Exclusive places for WiG for The Guardian’s GameCamp

Bobbie Johnson and I, plus ARG developer Six to Start’s Adrian and Dan Hon, plus Bibrick’s Rachel Clarke plus TheDaveGreen would like to open an invitation to WiG and its friends to come and join us at GameCamp - the first games-specific unconference in the UK.

We’re opening up 10 places to WiG (secret password: WIG) for the event, which takes place on 3 May in trendy East London, and they must be claimed by Monday 21 April, so register your interest asap!

What the heck am I on about? Keep reading for more more more…

THE BASICS
==========

What: One-day event about games and play
When: Saturday May 3, 11am – 5.30pm
Where: 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR
How: Bring your imagination and something you’d like to talk about
Why: Why not?

WHAT IS GAMECAMP?
==================

GameCamp is a free, public one-day event for people interested in gaming and play. The objective is simple: to talk informally with like-minded people and get excited about stuff involving games of all kinds.

WHAT GAMECAMP ISN’T
===================

GameCamp is NOT a business networking event, and it’s NOT a chance to pitch ideas – although you might meet people you’d like to work with.

WHERE IS GAMECAMP?
==================

GameCamp will be held between 11am and 5.30pm on Saturday May 3rd at 3Rooms in the Spitalfields area of London. It’s about 10 minutes away from Liverpool Street, Whitechapel or Aldgate East Tube stations.

HOW GAMECAMP WORKS
======================

GameCamp is a communal “unconference” run along the principles of BarCamp.

That means EVERYBODY is encouraged to join in and be ready to give a talk, take part in a discussion or run a session.

We let you decide what the order of the day is: in the morning, once everyone has registered, you’ll get a chance to add your session to The Grid – the editable conference schedule that’s posted on a wall at the venue. This cacophony of blu-tac and sheets of A4 paper will list all the rooms and times that are available for the day, letting everyone see at a glance which sessions are coming up, and decide on the ones they’re most interested in attending.

The sessions are arranged as half-hour blocks split across several rooms, with 15 minute breaks between each period. We’ll take a 45 minute break for lunch at about 1.30pm and will convene at the end of the day to wrap things up.

Running a session doesn’t mean you need to prepare a speech – remember, the day is meant to be informal and fun – but you should have a good idea of the subjects you are interested in. This is a chance to try things out, to try new ideas, NOT just to run through the same presentation you’ve used before.

You might want to talk about something you’ve been working on, but we don’t necessarily need to know how great your latest game is. In fact, some of the best presentations at BarCamps have avoided pitches altogether. Like ‘How To Make A World-Class Martini (with tasting session)’. You might want to organise your session around the best Guitar Hero techniques, your top Open Source Game picks, or your latest theory on game design. We like people who are prepared to get stuck in, try new things and bring some fun to proceedings.

IS THERE MORE?
==============

Full details are available on The Guardian website!

WiG 2008: Call for Speakers and Papers!

The Women in Games Conference 2008, which Microsoft is helping to organise, is now issuing a call for speakers and submission of papers!The conference will be held at Warwick University on the 10th – 12th September 2008. If you would like to know more, please visit the Women in Games website.

The goal of the conference is to promote careers for women within the games industry. If games are to become a true sibling medium to music and cinema, the industry needs greater balance in its audience and its workforce. How can more women be encouraged to get into games? How can female perspectives provide fresh gameplay experiences? The Women In Games Conference 2008 aims to answer these questions.

Keep reading for the Call for Papers:

Women in Games 2008 Themes

Here they are, hot off the presses, the Women in Games 2008 conference themes!
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/* 0001 Dressing up programming - is this the way to go? ———————————- */
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/*
Initiatives have been launched to encourage people (read girls) to do programming without realising that they are doing anything ‘hard’, and then they perhaps appreciate that it wasn’t as hard as they thought.
What initiatives are out there? Do these work? Do they have credence? Do they hide the realities of what programming is?
*/
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/* 0010 Perception of Games Industry - what is it like to work in games? —————— */
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/*
Working in the games industry is more mature than many people might imagine, and does involve a lot of hard work. It requires people to work together as a team and communicate effectively.
How does this compare with the outside world’s perception? How does it compare to other creative industries of film or music? How can we change that perception if it is wrong?
*/
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/* 0011 Technology in schools - why do girls get turned off? —————————— */
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/*
Encouraging girls to study technology is fundamental to increasing the number of women in the games industry. What is happening in schools to result in very few girls coming out of school with Computer Science, fewer still studying at degree level, before finally only a trickle of women are attracted to working in the games industry? How does this compare with other countries?
*/
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/* 0100 Development and Play - do women do it differently? ——————————– */
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/*
What are the different perspectives that women bring to both playing and the design and development of games? How much is it just more of the same; what are the differences in how they play, what they produce and how they go about it?
*/
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/* 0101 Education for Games, Games for Education —————————————— */
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/*
What skills are needed to work in the games industry? Are they provided by higher education, and are they options taken up by women?
How are games used in education? What is the current state of play? Is this approach (and the types of games used) equally attractive and educationally beneficial to men and women?
*/
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/* 0110 Seriously applying games for fun and profit ————————————— */
/* —————————————————————————————- */
/*
How is the growth of the serious games sector impacting industry and research? What does the future hold for game powered applications and will they still be fun? How are women expressing themselves in this space? In what ways are games pervading our culture and what implications does this have for the future?
*/

