Games

Women in Games International: An Overview

By Eli Green
April 2, 2007 - 09:00

Women in Games International (WIGI) was founded in 2005 and was created with one driving purpose – getting women more involved, and involving more women, in the global games industry. The organization advocates issues that are important to both men and women in the gaming community and the international game development industry. These issues include better work/life balance, healthier working conditions, better working conditions in general, and much more.

WIGI Volunteers at GDC 07

WIGI uses a few different methods for getting its message out to people and accomplishing its goals. The strongest of those methods is the promotion and sponsorship of conferences, workshops, seminars and other hands on and in person events that help women break into and thrive in the development community. The events, like the Women in Games Conference and the Austin Game Conference, are held at locations around the globe and focus on an array of issues, from the development process to retail market, and varying women's issues between and outside of those topics. The speakers at these events also vary quite a bit. From highly influential people in the industry, like Lucy Bradshaw (VP and Head of Production and Development at Maxis/EA) and Don Daglow (President & CEO of Stormfront Studios), to educators and developers, like Brenda Brathwaite (Game Designer and Professor at Savannah College of Art & Design) and Tamir Nadav (Game Designer at KingIsle, graduate of Full Sail), to professional gamers, like members of the Frag Dolls, WIGI sponsored events have speakers and perspectives from every side of the industry.

Another method the organization uses to achieve its goals is industry research and education. WIGI is very involved in the effort of better understanding the industry, its games and women's role in both. By researching the industry, the organization is able to promote its goals, and is better able to reach them and help women stay a driving force in the development community, whether by promoting talented women to the community itself, improving education or other methods.

Women in Games International was founded, and is run by a number of influential men and women from the games industry. WIGI's management doesn't just include developers, though, but an entire group of like-minded individuals from different areas of the industry, including educators, public relations representatives and consultants. Its members include men and women from all different sectors of the gaming community, including people who have, and do work for companies like Nintendo, Ubisoft, Microsoft, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), Electronic Arts, Ohio University and more.

The o rganization is constantly searching for ways to increase and retain the number of qualified and talented women in the games industry, and is always looking for new ways to expand its efforts. You can learn more about Women in Games International at www.womeningamesinternational.org , including how to join, its events schedule, how to volunteer and more.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12