Games for Women, Games by Women conference to happen in February

by Jennie Lees { Dec 7th 2005 at 6:30PM }

A whole lineup of women in gaming experts are scheduled to talk at February's Women in Games International conference, "Games for Women, Games by Women". Only a half-day event (compared to October's two day women-in-games love fest), it looks pretty comprehensive, covering topics ranging from marketing to women to career strategies and work/life balance issues.

The conference is as much about bringing women working in games together as educating others about the apparently elusive female gamer. As such, it's a valuable addition to the game conference calendar, and if previous conferences are anything to go by it will open attendees' eyes to a variety of issues. At the October conference, hardcore girl gamers swapped stories with jaded programmers and top-level female executives, and everyone went away having learnt more about the different perspectives of the myriad women in gaming. Hopefully in a few years there will be no need for conferences like this, however, as companies and the audience become more diverse.

[via GameGossip]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

GOD @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Chiczors don't play video games. Joking, joking.

Doug teh H-Nut @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

So we're one step closer to more girls playing games? This is only paralleled in magnitude by the moon landing. :P

MarkTAW @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

This represents a change from the original conference title "How do we exploit this vast, untapped market" 2006"

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Here we're go again..

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

So they're just going to play the Sims 2 and talk about their period?

"just a joke"

Rare Hare @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

hey! i want a 'Games for GUYS, Games by GUYS' conference!!

Rob X @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"hey! i want a 'Games for GUYS, Games by GUYS' conference!!"

It's called E3.

Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Haha, #7. Clever.

Steam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

And guys will still outnumber girls 10 to 1

littlestninja @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

*sigh* I like being a girl gamer (or gamer chick, whatever floats your boat)but I do NOT like the use of the female symbol. It makes me think of Austin Powers and how he wore the male symbol and it looked REDICULOUS.

I was talking to another girl about how awesome it would be if you took Rosie the Riviter and put a controller in her fist with the words "REAL WOMEN PLAY VIDEO GAMES" arching over her. Not as iconographic, but a whole lot cooler.

shar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I don't really know what the fuss is all about, there're woman playing games, more than you think, some of them just don't feel like flaunting their 'womanness' because, whatever for?

DekaGreen @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

#11, because if any girl reveals that she is female online, she's bombarded by pick-up lines, dirty jokes, and the occasional sexist remark.

As far as the offliners, I do believe that "playing games" is still a social stigma, at least as far as women are concerned. There is not ostracization by guys mind you, but I've seen women get ragged on by other women just because they enjoyed a good fragging here and there.

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

", because if any girl reveals that she is female online, she's bombarded by pick-up lines, dirty jokes, and the occasional sexist remark."
Yeah right, its just women who "only" gets this.

shar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

#12 I don't think that's true, I've been playing mmo for years and rarely I ever get any remark like that. I don't mean that those woman who didn't make a big fuss about them being woman because they were afraid of different treatment, but because they don't see the point in playing 'woman card' if you don't act different you don't get treated differently, relax, just play.

maybe it's different for me, because I'm in kind of social that playing game is as normal as eating. and because likely that everyone is playing game, it isn't necessary to label those who do as 'gamers', just like you don't call people who eating as 'eater'.

littlestninja @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I get a lot of reactions. Some are shocked, some are hitting on me, some dont like me and others thnk its cool, but dont make a big fuss.

jl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

In MMOs it's not quite the same but in environments where you are quite obviously female, such as Xbox Live (if you bother to talk), it can be a big problem -- even if you don't talk but you have a female name, you'll get all sorts of flak, try it!

I don't ever explicitly play the female gamer card - but I happen to be female, and I play in environments (including tournaments) where it gets noticed. It's worse when I beat people than when they beat me, too. I've learnt loads of new synonyms for 'prostitute' since I started playing Halo 2. And that's why I play with a clan of other girls, all of whom know how horrid it can be, rather than go into random games every day.

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"And that's why I play with a clan of other girls,"
And if I said that and replaced girls with guys, I would be considered sexist.

jl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

It's not sexist if you're a guy and you play with guys; most of the people I know are guys and play with entirely male clans. You're taking me out of context; I play with other girls for the atmosphere and because we have a lot in common. I also play with guys regularly too, and it's not a big deal.