Byron Report is released

The government’s independent review of the effects of videogames and the internet on kids and young people was released today.

Authored by child psychologist ‘and mother of two’ Dr. Tanya Byron, the Byron Review aims to support the government in their approach to game and online content understanding and regulation. From the Executive Summary:

Hardly a day goes by without a news report about children being brutalised and abused in the real world or its virtual counterpart. Some make links between what happens online or in a game, and what happens on the streets or at home.These headlines have contributed to the climate of anxiety that surrounds new technology and created a
fiercely polarised debate in which panic and fear often drown out evidence. The resultant clamour distracts
from the real issue and leads to children being cast as victims rather than participants in these new,
interactive technologies.

The games industry has been waiting with bated breath for this since it was announced by the Prime Minister late last year, and over the six months since, there has been a mountain of speculation about the outcomes - and about the author herself. Her press diary is booked up completely, but there will be an interview on next week’s Tech Weekly podcast. I’m also attending a press Q&A next week where industry will have the opportunity to speak with Dr. Byron.

If there’s anything you’d like me to ask, please do add it to the comments below.

If you would like to read the report, you can download it from The Guardian, or from the DFES.

Another London Women in Games Event

Games for Girls

When? 26th March, 6-9pm
Where? Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE
How much? FREE – but booking essential, via the website www.createkx.org.uk
Japanese women have overtaken their male counterparts to become the biggest users of Nintendo’s Wii and DS machines in a seismic shift that the company said would “transform the video games industry”. Leo Lewis, The Guardian

Girl? Geek? Gamer? None of the above? If you’re already in the industry or considering a move to the sector then join us.

As Japanese women overtake men as the main users of Wii and DS, what is the future for women and the games industry? We’ll be holding a lively discussion on the changing role of women in games, from some very different perspectives. You’ll also have a chance to stick your own oar in.

Hot topics will include:

• The Future of Gaming: How is software/content changing? Are women playing a fundamental role in its development? And will current changes make the sector a more popular choice for the next generation?
• A Different Perspective: What are the qualities which women can offer in design, development, management, leadership and steering?
• The Road to Success: in a growing industry with such diverse skills requirements, what are the necessary skills, opportunities and rewards?
• The Female Factor: Matthew Jeffery, Head of European Recruitment at EA Games advised responding to growing skills shortages by attracting talent from other new industries - particularly women. Should there be more incentives for women to work in games? Is it really beneficial to target women separately? Should we stop focussing on gender, or is it the best way to ensure continued innovation in the industry?

And the most important part follows: Wine, nibbles and chat.

Speakers:

Toby Barnes
Executive Producer, Pixel-lab

Emmeline Dobson
Game Designer, Nik Nak Games

Divinia Knowles
Head Of Operations, Financial Controller, Mind Candy

Sandi Kurkdjian
Partner, Harbottle & Lewis, lawyers specialising in media and entertainment law.
Steering Committee, Women In Games

Academic outcome from WiG2007

We are proud to announce publication of a selection of papers arising from WiG2007 in a special Gender and Games section in issue 2 of the online games studies journal Eludamos (http://www.eludamos.org).

Many thanks to all our contributors and an especial thank you to my co-editors, Gareth Schott and Barry Atkins.

We continue with our ongoing publication plans for the Women in Games conference in a number of avenues to ensure that the work offered at the events reach the widest possible audience.

Birds Eye View Women’s Film Festival 2008

BIRDS EYE VIEW ANNOUNCE THEIR LONDON FESTIVAL,
MARCH 6TH – 14TH 2008, AT THE ICA AND BFI SOUTHBANK,
PLUS AN EXCITING MIX OF EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY DURING 2008
www.birds-eye-view.co.uk

What, Where and When?

