investiGaming is a publication of the Serious Game Design group in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State University, 2007
This gateway is partially supported by grant supported by grant 0631771 from the National Science Foundation.
The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent Michigan State University or the National Science Foundation.
http://www.womeningamesinternational.org/
Women In Games International works to promote the inclusion and advancement of women in the global games industry. We believe diversifying the game development, media, academic, and publishing workpace results not only in a more equitable space, but better products.
Women in Games International advocates issues important to both women and men in the game development industry, including a better work/life balance and healthy working conditions. It was founded in 2005 in response to a growing demand around the world for the inclusion and advancement of women in the game industry.
The Frag Dolls are a team of gamers recruited by Ubisoft to represent their video games and promote the presence of women in the gaming industry.
The Frag Dolls are known not only for being skilled gamers in multiple titles, but for their advocacy of female gamers. The Frag Dolls have spoken on panels at the Women’s Game Conference and all of the Women in Games International conferences since 2006. They have stated a desire for more female gamers in multiple interviews and have developed a gaming community friendly to other women interested in trying out video games.
A series of National Science Foundation-funded studies on the theme of “Does Involving Girls as Designers Result in Girl-Friendly Science Education Software?” that included comparing processes and outcomes of same-sex 5 th and 8 th grade girl and boy design teams. Carrie Heeter, PI.
“Our ambition is to harness the power of video games in the service of humanistic principles. Aware of the tremendous and wide-ranging impact games have in our world, the “Values at Play (VAP) research project seeks to assist and encourage designers in creating games that further the understanding and appreciation of such values as equality, diversity, creativity, and many more.
- Mary Flanagan and Helen Nissenbaum, PIs
“It’s imperative we don’t lose sight of the huge transformations occurring in the foundations of our civil, societal, and commercial foundations that are the result of information technology. Informed women were not at the table as these systems were evolving; they need to be, now.”
-Lucy Sanders, NCWIT CEO and Co-founder