Changing the Future of Games – Develop’s WIG conference shows it can be done.

 Apparently, at the IGN awards dinner at the Develop Conference, Wednesday night, the comedian Rufus Hound, who was presenting, stood quietly as a woman came up to the stand to collect a award, said nothing as she presented her speech and when she left the stage, turned to the audience and said ‘And that, men, is what a woman looks like.’

When this was told to me, I had to laugh along with it. Because a) it is funny and b) it isn’t half true. But it made me remember something. Later, Brighton-sand blasted shoes cleaned and my notes gathered around me, I found the line I had scrawled down in my notebook on the day I attended the Women in Games conference, 2010:

‘We will change the industry.’

These were the conclusive words from the guest star of this year’s conference – Sheri Grayner Ray – on her presentation to the near-all female audience present. And it was hard not to be inspired by those words, after having spent the day connecting with, talking and listening to so many different women, with different views and thoughts, but with all one very similar goal – to show that women were a part of the gaming world’s future. And that they intended to do more than just stay.

The conference, backed onto the two day Develop Conference was an all day event, starting with a lunch that gave the chance for everyone to meet and greet. The atmosphere was open, friendly and everyone was keen to get to know each other, to find out where everyone had ventured from and what everyone was looking forward to from the Conference. And whilst everyone mingled, I overhead snatches of conversation, ranging from the possible combinations of feta cheese in salads; the representation of masculinity and femininity in character designs; British beach weather and the best First Person Shooters to try out.

It was cool-as-ladies-who-lunched-with-an-awesome-difference.

Such variety and spice continued on with the day’s programme. It exploded off with Sheri’s very punchy and focused presentation, which brought home the fact that there was still more women could and needed to do in the gaming world. After a quick break, there followed a workshop to get those creative minds working – in small teams, everyone was asked to discuss how they would use emotional input and emotive reactions in a computer game.

And the ideas that turned up on the table were incredibly varied, incredibly inventive. They ranged from a highly diplomatic game (without a Ferrero Roche in sight), a travelling game (reading more than maps was involved), a murderous detective game; a socially educational game with a focus on Asperger’s syndrome and a co-op, spy-based action-adventure. All of them were brilliantly diverse; covering a scope of themes and styles as well as gaming platforms. As a matter of fact, the only thing that the games had in common was an unusual preference for an Intergalactic Space setting!

The day rounded up with panel discussion, the Knights of the table including Sheri, David Smith from WIGJ (sponsors of the conference), Helen Kennedy from WIG, Chloe Giusti from SCEE and Ana Kronschanabl from Fluffylogic. Topics for discussions with the audience included the debate on Booth Babes, Female game character representations, the difference in female involvement in the games industry and the next-steps education for the new age of female figureheads and what the current role models could do.

Suffice to say the deabtes were involving, occasionally heated but thoroughly insightful. Everyone was eager to put forward their ideas and thoughts and it made for a forum that was open, thoughtful and engaging; all viewpoints were welcomed and it was positive to see everyone comfortable enough to express their different ideas.

Overall, the conference was something that, on the day, I felt was tangibly needed for those gathered. For some, it was a good place to make new contacts and exchange business cards. For others, it was a time to share similar experiences and affirm what the next steps were to be made as individuals and a collective group, and for some, it was an eye-opener into area that had previously, not taken much of a spotlight. To everyone I spoke to, it benefited them all.

Therefore, in light of what the conference discussed, the people who met and the topics of debate that came from the day, Sheri’s words ring true. It’s about positivity, it’s about driving forwards. And it really is about making our future.