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"It's not sexist if you're a guy and you play with guys; most of the people I know are guys and play with entirely male clans"
Its not? I'm always told discriminating a person based on gender is wrong?
"You're taking me out of context; I play with other girls for the atmosphere and because we have a lot in common"
I am? "I've learnt loads of new synonyms for 'prostitute' since I started playing Halo 2. And that's why I play with a clan of other girls, all of whom know how horrid it can be"
Well from what I read you wrote it seems you play with women cause you can relate to hate, I guess guys would be insulting to play with, cause we're all jerks and ruin the atmosphere. Even though some us get insulted as well.
"I also play with guys regularly too, and it's not a big deal"
Sure its not, but its rhetoric that you mention equal treatement for female gamers when isolating and making generalize of most male gamers.

jl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

It would be sexist if you played exclusively with men and refused to play with women at all. Similarly, it would be sexist the other way around. You're inferring a lot about my habits, if you think I'm falling into one of those categories.

"its rhetoric that you mention equal treatement for female gamers when isolating and making generalize of most male gamers."

Actually, you're assuming a *lot* here. I *never* said it was guys who give me flak online. I've been hassled by girls too; every gender has its trash-talkers. I've been in plenty of games where guys have been kicked out due to racism or homophobia. I know a guy who was stalked on a MMO by another guy who thought he was a girl. I'm well aware it's not just girls who experience problems online.

Neither am I generalising about male gamers. All I said was I play with other girls who know how bad it can be to be a lone female online. That doesn't equate to "Every guy online is a sexist jerk and I never play with boys because of it". You just want me to say that, so you can have your soapbox and pontificate against female clans or whatever. Tsk, well, you can have it, but I see there's no sense to be had here.

shar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I heard that on xbox live, everyone got equal treatment when it comes to, well, endearments. nothing new here. so if you are female, you got female version of it, if you are male, you'll get another version, but in the end, it's just more of the same. either noob or ho, it's not woman problem, I don't think so.

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"It would be sexist if you played exclusively with men and refused to play with women at all"
Right so differing each other based on gender only. Sounds sexist to me.

"Actually, you're assuming a *lot* here"
Sure am, a "girls-only" club no room for males is talking about eqaulity, hypocrit huh?
"I *never* said it was guys who give me flak online"
Yeah you didnt, but you did mention specifically and main reason it made you join a "girls-only" club.
"You just want me to say that, so you can have your soapbox and pontificate against female clans or whatever. Tsk, well, you can have it, but I see there's no sense to be had here."
I do? I am? Are you 5 years old? I just dont like the idea that we're looking too much into guys or girls and making sex-based clans. I believe we should both guys and gals should be treated equally, not running away and hiding in clans and complaining about this and that.

Rocket Punch @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Anyone should see this coming, you thing the dual shock joypad is designd for men??

azima @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"I believe we should both guys and gals should be treated equally, not running away and hiding in clans and complaining about this and that."

yeah, and we're saying that guys and gals are *not* being treated equally inside of games. that's why we're talking about it. are you dense, or what?

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"yeah, and we're saying that guys and gals are *not* being treated equally inside of games. that's why we're talking about it. are you dense, or what?"
So the problem is gonna be solved by creating a clan of women only, not allowing guys in it and asking for equal treatement, yet holding narrow of "girl gamers only". Nice logic good luck with that.

jl @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

Wow, since when did a comments thread on a post about a women in games conference get derailed into yet another anti-girl-clan attack? Someone really has a problem with the idea of people with something in common playing games together.

Communities of girl gamers are actually important to the games industry. The presentation by PMS and the Frag Dolls at the Women's Games Conference in Austin this year (look, ma, on topic!) left many industry people I spoke to at the event almost shell-shocked. Not only had they found girl gamers, they'd found a goldmine of them. It's effectively a free focus group for developers to use to figure out what appeals to the bits of the market they're missing. This, indeed, *does* help the developers solve their problems which are usually centred around "not enough women are buying our product" and thus "we aren't making as much money as we could".

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"Someone really has a problem with the idea of people with something in common playing games together. "
I do? C'mon keep throwing those accusations, I just replied the post they were directed at me. Yeah you're women thats common thing but complaining you're not being treated equally and then throwing your gender by "women-only group" is hypocritical. Look I dont agree with these group, its pretty self-serving, instead of focusing its on real issues. You're too focused on yourselves. Thats my belief, if you dont agree then dont, I dont care thats what I think. Well I'm done.

kara @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

jack, you're a perfect poster child for why groups like this need to exist, to address the real issue of sexism. because you sure as hell aren't doing it.

this group exists to talk about and represent what the experience of being a girl gamer is like, to other gamers, to the media and to developers. can you tell me exactly what a guy knows about being a girl gamer? what would he contribute to that group?

