Game changers: the women who make video games

"Women have, of course, always played video games, but in the past it was always as a minority. Yet a report by the Internet Advertising Bureau in September found that 49% of gamers in the UK are female; but that percentage is not being reflected in the makeup of the industry, particularly at senior levels."

For the entire article, click on the link above!

NYT: Zynga's Tough Culture Risks a Talent Drain

“We’ve learned that when companies treat talent as a commodity, the consequences are severe,” said Ms. Toledano of Electronic Arts. “It takes years to repair a reputation.”

For full article, click the link above.

The three biggest myths about women in tech

For full article, click on link above.

"One common response from the mostly male responders was that these data must be incorrect and misleading because they personally have not witnessed these issues. In other words, if I haven’t seen or experienced bias, it cannot possibly exist.

Interestingly enough, when presenting these findings at different companies and organizations, we got the same response time and time again from the women and people of color who work in IT: “This data doesn’t surprise me at all; it is perfectly aligned with what goes on here.”

Booklist: Walking Out on the Boys

Frances Conley was the first woman ever appointed to a full professorship of neurosurgery at an American medical school. But she resigned due to sexual harassment, revealing tales of fondling in the operating room to Time magazine. In 1998, she published a tell-all book called Walking Out on the Boys.

The publication of this book coincided with the results of a 30-year MIT study on female faculty members. The study concluded that there was a generational pattern: that while junior faculty thought sexual discrimination was a thing of the past -- when they were promoted, they felt "invisible" and excluded.

One even wrote: "I mean literally not heard! Where you say something, and it's just ignored until one of your male colleagues says the same thing 10 minutes later!"

The study concluded that "in no case was this discrimination conscious or deliberate. Indeed, it was usually totally unconscious and unknowing. Nevertheless, the effects are real."

Between the 1960's and 1990s, there was a big increase in the number of women earning Ph.D.s in math, science, and engineering. Yet, the number of female research faculty members at MIT remained at 9%.

For PapyaMobile, women are the "whales"

Papaya Mobile finds that "whales," or users spending more than $100 on a game, accounts for 60% of its revenue.

Excerpt:

As is customary in games, PapayaMobile depends heavily on the tiny proportion of users who pay for goods in social mobile games. But one of the surprises is that some of the most enthusiastic customers, known as “whales,” are for the most part women. Papaya found that 69 percent of its big spenders in games are women.

For full article, click on link above.

Gaming with Your Daughter is Good for Her

Link to full article above:

This study linked positive outcomes for parents playing video games with daughters, but did not find the same results for parents playing video games with sons. The authors theorize that it may be because sons have more video game time with friends.

In addition, parents (usually fathers) playing video games with boys played games like Halo while games like Mario Kart were usual when playing games with girls.

Another interesting note:

The BYU researchers found that 31 percent of the children reported playing age-inappropriate games with their parents (42 percent of boys, 15 percent of girls) and they report that "heightened parent–child connection was not found for girls who played these age-inappropriate games with their parents."

Where Are the Women in Tech, You Ask?

"So why don't we know about these women in tech? Simple. Women are far less likely to be in love with the technology for its own sake vs. their male counterparts, so they tend to be low key in talking about the technology itself. You're not likely to hear a woman say that her technology is "sick," though I've heard that term used by not a few men CEOs . These women are not likely to be found in tech meet-ups as they are far more likely to be found helping their kid with homework. All of which is to say, women tech CEOs may not have the brash bravado of her male counterparts, but their relative silence should not be mistaken for absence."

To see the full article from Advertising Age, click on the link above.

WIGI channel on mygameIQ

Women in Games International (WIGI) and mygameIQ are pleased to announce a partnership to promote Women in Games. We are looking for games produced by and for Women to become part of the WIGI channel on mygameIQ.

Receive 40% off your purchases thanks to WIGI.
Link to discount code above.

Young women possess characteristics of inventors, but do not see themselves as inventive

MIT study:

"Further demonstrating inventive traits, young women show a strong affinity for math and science — two of every five female respondents (42 percent) rate these as their favorite subjects in school. More than half of male respondents (53 percent) agree. 35 percent of young women also say they have a family member working in a field related to science, technology, math or engineering. The results reveal young women’s innate interest in inventive fields; however, recent statistics show while more women are entering college and obtaining degrees, less than ten percent earn them in technical majors such as computer and information sciences, engineering or math. This proportionately small group indicates a need to educate women about translating their skills and academic interests into inventive careers."

For the full article, click on the link above.

Women in Games Photo Shoot

IGDA Women in Games and Women in Games International invite you to participate in the upcoming Ubisoft photo shoot of "Women in Games—E3 2010," hosted by the Frag Dolls. Scheduled for Thursday, June 17 at 9:30 am, all women in the games industry attending E3 are invited to show up at the south side of the plaza in front of South Hall, located at Pico and Figueroa. The photo shoot will only take a few moments, so be sure to show up on time!

This potentially historic photo is a reprise of the Frag Dolls invitation in 2006 to all females in the gaming industry for the first annual group photo of women at E3. Along with our partners and sponsors, we will be gathering together as many industry and gamer females as possible for this event to demonstrate the significant presence of women in gaming. Spread the word to every woman you know in games, student or professional…we want to see you there!

Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 9:30am - 11:00am
Location: south side of the plaza in front of South Hall, located at Pico and Figueroa

WIGI Volunteer Meet-Up at E3

Local and regional active Women in Games International volunteers to meet for drinks Tuesday night at E3. Say hi to folks you don’t always get to see and connect on plans for the year.

Please come if you can!
Tuesday June 15th, 5:00 pm
gLAnce Lobby Wine Bar & Lounge
The place to meet and greet. Located on the first floor of the Hotel Tower in the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE.

