or temporary visitor, check out the UBC Library Community Users & Visitors Guide. Community users and temporary visitors may have additional access restrictions to specific databases because of license agreements.

 

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

 

ABI/INFORM Collection

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Created by ProQuest this database contains full-text articles from over 1,000 business magazines and journals that track business conditions, trends, management techniques, corporate strategies, and industry-specific topics.

• (2022, November 28).Video games market projected to grow with (CAGR) of 9.1% during the 2022-2028 forecast timeframe [76 pages report]. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
• (2022, June 28).The global video game market size is expected to reach $413 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 11.8% CAGR during the forecast period: A video game, often known as a computer game, is an electronic game that generates visual feedback through the use of a user interface. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• (2022, October 25). Video game software market to reach $751.4 billion by 2031: Allied Market Research: Surge in demand for remote education policies, growing popularity of work from home culture, emergence of advanced technologies such as virtual reality and mixed reality with video game software solutions suites, and rise in internet penetration to drive the global video game software market growth.NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 
• (2022, Jul 04). Global gaming accessories market to hit $14.4 billion by 2030: Allied Market Research: Massive demand for virtual reality headsets and acceptance of handheld gaming consoles drive the growth of the global gaming accessories market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large section of people turned to video games as leisure. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel. Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database.
• (2022, Jun 27). Esports market, segmented: By device type, by streaming type, by application, by revenue stream, and region – global analysis of market size, share & trends for 2019–2021 and forecasts to 2031: Esports Market to surpass USD 8. 8 billion by 2031 from USD 1. 4 billion in 2021 at a CAGR of 20. 6%. NASDAQ OMX's News Release Distribution Channel Retrieved from ABI/INFORM database. 

 

BCC Research Centre

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Publishes 250 reports annually that are complete with market intelligence, five-year forecasts, statistical and analytical data, key players, market share, industry structure and dynamics, and technological shifts and trends.

• BCC Publishing. (2023, January). Video Games: Global Markets. [Report Code IFT208B]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• TBRC. (2022, September). Video Game Software Market Global Briefing 2022: Ukraine-Russia War Impact. [Report Code MKB368F]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• TBRC. (2022, May). Video Game Software Market Briefing 2022. [Report Code MKB368E]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• TBRC. (2021, September). Video Game Software Global Competitor Market Briefing 2021. [Report Code MKB368D]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database. 
• BCC Publishing. (2021, May). Innovation Spotlight: IDGA: Video Games. [Report Code IFT227A]. Retrieved from BCC Research Centre database.

 

Business Source Ultimate

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Otherwise, contact your local library to see if they provide access.

Includes financial data, books, videos, company profiles, SWOT analyses, industry profiles, country reports, market research reports and case studies. Also includes information on industry trends, forecasts, outlooks, competitors, how to run a specific business and much more.

• Morris, C. (2022). Global video games market expected to fall for first time since 2015. Fortune.Com. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Anand, P., & Day, M. (2021). Amazon CEO Says Video Games Could Become the Largest Entertainment Business. Bloomberg.Com. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• COVID measures hampering esports market. (2022). China Economic Review.Com, 3.
• Seitz, P. (2022, May 26). Video Game Stocks Hit Reset Button With Industry Consolidation. Investors Business Daily. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 
• Lehnert, K., Walz, A., & Christianson, R. (2022). The booming eSports market: a field day for fans. Journal of Business Strategy, 43(2), 122–128. Retrieved from Business Source Ultimate database. 

 

eMarketer

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Or, contact your local public or academic library for their access details.

Global market research and trend analysis database that focuses on Internet, e-business, online marketing, media, and emerging technologies.

• Bourne, J. (2022, December 6). Gaming could have a banner year in 2023 thanks to generative AI, VR. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• (2022, September.) US Digital Gamers, 2022-2026. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• (2022, October.) Mobile Gaming Ad Revenues. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Goldman, J. (2022, November 10.) Despite the market punishing it for losses, Roblox continues to boost engagement. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Lebow, S. (2022, October 19). The future of video games will be streaming. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Goetzen, N. (2022, June 10). Video Game Marketing and Monetization 2022: Ad Formats and the Metaverse Offer Brand New Opportunities. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Goldman, J. (2022, November 22). As Twitter kills its gaming focus, does that community migrate to Discord, YouTube, or TikTok? eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Sevilla, G. (2022, September 30). Portable consoles, streaming services are biggest opportunities in video games. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database.

 

IBISWorld Industry Reports

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

IBISWorld research is an independent, professional publisher of high-quality market research reports. These reports analyze the underlying structure and external forces that drive an industry.

• Burns, J. (2022, August. Video Games in the US / US INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT NN003 / INFORMATION. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• Burns, J. (2022, September). Video Game Software Developers in the US / US SPECIALIZED INDUSTRY REPORT OD4570 / TECHNOLOGY. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• Burns, J. (2022, July). Video Game Publishing Software in the US / US INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 51121E / INFORMATION. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• McGrath, S. Software Publishing in Canada / CANADA INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 51121CA / INFORMATION IN CANADA. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.
• Ristoff, J. (2022, August). Software Publishing in the US / US INDUSTRY (NAICS) REPORT 51121 / INFORMATION. IBISWorld. Retrieved from IBISWorld database.

 

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

• Freedonia Focus Reports. (2022, April). Toys & Games: United States. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.

Mergent Online

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

Provides access to US and international public company data. This database also contains data on companies that were acquired, went bankrupt, liquidated or merged out of existence from 1995 forward. Users can compare companies and export data into programs like Excel.

Demographic Data

The resources listed in this section will help you identify population characteristics, and help you develop your customer profile. This research will also help you identify geographic areas where the largest number of your potential customers live. This can be very useful when determining a location for your business, and also when formulating your marketing strategy. Don't forget that trade associations and trade journals collect information about customers and can be great information sources for this area of your research.

