How Canadians Can Create Their Own Games on iPad

The US-Canada trade war has been a serious concern for both countries, affecting industries from agriculture to technology. Tariffs and trade disputes dominate the headlines. For creative people in Canada, though, there's a bright spot: no-code game development tools like hyperPad let you make your own games on your iPad. In this post, we look at the trade war, how it affects the gaming industry, and why it's a good time for Canadians to try making games on iPad with no code.

The US-Canada Trade War: A Brief Overview

Trade tensions between the US and Canada have led to tariffs on various goods, including steel, aluminum, and even cultural products. For the gaming industry, this could mean higher costs for imported hardware, software, or even licensing fees for popular games. The same challenge gives Canadians a reason to make their own games.

With no-code game development tools, Canadians can get around some of the barriers the trade war creates and build homegrown games. That encourages new ideas and strengthens Canada’s place in the global gaming market. Canada already has a strong video game industry, and Canadian studios have made many well-known games. Here are some of them:

Developed by Canadian Studios:

1. Mass Effect Series (BioWare - Edmonton, Alberta)

• A critically acclaimed sci-fi RPG series.

2. Dragon Age Series (BioWare - Edmonton, Alberta)

• A popular fantasy RPG franchise.

3. Assassin’s Creed Series (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• A globally successful action-adventure stealth series.

4. Far Cry Series (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• Open-world first-person shooter games.

5. Watch Dogs Series (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• Action-adventure games focused on hacking and open-world exploration.

6. Rainbow Six Siege (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• A tactical multiplayer shooter.

7. Child of Light (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• An indie-style RPG with hand-drawn visuals.

8. Outlast Series (Red Barrels - Montreal, Quebec)

• A survival horror series known for its intense atmosphere.

9. Dead by Daylight (Behaviour Interactive - Montreal, Quebec)

• A multiplayer asymmetric survival horror game.

10. The Long Dark (Hinterland Games - Vancouver, British Columbia)

• A survival simulation game set in the wilderness.

11. Celeste (Maddy Makes Games - Vancouver, British Columbia)

• A critically acclaimed indie platformer.

12. Starlink: Battle for Atlas (Ubisoft Toronto - Toronto, Ontario)

• A space exploration and combat game.

13. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• A retro-style beat-'em-up based on the comic and movie.

14. Dauntless (Phoenix Labs - Vancouver, British Columbia)

• A free-to-play action RPG focused on hunting monsters.

Notable Canadian Contributions:

• Canadian studios such as Ubisoft Montreal, BioWare, and EA Vancouver have contributed to major franchises like FIFA, NBA Live, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.
• Canada is also home to many indie developers making original games.

Canada’s game development industry keeps growing, with hubs in Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto, and Edmonton leading the way.

Canadian Contributions to Major Franchises:

1. FIFA Series (EA Vancouver - Vancouver, British Columbia)

• EA Vancouver (formerly EA Canada) is the primary studio behind the FIFA soccer series. It has been developing FIFA games for decades, and the series is one of the most successful sports franchises in gaming history.

2. NBA Live Series (EA Vancouver - Vancouver, British Columbia)

• EA Vancouver also developed the NBA Live basketball series, a staple of sports gaming for years.

3. Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare - Edmonton, Alberta)

• BioWare developed this massively multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG) set in the Star Wars universe. It’s known for its deep storytelling and detailed world-building.

4. Need for Speed Series (EA Vancouver - Vancouver, British Columbia)

• EA Vancouver has contributed to several entries in the Need for Speed racing franchise.

5. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Series (Ubisoft Toronto - Toronto, Ontario)

• Ubisoft Toronto played a significant role in developing Splinter Cell: Blacklist and has contributed to other entries in this stealth-action series.

6. For Honor (Ubisoft Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• A multiplayer action game that pits medieval warriors from different factions (knights, samurai, and vikings) against each other.

7. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos-Montréal - Montreal, Quebec)

• Eidos-Montréal developed this narrative-driven action-adventure game based on the Marvel Comics team.

8. Deus Ex Series (Eidos-Montréal - Montreal, Quebec)

• Eidos-Montréal revived the Deus Ex franchise with Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, both praised for their cyberpunk storytelling and gameplay.

9. Army of Two Series (EA Montreal - Montreal, Quebec)

• A co-op third-person shooter series known for its over-the-top action and customization options.

10. Batman: Arkham Origins (WB Games Montréal - Montreal, Quebec)

• A prequel to the acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, developed by WB Games Montréal.

Key Canadian Game Development Studios:

1. Ubisoft Montreal (Montreal, Quebec)

• One of the largest game studios in the world. Known for Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Rainbow Six Siege.