WIGI L.A. Women and Men Mixer

Date: Monday, June 7, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: The Arsenal Bar, West L.A.
Street: 12012 West Pico Boulevard
City/Town: Los Angeles, CA

On the first MONDAY of EVERY MONTH, please join local video game and related industry folks at a monthly networking event. The party runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm with extended HAPPY HOUR PRICING!

Eat, drink and socialize with old friends and new. Bring your business cards!!

WIGI Promotes networking and career building for everyone in the video game industry, women and men.

The Arsenal Bar is less than one block east of Bundy Drive on the south side of Pico Boulevard. Valet and metered street parking are available.

BIG/WIGI Party at E3

Join Women in Games International and Blacks in Gaming on Wednesday, June 16th from 6-9PM at Zucca Restaurant and Art Garden for drinks, fine food, and giveaways!

(Zucca is just three blocks north of the Convention Center on Figueroa)

RSVP Required
Our generous sponsors make it all possible! Thanks to: Disney Interactive Media Group, Sony Computer Entertainment, Social Gold, and Peanut Labs Media!

Inside the Minds of Girl Gamers

Click the title link for a presentation with stats on female gamers.

WIGI L.A.: Your Evolving Career in Gaming

WIGI D-L-C Event this Wed: Your Evolving Career in Gaming: How to stay relevant, stay in the game, LA Film School this Wednesday, April 28th at 7pm!

D-L-C events (Drinks, Learning, Community) are held quarterly and move WIGI's mission forward to create a community interested and engaged in the gaming industry. Our D-L-C topic is “Your Evolving Career in Gaming: How to stay relevant, stay in the game, and switch to other gaming arenas”.

Confirmed Speakers:

Alana Chan
Lead Producer
Disney Interactive Media Group

Kamalina Evans
Global Talent Acquisition
EA Interactive

Mark Vulcano
Studio Animation Director
Heavy-Iron Studios

Paul Cunningham
Co-Founder / CEO
CreativeHeads.net

Shannon Henry
Manager, Talent Acquisition
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

All are welcome and encouraged to attend. RSVP here.

WIGI L.A. Networking Happy Hour

The next Women in Games International WAM (Women And Men) networking event is happening this Monday, April 5th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. We'll be having a pre-meeting at 6:30 for all those interested in getting involved in the WIGI LA chapter including organizing for this year's E3 bash. Check this link for details.

Gender discrimination linked to poor project management

There's also evidence of bias against women in recruitment and job assignment in places where high-tech corporate cultures thrive on this "hero mindset" that "rewards a 'last minute' crunch where 24/7 work becomes necessary to 'save' a project, failing to acknowledge family responsibilities and flexibility needs," the report says.

Seattle WIGI Happy Hour

Seattle WIGI invites all games and digital media professionals and interested parties to join us at POST 1914 in Post Alley, Seattle for a relaxed social Happy Hour on Tuesday March 23rd from 5-8 p.m..

*Networking
*Prizes
*Upcoming events for LOGIN
*WIGI Brain-Bank topics for Seattle

Bring a guest along and get an extra entry into the Prize drawing!

WomenGamers.Com Scholarship to National Computer Camp

For the June/July 2010 enrollment, WomenGamers.Com and National Computer Camp (NCC) are once again offering a scholarship valued at $985 to a female student (age 8-18) for one week.

Scholarship applicants need to submit an essay in response to the following question: "What is your favorite video game, and how would you change the design to improve it?"

The 500 - 600 word essay must be submitted to scholarship@womengamers.com no later than May 14th, 2010. Along with the essay, include your name, address, telephone, email address, and age. The winning essays will be posted on WomenGamers.Com. The essays will be judged by a WomenGamers.Com panel and the scholarship recipients will be announced on May 21st, 2010. For a scholarship to be awarded, at least five entries need to be received. Former scholarship winners are not eligible. Essays submitted previously will not be accepted.

For more information on the scholarship, visit http://www.womengamers.com/scholarships/

IGDA WIG sessions at GDC 2010

ROUNDTABLE MEETING: Annual SIG roundtable meeting on Thursday, March 11, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm in Room 230, East Mezzanine. The roundtable meeting will be moderated by Tina Tyndal, SIG steering committee member and newsletter editor. Bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm, plus stick around for the latest news on our primary initiatives during 2010, including GameMentorOnline and Games2Girls.

SESSION: Starting Something New – Women in Games
Thursday, March 11, 3 pm to 4 pm in Room 130, North Hall
Moderated by Sonja Kangas, Head of Game Lab, Paf and IGDA Women in Games advisor, with speakers Tiina Zilliacus, CEO of IronStar Helsinki; Celia Pearce, Director of Experimental Game Lab at Georgia Tech; Megan Gaiser, CEO of Her Interactive, and Julia Brasil, the first G.I.R.L. scholarship recipient, SOE.

SESSION: Are Women the New Hardcore Gamers?
Thursday, March 11, 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in Room 130, North Hall
Moderated by Shanna Tellerman, Founder and CEO, Wild Pockets, with speakers Amy Jo Kim CEO of ShuffleBrain; Wanda Meloni, Market Analyst with M2 Research; Morgan Romine, Community Manager and Online Marketing Manager for Ubisoft (plus Team Captain, Frag Dolls), and Jessica Tams, Executive Director of the Casual Game Association.

SOCIAL GATHERING: Annual SIG social gathering at the IGDA booth on Friday, March 12, 3 pm to 4:30 pm at front of the South Hall. Join our sponsors BingeGamer.net, GamingAngels.com, Gas Powered Games, Her Interactive, Naughty Dog and Obsidian Entertainment for refreshments, door prizes, networking and fun! Expo pass badge holders are encouraged to attend.