If you want to get into gaming, move to the West Coast...

I've heard this over and over again. If you want to be part of the gaming industry, move to the west coast.

I've heard it from friends in the industry, I heard it from community managers at PAX.

But to that I say "NAY! I will NOT move to the west! I will make games HERE in the EAST!"

It's true, most of the publishers, and most of the dev houses are on the west coast. But I'm a New Yorker thru and thru. I won't let a little detail like "location of jobs" get in the way!

And I don't think that "all" of the jobs will remain located in the West anyway. We've got a small, but rapidly growing set of Indies, small companies, and social media based game houses over here on the East.

We've got a lot going on, and most of all, we've got the talent.. the knack, to just take the plunge and risk it all (Or is that just me?). The West coast might have Silicon Valley. I vote for the name "Silicon Village" on the East.

And judging by the meetup groups getting bigger and bigger over here, I'm certain we will be a force to be reckoned with.

That is, of course, if the West doesn't snatch up all the talent! *Cough* Cataclyst *Cough*