2. BioWare (Edmonton, Alberta)

• Known for narrative-driven RPGs like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

3. EA Vancouver (Vancouver, British Columbia)

• A major studio behind sports franchises like FIFA, NBA Live, and NHL, as well as the Need for Speed series.

4. Eidos-Montréal (Montreal, Quebec)

• Known for Deus Ex, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and contributions to the Tomb Raider series.

5. Behaviour Interactive (Montreal, Quebec)

• The largest independent game developer in Canada, best known for Dead by Daylight.

6. Red Barrels (Montreal, Quebec)

• An indie studio known for the Outlast horror series.

7. Hinterland Games (Vancouver, British Columbia)

• Developers of The Long Dark, a survival simulation game set in the frozen wilderness.

8. Ubisoft Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)

• A key studio for Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Far Cry 6, and a support studio on other Ubisoft franchises.

9. WB Games Montréal (Montreal, Quebec)

• Developers of Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights.

10. Phoenix Labs (Vancouver, British Columbia)

• Creators of Dauntless, a free-to-play monster-hunting game.

11. Maddy Makes Games (Vancouver, British Columbia)

• An indie studio behind the critically acclaimed platformer Celeste.

Canada’s Growing Indie Game Scene: Canada also has an active indie game community, with studios making original games. Some notable indie titles include:

• A Short Hike (Adam Robinson-Yu - Toronto, Ontario)
• Cuphead (Studio MDHR - Oakville, Ontario)
• Night in the Woods (Infinite Fall - Co-founded by Canadian Alec Holowka)

Canadian studios contribute to both blockbuster franchises and celebrated indie titles.

What Canadians Can Gain From No-Code Game Dev on iPad

No-code tools like hyperPad make game development easier to get into than ever. Here’s why Canadians should consider making their own games on iPad:

1. Affordability: You don't need expensive software or a high-end computer. An iPad is enough to start.
2. Ease of Use: In hyperPad you build with Behaviors, connecting actions and events visually, so you don't need to learn a complex coding language.
3. Portability: Building games on an iPad means you can work from anywhere, whether you’re in Toronto, Vancouver, or the Canadian Rockies.
4. Cultural Representation: When you make your own games, you can tell stories that reflect Canadian culture and perspectives.

Ideas for Canadian Game Developers

Here are some game concepts you could build with a no-code tool like hyperPad:

1. Maple Quest:

Design a platformer where players explore Canadian landscapes, from the Rocky Mountains to the Northern Lights. The hero could be a moose or a beaver collecting maple syrup while avoiding snowstorms and bears.

2. Hockey Hero:

Create a sports game where players manage a hockey team, plan plays, and compete in tournaments. Use hyperPad’s drag-and-drop Behaviors to build realistic gameplay mechanics and animations.

3. Trade War Tycoon

Develop a simulation game where players navigate the US-Canada trade war. As a business owner, the player makes strategic decisions to survive tariffs, negotiate deals, and grow the company.

4. Northern Lights:

Build a puzzle game set in the Canadian wilderness, where players solve environmental challenges to uncover the mysteries of the Northern Lights. Incorporate Indigenous storytelling and art for a culturally rich experience.

How to Get Started with No-Code Game Dev on iPad

With hyperPad, you can make your own games without any prior coding experience. Here’s how to get started:

1. Download hyperPad: hyperPad is a no-code game development app for iPad, available on the App Store.
2. Explore Tutorials: hyperPad offers tutorials and resources to help beginners learn the basics of game design.
3. Design Your Game: Add Objects for your characters and levels, then use Behaviors to build the gameplay.
4. Test and Share: Playtest your game on your iPad and improve it. Then publish it to the hyperPad Hub to share with friends, or export it to the App Store.

The Benefits of No-Code Game Dev for Canadians

• Economic Independence: When Canadians make their own games, they rely less on imported software and contribute to the local economy.
• Creative Freedom: No-code tools make it easy to experiment with new ideas and bring them to life.
• Community Building: Canadian game developers can collaborate and share their work, which builds a supportive community.

The US-Canada trade war brings challenges, and it also gives Canadians a reason to take charge of their creative futures. With no-code tools like hyperPad, you can make your own games on your iPad, work around some of the trade war's limits, and show off Canadian culture and talent.

Whether you’re an experienced developer or a complete beginner, it's a good time to start making games on iPad. Try hyperPad Starter free. When you want more projects and App Store export, upgrade to hyperPad for a one-time USD $14.99. You keep 100% of your revenue.

Let’s turn challenges into opportunities and show the world what Canadian creativity can do.