Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Gaming Community
A diverse workforce is essential in catering to the increasingly diverse and global player community. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) recently held the second annual Diversity in Gaming Lunch at the GamesBeat Summit 2024 to showcase how its members are investing in equity and inclusion in the game industry. The event emphasized the importance of creating games that appeal to a diverse player community.
Appealing to a Diverse Audience
The ESA highlighted that women now make up nearly half of game players in the United States. However, it is crucial to recognize that no demographic is a monolith. Aubrey Quinn, SVP of Communications and Public Affairs at ESA, emphasized that there are no “girl games” or “boy games.” The challenge lies in creating games that resonate with a diverse player community.
Developers, such as Riot Games and Take-Two, are focused on authenticity when creating content. Farah Sutton, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Riot Games, emphasized the importance of resonating with players’ identities. Chanel Ward, Director of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Take-Two, emphasized the need to capture players’ intersectional identities and cultural contexts.
The Role of a Diverse Team
Laura Teclemariam, Senior Director of Product Management at LinkedIn, shared her experience of proposing an all-female squad of characters to male developers while working on Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes at EA. She emphasized that having a diverse team not only benefits the development of the game but also fosters inclusion among team members.
Building teams that reflect the real world is crucial. Quinn stressed the importance of intentionally seeking and building teams with diverse lived experiences, ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, and military backgrounds. Bringing in consultants can also unlock essential perspectives and ensure that content merges with the real world and lore through intersectionality.
Actionable Steps for Change
The panelists offered actionable steps that game industry professionals can take to effect change. Sutton highlighted the importance of recognizing limitations and seeking help from experts and experienced individuals. Teclemariam developed a top five list for forming employee resource groups, which includes aligning leadership around the vision, training managers and employees, holding accountability for reaching culture goals, retaining diverse voices, and celebrating progress.
Cultural Competency and Graceful Conversations
The gaming industry still has a significant opportunity to be intentional about its culture and understand the importance of games to people across demographics, generations, and lived experiences. Ward emphasized the need for cultural competency and building social skills to have confident conversations about identity and diversity. She also highlighted the importance of creating spaces where people can make mistakes and learn from them.
Celebrating Progress
Quinn reminded the audience that although progress may not always be perfect, there has been significant advancement. Teclemariam emphasized the importance of celebrating the journey of building a diverse team and creating diverse narratives that push the industry forward.
In conclusion, creating an inclusive and diverse gaming community requires intentional efforts from developers and industry professionals. By considering the diverse identities and experiences of players, building diverse teams, seeking help, and fostering cultural competency, the gaming industry can continue to progress and celebrate its achievements.