 

Statistics Canada Data | Formerly known as CANSIM, Statistics Canada's key socioeconomic database is updated daily. It is free to search the data tables.

 

The Daily - Statistics Canada
The premier source for Canadian statistical information, including census information. Search 'The Daily' releases by subject to identify corresponding census tables, latest news, and publications. Similarly, you can browse by data source, including surveys & questionnaires relevant to your market research, which also link to census tables, latest news and publications.

 

Canadian Household Spending - Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the national statistical office. The agency ensures Canadians have the key information on Canada's economy, society and environment that they require to function effectively as citizens and decision makers.

This table provides statistical information about household expenditures by Canadians broken down into a variety of categories. You can refine the table by region. You can view the full list of data tables here. 

 

Census Profile - Statistics Canada
Provides Canadian community profiles from the latest Census of Canada. These profiles are very useful for comparing statistics on different municipalities or regional districts. Includes details on family characteristics, primary language, mobility, educational attainment, marital status, labour force activity, earnings, and mode of transportation to work.

 

 

Socio-Economic Profiles - BC Stats
The socio-economic profiles consist of charts and tables for the various regional districts, health areas, college regions and school districts. Each region contains a map, demographic profile, economic hardship, labour market structure, education concerns, crime, health problems, children at risk, and youth at risk. The profiles are presented in a format that allows comparison to other regions in the province and to BC overall.

Your Target Market

Library Resources

Access to the following sources may be available through your local public or academic library. For information on how to obtain a library card, and for additional information on using libraries in BC, please visit our Getting Access to Library Resources page.

Marketresearch.com/Freedonia Focus

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

While you can search this website only some Canadian libraries provide full-text access to the market research reports on industries and demographics for North American industries. They can range from 50 to 400+ pages in length, and contain charts, tables, and graphs, and key facts. Marketresearch.com has varied industry coverage and includes US and international information.

• Freedonia Focus Reports. (2022, April). Toys & Games: United States. Marketresearch.com Academic. Retrieved from Marketresearch.com Academic database.

eMarketer

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource. Or, contact your local public or academic library for their access details.

Global market research and trend analysis database that focuses on Internet, e-business, online marketing, media, and emerging technologies.

• Bourne, J. (2022, December 6). Gaming could have a banner year in 2023 thanks to generative AI, VR. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• (2022, September.) US Digital Gamers, 2022-2026. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• (2022, October.) Mobile Gaming Ad Revenues. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Lebow, S. (2022, October 19). The future of video games will be streaming. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Goetzen, N. (2022, June 10). Video Game Marketing and Monetization 2022: Ad Formats and the Metaverse Offer Brand New Opportunities. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Goldman, J. (2022, November 22). As Twitter kills its gaming focus, does that community migrate to Discord, YouTube, or TikTok? eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 
• Sevilla, G. (2022, September 30). Portable consoles, streaming services are biggest opportunities in video games. eMarketer. Retrieved from eMarketer database. 

Passport GMID (formerly Global Market Information Database)

How to access: Check your local public or academic library to see about access. If you are a UBC student, staff or faculty member you can access this resource. Please note this is not available for walk-in library users.

Passport GMID, produced by Euromonitor, is an integrated information system providing business intelligence on country economies and demographics, consumers, lifestyles, companies and industries. 

• (2022). Video Games Software in Canada. Passport. Retrieved from Passport database.
• (2022). Video Games Software in Canada. Passport. Retrieved from Passport database.
• (2022). Video Games in Canada. Passport. Retrieved from Passport database.
• (2022). Video Games Hardware in North America. Passport. Retrieved from Passport database.
• (2022). Video Games Software in North America. Passport. Retrieved from Passport database.

WARC: World Advertising Research Center

How to access: If you are a UBC student, staff, faculty or in-person library visitor you can access this resource.

WARC has case studies from major companies and advertising agencies, as well as articles from leading advertising journals and unpublished papers. It also includes company profiles, advertising spending statistics, and demographic and economic data.

• (2022, October). What we know about marketing via gaming. WARC Best Practices. Retrieved from WARC database.
• 2019, November). What’s working in mobile, apps, and games. WARC Category Intelligence. Retrieved from WARC database.
• (2022, December 2). Forget the metaverse, focus on gaming. WARC Newsfeed. Retrieved from WARC database.
• Clapp, R. (2021, August). Gen Z spend more time gaming than using social media. WARC Data Points (Curated) Retrieved from WARC database.
• Clapp, R. (2021, January). Gaming activity grew quickest among older Americans in 2020. WARC Data Points (Curated) Retrieved from WARC database.
• Clapp, R. (2019, December). Gaming consumption tops nine and a half hours per week. WARC Data Points (Curated) Retrieved from WARC database.

 

Public Opinion Polls

Ipsos
Links to Canadian, U.S. and international polls. Includes polls on consumer goods.

Roper Center for Public Opinion
Preserves the data from polls conducted by many leading survey organizations for the use of researchers, students, and journalists. Includes a section on how to analyze polls. Only for those affiliated with UBC.

 

Primary Research

The main point of this guide is to introduce you to a wide range of secondary market research resources but keep in mind there is great value in analyzing other information including:

• Advertising, blogs and sales brochures
• Your personal network and employees
• Direct observation, focus groups and interviews with potential customers

The Daily - Statistics Canada
The premier source for Canadian statistical information, including census information. Search 'The Daily' releases by subject to identify corresponding census tables, latest news, and publications. Similarly, you can browse by data source, including surveys & questionnaires relevant to your market research, which also link to census tables, latest news and publications.