Ubisoft experts will assess applicants’ skills via an online game design contest at www.toomuchimagination.ca, which includes a series of interactive tests designed to measure candidates’ video game design skills. Participants’ logic, creative thinking, and memory will be put to the test with questions dreamed up by the Ubisoft designers themselves. 

In 2006, this original and creative approach proved to be an excellent recruitment strategy for Ubisoft. The first edition of TOOMUCHIMAGINATION.CA paved the way to 350 new hires between September 2006 and June 2007.

Ensuring the labor force – a serious challenge
“Techno Compétences estimates that, in Québec alone, there will be a 28 percent increase in video game industry workforce objectives for 2008. This situation creates a challenging environment to meet our hiring needs, given that the demand far exceeds the supply,” noted Yannis Mallat, chief executive officer of Ubisoft’s Montréal studio. “Fierce competition has pushed us to develop new tools with an original and interactive approach that reflect how highly we value creativity and innovation in order to attract video game industry veterans and interest young graduates in joining our team.”

In February 2007, Ubisoft unveiled its Horizon 2013 plan for growth, which includes the creation of more than 1,000 new positions by 2013, bringing the total number of creators in the Montréal and Québec City studios to 3,000. TOOMUCHIMAGINATION.CA is in line with the company’s intention to continue its expansion in the video game industry and through its new digital cinema creation studio, Ubisoft Digital Arts.
Events, school visits, and new tools
The TOOMUCHIMAGINATION.CA recruitment tour will take place over a four-month period, from September 20 to January 15, 2008. The Ubisoft team will actively participate in several major events, including the //ADAPT Conference (www.adaptmontreal.com), the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (www.nouveaucinema.ca), the ARCADIA Festival (www.festivalarcadia.com), the Montreal International Game Summit (http://www.sijm.ca/en), the Toronto Independent Game Developers Conference (www.torontoigc.com) and the Game Design Expo of the Vancouver Film School (www.gamedesignexpo.com/partners/).

Because the future of the industry is currently in the classrooms, Ubisoft will also visit 35 schools across the country. (A complete list of schools is available on the web site at www.toomuchimagination.ca.)

“Besides being a recrutement tool, TOOMUCHIMAGINATION.CA is also an educational and information tool for young people who are interested in working in the video game industry,” added Mallat. “The crafts in our industry are becoming increasingly complex and specialized. Meeting with students in their own environment will enable us to provide answers to their questions and discuss with them the many possibilities that are available to them.”