Metro Orlando’s Digital Media Industry
 

What most people know about Metro Orlando starts and stops at the region’s world-class entertainment industry. But take Orlando’s leading entertainment industry, fuse it with technology and you get the convergence of several established fields in the region—including modeling, simulation and training; film and television production; theme park/ride show entertainment; and interactive and immersive entertainment. Together, these industries are collectively referred to as the “digital media” industry which is fueling the region’s economic growth.

From the creation of one of the world’s top selling video games (EA Sports Madden Football) to developing video games for multiple platforms to enhancing online gaming and more, Metro Orlando is where over 400 production companies engaged in digital media can be found. Among them:

  • Blue Orb, Inc. – creates innovative products that enhance the online gaming experience seamlessly integrate gaming and text messaging
  • Ceropia Inc. – enhances interactive entertainment with the invention of personality animation
  • Digitec Productions – offers full-service media production providing interactive services, film, video and audio production and post-production.
  • Electronic Arts (EA) – produces one of the world’s top selling video games, EA Sports Madden Football, among numerous other best selling titles
  • i.d.e.a.s – produces entertainment, learning and marketing content for media and immersive platforms.
  • Indra Systems, Inc. – specializes in information technologies, simulation/ automatic maintenance systems and defense electronic equipment.
  • n-Space, Inc. – designs, develops and markets innovative video games for multiple platforms
  • NBC Universal

Recognizing the demands to meet an increasing workforce for digital media companies, leaders in Metro Orlando worked together to form the University of Central Florida’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA). The school—located in downtown Orlando’s new “Creative Village”—was formed to give talented people a team-based, industry-led education, which best prepares them to succeed in the interactive entertainment industries. Here, a master’s degree for students going into the interactive entertainment/gaming industry is offered.

In addition, Full Sail Real World Education is based here. Geared toward the entertainment industry, this university has a round-the-clock schedule and offers numerous degree programs, ranging from associates, bachelors and masters level degrees. Students here are immersed in a “real world” entertainment setting and go to classes upwards of 40 hours per week.

In total, more than 7,500 students in higher education annually enroll in digital media programs throughout the Metro Orlando region. In addition to programs at FIEA and Full Sail, programs are offered at:

  • Valencia Community College
  • Daytona Beach Community College
  • Digital Animation & Visual Effects (DAVE) School
  • International Academy of Design and Technology – Orlando

Several major recent announcements further bolster Metro Orlando’s reputation as a dynamic hub for film production and digital media development.

  • A major player establishes presence in region. Los Angeles-based motion capture studio, House of Moves, recently announced expansion plans into Metro Orlando. The nationally-recognized company will design and equip the only professional motion capture studio on the East Coast with fully integrated film, video and audio facilities. House of Moves will serve as the cornerstone for a “Creative Village”—made up of digital media and creative arts companies and schools—in downtown Orlando. The company will begin operations in Orlando by the fall.
  • Orlando companies team up to help college and pro football teams with strategy. XOS Technologies, a leader in technology-based athlete training and game analysis, recently announced it is teaming with video game giant Electronic Arts to develop a training simulator for college and pro football teams. XOS will use the core technology of EA Sports' football video game franchises (including Madden NFL 07 and NCAA Football 07 which are developed at EA’s Tiburon Studio in Metro Orlando) to power its new “PlayAction Simulator.” This advanced simulation system will allow teams to customize their game preparation to replicate the tendencies of their coming week’s opponent.
  • New incentives for digital media projects. Florida is serious about continuing growth of our digital media industry. The Don Davis Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act, which goes into effect on July 1, creates a $25 million incentive for film and entertainment and includes, and for the very first time, an allocation for digital media projects.

For more about Metro Orlando’s digital media industry, visit the “industry strengths” section of www.OrlandoEDC.com.