Women in Game Development

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I was implored to make a post about my experiences being a female game developer and business owner. It was something that I didn’t think of it as high priority, because truthfully I’ve never felt my female identity had anything to do with the way I developed games. I was wrong! When I took a closer look, I realized being a woman affects me in many of the roles I undertake as a game developer.

As a writer

I have always been a fan of strong female characters, and I’ve definitely tried to create characters like that. Characters who are smart, determined and thoughtful, who are role-models or who grow into role-models. Our upcoming game, “Ruby Rust” features a strong female protagonist who fights for people who can’t fight for themselves. But she is far from being a female cast in a traditional male role, her character has depth as well (but I don’t want to give away too much of the story!).

As a Business Owner

In the game industry, there seems to be a pervasive negative view towards game genres and consoles that are more female-friendly (such as casual games and the Wii), voiced mostly by self-proclaimed “hard-core” gamers. While from a business standpoint female-friendly game products are becoming more and more profitable, it’s not only about the money. I’ve always felt it is important to serve the female market with quality products that pay attention to our interests. Women are tired of being alienated by the industry, seeing game after game starring giant beefy space marines. So, I decided to make start my own company so we can make quality games that both men and women can find enjoyment and feel comfortable playing.

As an Artist

And finally, the effect is apparent in the female-friendly visual aesthetics present in my projects. We try to make our graphics fun and colorful. Characters are designed to be visually engaging and appealing without being overly sexualized.

But even though on a second look being a woman does have an influence on the way I develop games, the fact that I took it for granted says something important. This year’s global theme for International Women’s Day is “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.” Throughout my life, I’ve rarely been discriminated against because I’m a woman. It sometimes seems as though feminism is no longer relevant in this developed society, since so many of our rights have been guaranteed at this point. But if it wasn’t for women before me fighting for our rights, I would not likely have the opportunity to even begin creating games. For me, celebrating isn’t about fighting for my own rights, it’s about looking back and being grateful for those who fought for the opportunities I have today. It’s also about supporting women all over the world who are fighting for the same rights and opportunities. I know that my story is just one of many; women are finding success in the game industry and in industries all over the world. Let’s keep at it!