IO member
Membership Benefits
Connection
Connect with peers.
Join our network of industry professionals collaborating, and sharing knowledge and experiences.
Advocacy
Have your voice heard.
Alongside our members, we work diligently to influence legislation and government policy that matter to your business.
Insights
Be in the know.
Get information and insights that matter to you and equip your business for long term success.
Resources
Access valuable resources. Whether it is funding resources, programs, research, or discounts, we provide resources that help your business.
Membership Levels – Annual
All membership fees are tax-deductible business expenses (IO Membership Fees).
All annual membership tiers now offer the flexibility of multiple pre-planned payments, ranging from 1-12 payments throughout the year.
Build
$500
Membership fees are tax-deductible business expenses (IO Membership Fees).
Is your studio under two years old? You may be eligible for a FREE IO Build Membership. Contact our team at membership@interactiveontario.com
Access our Funding Assistance Database
Receive free access to our semi-monthly Indie Superboost Talks
Join peers on IO Discord’s exclusive Member Channels
Get exclusive member discounts on IO programming and select partners services and industry events
Be in the know through tailored communications
Get IO’s Seal of Membership
Access to IO industry committees and task forces
Expand
$1k – $7.5k
Membership fees are tax deductible business expenses (IO Membership Fees).
- Everything in Build and…
Exclusive participation in IO’s annual VIP reception with senior decision makers and industry leaders
Exclusive access to policy discussions on the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
Priority participation in policy discussions on topics shaping the IDM sector, such as regulatory developments, labour, AI policy, and government support
Exclusive participation in IO’s Impact Forum, an annual in-person policy forum (format may shift to virtual policy discussions to ensure maximum accessibility and impact)
Priority access to IO’s advisory and referral services
Torchbearer
$10k
Membership fees are tax deductible business expenses (IO Membership Fees).
- Everything in Expand and…
The opportunity to become a Torchbearer for the video game and interactive digital media (IDM) industry in Ontario.
- You are committed to Ontario becoming a leading jurisdiction worldwide in video games and IDM.
- You are ready to work with IO to advocate for business conditions that will foster investments and job creation.
- You want to actively contribute to the growth of the whole ecosystem in the Province.
Get enhanced collaboration on government relations initiatives
Be first in line for partnership initiatives and opportunities to engage with the industry
Be recognized for your efforts with prominent branding on IO’s website.
Join IO’s group of Torchbearers.
Contact torchbearers@interactiveontario.com to inquire about becoming a Torchbearer.
| Features | Build | Expand | Torchbearer |
|---|---|---|---|
Access our exclusive Funding Assistance Database |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Receive free access to monthly Indie Superboost Talks | ✅ | ❎ | ❎ |
| Join peers on IO Discord’s exclusive Member Channels | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Get exclusive member discounts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Be in the know through tailored communications |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Get IO’s Seal of Membership |
✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to IO industry committees and task forces | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Exclusive participation in IO’s annual VIP reception with senior decision makers and industry leaders | ✅ | ✅ | |
Exclusive access to policy discussions on the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) |
✅ | ✅ | |
| Priority participation in policy discussions on topics shaping the IDM sector, such as regulatory developments, labour, AI policy, and government support | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Exclusive participation in IO’s Impact Forum, an annual in-person policy forum (format may shift to virtual policy discussions to ensure maximum accessibility and impact) | ✅ | ✅ | |
Get priority access to IO’s advisory and reference services |
✅ | ✅ | |
| Become a Torchbearer for the video game and interactive digital media (IDM) industry in Ontario | ✅ | ||
| Get enhanced collaboration on government relations initiatives | ✅ | ||
| Be first in line for partnership initiatives and opportunities ot engage with the industry | ✅ | ||
| Be recognized for your efforts with prominent branding on IO’s website | ✅ |
IO’s Discord server is where the video game and interactive digital media community engage with each other. Members receive privileged access to specific members-only channels, including funding centric spaces (eg. OIDMTC, CMF, Ontario Creates). All these areas are designed to help IO members collaborate with one another by sharing tips and experiences, discussing strategy, and fostering community growth in Ontario.
The Lodgge by IO is the home to all things video game and interactive digital media in Ontario. We showcase games, projects, studios, jobs, events and talent from throughout Ontario. We prioritize our members and work with them to enhance their visibility and recognition throughout the industry with news stories, announcements, jobs, podcast guests, and more.
We offer exclusive discounts for members to attend and participate in all IO branded events & programs. Our partners also offer discounts to IO members on events, products and services.
IO’s industry committees and task forces are put together from time to time to guide IO programming and advocacy efforts. Participation in committees is exclusive to IO members and board directors.
IO offers industry-leading programs designed to equip video game and interactive digital media companies that are past their early-stage phase with the tools and knowledge needed to prosper.
Everything above as well as the opportunity to become a Torchbearer for the video game and interactive digital media (IDM) industry in Ontario.