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"jack, you're a perfect poster child for why groups like this need to exist,"

So no "thank you" for me?

"to address the real issue of sexism"

I didnt know women had moral superiority over ethnics and gays. To me the real issue is any form of discrimination, that includes racism, homophobia.

"because you sure as hell aren't doing it."

So I should create a clan with specific female who openly dont accept male gamers and yet talks about equality? Who throw the fact they're girl gamers and then hide by the same statement, asking for equality?

"this group exists to talk about and represent what the experience of being a girl gamer is like, to other gamers, to the media and to developers."

So basically its all about yourselves, apprently not for others, and you expect me to respect that, something that isolates the gaming community and individuals girl gamers.

"can you tell me exactly what a guy knows about being a girl gamer? what would he contribute to that group?"

Its either about girl gamers only or its about equal treatement of gamers regardless of whether a person is black, female, gay etc. Either its self-serving or equal.

kara @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"apprently not for others"

dude, you're not listening... "other gamers, to the media and to developers" are a lot of folks, all of whom care about what's going on with girl gamers. this is about the opposite of isolationism because it's about working with the larger gaming community (of all genders, races, classes, etc.) to figure out how to get to a place where being a girl gamer *doesn't* isolate you. this is about the fact that women are isolated *already* and we don't want to be, dig?

it's about equal treatment, yup. let's get proactive- what are you doing to promote that?

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"dude, you're not listening"

You're telling me your listening? You created a group that contradicts its own beliefs.

" this is about the opposite of isolationism because it's about working with the larger gaming community (of all genders, races, classes, etc.) "

I dont see how creating a "girl-only" group and then be vocal about your views about equality, which seem hypocritical. The only thing I specifically see is a bunch of girls talk about what matters to them nothing more or less, pretty much self-serving. You seem to complain about different treatement of women, yet your group doesnt allow guys and makes statement about male gamers.

"to figure out how to get to a place where being a girl gamer *doesn't* isolate you"

Again contradiction, "girls-only" group doesnt isolate to male counter-parts?

"it's about equal treatment, yup"

Equal or self-serving cause you're full of hypocrisy.

"let's get proactive- what are you doing to promote that?"

Same as what you're probably doing, expect I dont hide behind a little girl group, and start making threats and start making excuses for your own discrimination. Apprently according to your other post, you dont believe guys dont know anything about girl gamers or anything towards your cause of "equality".

Look you can argue with me all you wont, it wont change my view. Personally i dont care if you accept my view or not, cause I'm not trying to do anything with opinion except express it. So lets agree to disagree ok?

kara @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"Look you can argue with me all you wont, it wont change my view."

ahhh, i see -- you're just trying to win an argument instead of actually having a conversation. looks like i wasted my time, then! too bad.

Jack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

"ahhh, i see -- you're just trying to win an argument instead of actually having a conversation. looks like i wasted my time, then! too bad."
I am? Thats news to me, you ladies seem to know me better than myself. I did in fact give you alot counter-arguement instead some one liners and nothing in return. I just wanted to express what I felt and I did, I can have this arguement with you but it wont get anyway except me repeating myself endless with the same counter-points you keep throwing at me.

littlestninja @ Dec 18th 2005 9:38PM

I have to agree and disagree with Jack. There is NOTHING wrong or hypocritical about a girls only clan. Its the names that are hypocritical. Fragdolls? Clan PMS?? Now, I know PMS stands for something really cool (I forget and I can't find it on their site!), but seriously. At the end of the day, it all boils down to PMS and your period. While these names dont have anything to do with equality or the lack there of, I think it certainly puts girl gamers in a different place (not to mention casts a pretty frustrating shadow on girls who dont want to ecuate gaming with thier periods.) Can you imgaine if an all boys clan was formed and was called Clan C*ck? (I hope I dont get banned for that one!)Women would be outraged and put off. Though that example is quite extreme, you get my drift. I think its important that girls only clans pick names that keeps us all in the same ring.