GDC was great but for some it wasn’t so great
Lesia and I had a fantastic week at our first GDC and first time in San Francisco.
Many of the talks, round tables and showcases validated a lot of what we currently undertake with our students on Games at Winchester School of Art (WSA), specifically relating to games for change, games and the climate crisis and experimental games, those that tell stories and approaches from the marginalised, the different and the under represented.
The Independent Games Festival and the Experimental Games Workshop really exemplified this at GDC.
Which is why it was sad to return home and read reports of sexual harassment, spiked drinks and likely worse against women at GDC.
I admit I am shocked but more so, I am angry.
Those of you that know me know that a big part of my position and take on games and the tech industry is born out of being sickened to see misogyny I personally witnessed almost 20 years ago at tech events.
I am determined as a father of 3 daughters that games and tech should be a safe space for all women and have thus wanted to help where I could.
The mission is never complete, we at WSA will continue to create and get better at making safe spaces for anyone that wants to make games and loves and understands the power of games.
If you witnessed or were a victim of any harassment at GDC no matter how small you may think it was or is, call it out. These people don’t belong in the games industry, and it’s time to normalise the utter rejection of this type of behaviour.
Please look to support any initiatives you can as well such as Women in Games in your area or the UK Raise the Game initiative.
There are many more initiatives I am not aware of so please do seek out, the majority, the good people in games and tech and rid this industry of a rotten minority that need to be gone.
2023-03-28
Nice article on Wikipedia redesign and excellent use and approach to prototyping indeed - dctr.pro/2o3 /ht @philbowell thanks
2023-03-29
Playing with the Climate Crisis (13-15th April) - Winchester UK
Playing with the Climate Crisis - Event at The Winchester Gallery.
I run the BA games design & art programme at Winchester School of Art and will be co-hosting a table top gaming event at The Winchester Gallery on the Climate Crisis with the central game being Daybreak created by Matteo Menapace and Matt Leacock (the creator of pandemic) this will be the first time you can play a pre production copy of the game worldwide. More information on the speakers and the workshop can be located here.
Playing with the Climate Crisis (13-15th April)
Tickets for the workshop are required but the rest of the event is open to the public.
2023-03-29
BAFTA nice vampire survivors yes! Totally worth Best game!!! Oh plus Rollerdrome woooo
2023-03-30
Attending WASD at The Old Truman Brewery today with students as part of Games.London and UKIE events. 👾
2023-03-31
Pretty excited since my youngest daughter started her apprenticeship hair dressing we haven’t made many AFC Wimbledon home games together for the first time in a long time. But tomorrow we will all be there my dad, me and my daughter. A few of the guys we sit with can’t make it mind :(
2023-03-31
