GCG Opinion: 'Women in Games: Who Cares?'

Industry veteran and game design teacher at Savannah College of Art and Design Brenda Brathwaite is tired of being asked what it means to be a ‘woman in games.’ She aired her grievances today in a new op-ed called “Women in Games: Who Cares?” on GameCareerGuide.com. The web site, which is a sister to Gamasutra, has been running a series of articles this week on the theme of women and games. Writes Brathwaite: “Every few months, I am reminded that I am a woman. Not just any woman, mind you, but a woman in games. I decided to call fellow game designer Jeb Havens from Maxis to remind him that he’s not just a man, but a man in games. ‘Jeb,’ I say, ‘I am writing a piece for GameCareerGuide about men and games. Can I ask you a couple questions?’ ‘What?’ He says it two more times thinking he must have misunderstood me. When I tell him I’m writing an article on being a man in the game industry, he says, ‘That doesn’t make any sense, Brenda,’ and he laughs when I ask him what advice he has for fellow men looking to break in to the industry.” She goes on to yank the leg of Seth Spaulding, art director at Firaxis Games, as well as a few other: “As a veteran ‘man in games,’ I thought [Spaulding] might have an important perspective to add. ‘Wow,’ he said. ‘That’s a pretty niche topic there, Brenda.’ Before I even launched into my interview questions, he knew I wasn’t serious. ‘Did you feel that you faced any challenges that women wouldn’t have faced in your career?’ I ask. He calls me back two days later to tell me that he thought of something. ‘It’s a turn off when guys admit they work in the game industry.’” You can read the rest of Brathwaite’s op-ed now on Gamasutra's sister education site, GameCareerGuide.com.