- You are committed to Ontario becoming a leading jurisdiction worldwide in video games and IDM.
- You are ready to work with IO to advocate for business conditions that will foster investments and job creation.
- You want to actively contribute to the growth of the whole ecosystem in the Province.
✓ Get enhanced collaboration on government relations initiatives.
✓ Be first in line for partnership initiatives and opportunities to engage with the industry.
✓ Be recognized for your efforts with prominent branding on IO’s website.
Join IO’s group of Torchbearers.
Contact torchbearers@interactiveontario.com to inquire about becoming a Torchbearer.
Receive free access to monthly Indie Superboost Talks
Indie Superboost is an industry-led effort that brings talent together for candid, in-depth, and authentic conversations. Share stories, ask questions and come through the realities of succeeding as a sustainable indie studio.
The Indie Superboost Committee is planning 10 themed meetings online for 2022. Each Indie Superboost event will be facilitated by an Expert Guest to answer tough questions and boost the quality of information shared.
Discounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Interactive Ontario (IO) is the not-for-profit trade association representing the video game and interactive digital media (IDM) industry in Ontario.
IO is driven by its Mission to inspire, unite and enable Ontario’s Video Game and Interactive Digital Media community to achieve long-term growth and prosperity.
IO works with industry on advocacy issues that matter. Some IO wins over the last 2 years:
- Getting a commitment from the Ontario government – during the 2021 Fall Economic Statement delivered by Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy – that they will continue to explore opportunities to work with the digital media industry to attract more investment and create jobs in Ontario. This is the direct result of meetings IO has had over the last months with high-level politicians to discuss our industry and its opportunities.
- Lowering the labour threshold for annual filing to the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) from $1M to $500K.
- Reducing the OIDMTC queue and accelerating processing time.
- Getting a commitment from Minister MacLeod to keep the OIDMTC stable.
- Providing recommendations contributing to improvements of the Ontario Creates Interactive Digital Media Fund (IDM Fund) and the Canada Media Fund (CMF) programs.
- Resolving a thorny issue for the industry with the CMF re. its insurance requirements.
- Instigating the creation of the Phase 2 COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for the IDM industry (CMF and Canadian Heritage).
- Significantly raising awareness of our industry at all levels of governments.
IO collaborates with all industry stakeholders incl. fellow provincial organizations under the Canadian Interactive Alliance / l’Alliance Interactive Canadienne (CIAIC) as well as the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) to further our industry.
IO provides business development opportunities to the industry via a unique funding resources database, missions, B2B events, an industry directory and personal connections.
IO connects the industry via its Discord and events.
IO provides professional development opportunities via specialized programs and talks.
IO promotes the industry to key stakeholders and via our newly launched www.thelodgge.com, where we celebrate and raise awareness of our industry with news, podcasts, Twitch events, jobs, industry events and a unique Ontario games library.
And more as described in the membership table.
Members of Interactive Ontario are businesses producing interactive digital media (IDM) content in Ontario.
They are video game studios producing video games for various platforms (eg. mobile, PC, consoles) and genres.
They are also IDM studios producing interactive entertainment, edutainment and elearning applications such as at-home or location-based immersive (VR, AR, XR) experiences, interactive or immersive documentaries, and interactive or immersive elearning content
Interactive Ontario designed its membership model according to the life cycle of companies. Most early-stage studios find the value they are looking for at the Build level, while established or scaling-up studios find it at the Expand level.
There are 6 tiers within Expand. The price for each tier is based on the average estimated number of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) annually.
- 1-10 FTEs: $1000
- 11-20 FTEs: $1500
- 21-40 FTEs: $2000
- 41- 60 FTEs: $3000
- 61-100 FTEs:$4000
- 101+ FTEs: $7500
FTEs are used by IO because companies in the video game and interactive digital media sector employ a mix of full-time and part-time employees, as well as independent freelancers. Therefore, the number of average annual FTEs is a better indication of a company’s revenue/financial resources, than the number of full-time employees.
As an example, if a company’s work-week is 40-hour long and it employs 7 full-time employees, 3 part-time employees working 20 hours per week each, 2 freelancers working 40 hours per week each, and 6 freelancers working 10 hours per week each, then the company employs 12 FTEs.
IO recognizes that FTEs fluctuate throughout the year and that the calculation of FTEs for IO membership purposes is not an exact science. The goal is to be fair to others in the industry. With that in mind, just do your best at estimating your average annual FTEs.
Suppliers of products and services
Become an IO partner to reach out to our members with your products and services.
Contact us at partners@interactiveontario.com to inquire about partnership opportunities.
Academic institutions
Contact us at academia@interactiveontario.com to inquire about partnership opportunities.
Promotional and event partners
Contact us at communications@interactiveontario.com to offer discounts to IO members and discuss cross-promotion opportunities.
Still have questions? Contact membership@interactiveontario.com.