From March 6th-14th 2008, Birds Eye View will be showcasing a programme of innovative and inspirational shorts, features and documentaries from women all over the world, screening at leading London film venues (mainly the Institute of Contemporary Arts and the BFI Southbank). Special features of the 2008 festival programme include:

Clowning Glories: Women in Film Comedy before 1930, BFI Southbank
Keen to address the question of the under-representation of women in comedy, and the implications this has for the entertainment world, Birds Eye View will programme a retrospective celebrating early women pioneers in silent comedy: the directors, the writers and the performers who – much more so than today - brought personality and creative direction to the films. Filmmakers and stars in the programme so far include; Dorothy Arzner, Clara Bow, Mary Pickford, Marion Davies, Agnes Christine Johnston and Ossi Oswalda. There will be discussion and debate on these issues, and some of the UK’s leading contemporary female comics will introduce screenings, including Jo Brand. Female musicians will play live soundtracks to the films – including Mercury nominated Zoe Rahman (and female vocal group Juice), Nikki Yeoh, Alcyona, Jean Hasse, Jane Gardner and ‘twice Grammy nominated’ Imogen Heap. In partnership with the BFI the festival has confirmed In Conversation with Victoria Wood, an evening event taking place on March 11th.

Screwball Women: The golden age of Hollywood comediennes, BFI Southbank
To tie in with Birds Eye View festival, the BFI Southbank will run a programme of brilliant classic comedies throughout the month of March. Films include; She Done Him Wrong (Mae West), It Happened One Night, My Man Godfrey, Stage Door (Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers), Bringing up baby (Katherine Hepburn), The Women (Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell), His Girl Friday (Rosalind Russell), The Philadelphia Story (Katherine Hepburn), The Lady Eve, Love Crazy, To Be Or Not To Be, Born Yesterday (Judy Holliday), and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Marilyn Monroe).

Innovation
This part of the Festival will focus on new and innovative uses of moving image, from interactive mobile phone art to video games, music videos and VJing. These include:
- Women in Video Games: a panel discussion with leading women from the very male dominated games industry (Emma Westecott, Organiser - Women in Games 2007 conference, Katie Ellwood - games designer and filmmaker, Gabrielle Kent, Games Designer, Animex Festival Game Director), a masterclass on screenwriting for games by Katie Ellwood and a showcase of the work of women video games designers on consoles in the ICA bar.
- Women in Music Videos (showcasing the latest works by Alma Ha’rel, Kinga Burza, Kim Gehrig, Sophie Muller, Shelly Lore, Kim Albright and many more)

What’s it like to be a woman in the games industry?

Two of our intrepid WiG 2008 hosts were recently featured in an iCast at the University of Warwick, discussing this very question. Three cheers for Nicola and Sara!
Sez Nicola:

I just wanted to let you know that Sara and I took part in a ‘ Warwick iCast’, a video which is part of “a project to develop an internet video service for the University of Warwick focussed on the promotion of research, science and business activity”. The iCast was about women in the gaming industry and was filmed at Rare at the end of November, and featured myself, Sara, George Kelion (PR guy at Rare), Nathan (a CS lecturer at Warwick ) and Becca (a CS student at Warwick ). We were basically discussing various issues / experiences.

Well it’s gone live! Check it out and tell us what you think.

Bangor’s bitchin’

A couple of top items from Astrid at Bangor:

2 things you may be interested in on behalf of WiG:1. a games/VE conference we’re organising here at Bangor’s Creative Industries: ‘Creating Second Lives: Reading and Writing Virtual Communities’, 24-25 October 2008. Check out the Call for Papers.

2. a conference report on WiG 2007 by myself, which has just been published in ‘Creative Industries Journal’ (intellect) - very short but promotion all the same…

Delish! Thanks Astrid!

Women Who Tech Telesummit announced

My lovely facebook friend Camille sent me info on this event, it looks interesting especially with the O’Reilly links and I will certainly be attending.

Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2008 brings you everything you need.

xx ems

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Subject: Save the Date for Women Who Tech Telesummit

We have a date for the Women Who Tech Telesummit - March 31, 2008. So pass it along to all the women you know.

We are still nailing down an agenda filled with thought provoking panels and great speakers. Speaking of panels, we would love to hear your ideas on panel topics. Will you send me your suggestions at Allyson@womenwhotech.com? You can also post them to the discussion board on our facebok group. Thanks!

250 women have joined our facebook group. That’s a great start but I know there are a lot more women who work in tech and online communications that should be a part of our group. Will you help grow our Facebook group? A couple of quick things you can do to help.

1. Invite all of your women techy friends to join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6280434323 or our website at http://www.womenwhotech.com/

2. Post Women Who Tech Telesummit info on your blog and appropriate listservs.