Wooing Women Gamers and Game Creators
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Though the number of women who play games is high, they represent just under 12 percent of the industry, according to the International Game Developers Association. By diversifying the work force, developers can create products that appeal to a wider audience.
Simmons wants to see "more women making games," she says, "making more games that women want to play."
More than 60 percent of female students enrolled in game design programs at The Art Institutes said they believed male dominance in the industry is a deterrent to women pursuing a career in gaming, according to a survey commissioned by SOE. It's a statistic that's mirrored in the student body at the school's campus in San Francisco.
"I get excited when there's, like, two or three girls in my class," says Nhaty Ngo, a third-year student finishing up her studies at the Art Institute, but she says the numbers appear to be growing with each new freshman class.
The number of women working in the industry is also on the rise. Sherry Floyd, a game designer at SOE's Seattle studios, is part of the team developing "The Agency," an espionage-themed first-person shooter set for release later this year. "I honestly don't think it's a gender issue," she continues. "I think it's a marketing issue."
