Women in Games sits happily between the academy and the industry. Both worlds come together in our network to address the challenges at hand in addressing the gender gap in our beloved games culture.

Earlier this year I was invited to edit a special edition of Routledge’s Digital Creativity Journal for Women in Games. The journal is now online at

http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=issue&issn=1462-6268&volume=20&issue=4

An academically-accredited peer-reviewed journal publication is important for the network as by gaining this type of public recognition it becomes easier to access research funds for ongoing activities.

The WiG steering committee is a volunteer group that works with and beyond the WiG events to provide an ongoing resource for all those interested and engaged with this work.

I’d particularly like to thank all the contributors to the journal for their tireless work in creating this Special Edition over the summer and also all those we couldn’t fit in. Well done everybody!

Women in Games are thrilled to welcome Catherine Woolley as this year’s guest blogger for our involvement with this year’s Develop in July and DiGRA in September. In return for free passes to the events she will be representing the WiG network and live blogging both events for this site.

Catherine has just graduated from The University of Wales, Newport with a 1st Class Honours degree in Computer Games Design.

*** NEWS FLASH ***

Women in Games are in need of a UK-based student blogger to cover this year’s events at both Develop 2009 in Brighton in July and DiGRA 2009 at Brunel in September. In return for live blogging, photographing and general networking at both these events, the WiG steering committee are able to offer free student passes to both events. In order to apply for this unique opportunity please email enquiries@womeningames.com asap (i.e. before June 28th) with a 250-word reason why we should choose you.

Please forward to interested colleagues and related networks..

In partnership with DIGRA 2009, Women in Games are honoured to issue a
general call for papers to be presented at this year’s DIGRA event at
Brunel. All information about submission available at
http://digra2009.newport.ac.uk.

Women in Games 2009 @ DIGRA 2009
Call for Abstracts
Submission deadline: Friday April 3rd 2009

Currently in its fifth year, Women in Games (http://www.womeningames.com) is
an annual conference with the distinct aim of highlighting the most recent,
groundbreaking work in computer game research and development to both
academic and industrial worlds. WiG has consistently addressed the
empowerment and professional development of women working in, and
researching into, games and the games industry. In 2009 with the objective
of widening the audience and reach of the initiative WiG is running a series
of activities in parallel with key games events, both academic and industry,
to deliver focussed work to the wider community.

To date the themes addressed by feminist game studies can be broadly themed
in work on gendered activity in digital games and feminine preference in
play style and game characteristics. Other key studies look to gender equity
in game making and to the wider context of access to games. From Brenda
Laurel’s work in the early 90s onwards (long pre-dating any such thing as
games studies); critics, commentators and the academy have offered theories
and observations on the difference in play habits, styles and consumption of
digital gaming exhibited by women and girls. Yet well into our second decade
of work in this area what can we say we have learnt?

We believe that the time is ripe to return to core values in discussions
around histories, difference and generation in game space.

For more information please contact enquiries@womeningames.com.

WiG2008 workshop leader Fiona French recently reminded me about the forthcoming Global Game Jam event to be held simultaneously around the world at the end of this month. The intention of this excellent  IGDA Education SIG initiative is to bring people together to make games over a weekend. We encourage anyone interested in games development to contact your local event and sign up. UK-based events are due to take place in Glasgow, London and at my own institution in Newport, Wales.

I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the weekend’s work, good luck everyone.

The wonderful Celia Pearce forwarded me an invitation to a facebook group setup for this initiative, it looks really interesting and I’d urge you all to get involved.

http://findingada.com/2009/01/05/ada-lovelace-day/

Happy New Year to everyone.

All my best xx ems

Women In Games Panel Discussion

Originally uploaded by Birds Eye View

I recently came across some photos from the Women in Games Panel Discussion at 2008’s Birds Eye View Festival. I thought it would be useful to post the link for posterity.

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

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.