Where is GMT-7 Time Zone?
As a gaming content creator who has connected with players across the world, I‘ve gotten quite familiar with the intricacies of time zones. One lesser known region – the GMT-7 time zone – has continued to fascinate me with its vibrant gaming culture.
For those unaware, the GMT-7 region encompasses the westernmost states and provinces of North America, situated along the Pacific coast. This includes cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Tijuana – all major gaming hubs.
Epicenter of the Gaming Universe: Regions in GMT-7
The GMT-7 time zone accounts for 10% of the global gaming market, with popular titles like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft boasting millions of players here. Specifically, GMT-7 covers:
[info-graphic map showing GMT-7 zones in North America]With tech giants like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft headquartered here alongside pioneers like Atari and Electronic Arts, it‘s no wonder GMT-7 has firmly cemented itself as a gaming industry nexus.
Spotlight on Major Gaming Cities
Let‘s shine the spotlight on some standout GMT-7 cities that have cultivated thriving gaming ecosystems:
Los Angeles: With E3 Expo and LA Games Conference held annually, LA solidifies itself as the gaming epicenter of the West Coast. The city‘s world-class internet infrastructure allows streamers and pros to play without lag.
Vancouver: Vancouver‘s gaming scene is growing exponentially, with companies like EA Canada producing AAA titles here. The city‘s visual arts schools also graduate top-tier designers and animators each year to feed into the industry.
Las Vegas: Beyond just casinos, Las Vegas hosts the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) West each year for gamers to celebrate together. It also attracts esports tournaments and has multiple dedicated esports arenas for competitive play.
Overall, the concentrated talent and technological capabilities make GMT-7 an ideal location for gaming companies to thrive. The region likely produces the collective highest gaming revenue in the world – no wonder this time zone seems to churn out the most gaming superstars!
How GMT-7 Compares to Other Time Zones
To demonstrate how GMT-7 fits in globally, here‘s a quick comparison to other major time zones:
As you can see, GMT-7 stands uniquely positioned between Asia‘s gaming hubs and Europe/NA. This means peak gaming times have high overlap between GMT-7 and foreign zones.
However, a 7+ hour difference with Europe does cause some mismatch between Western tournament times. As an esports broadcaster, I‘ve had to adjust my stream timing week-to-week to maximize both NA and EU viewership.
It‘s a fun challenge to connect our global gaming community across time zones! With the rise of cloud gaming and mobile titles, I foresee access barriers continuing to breakdown.
Impacts of Daylight Savings on Gaming
One quirk of being in GMT-7 is having to adjust to Daylight Savings twice per year…
[article continues]Hope you enjoyed this deep dive into my home timezone – GMT-7! Let me know in comments if you‘d like me to analyze any other gaming regions across the world.
