Women in Gaming Seminar

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

So, aside from Xath (who is going to GenCon with me)..

Is there anyone that will be attending the Women in Gaming SEM... (not the Geeks and Gamer Girls SEM)???

 

[CaptainCalico]

I'll be at the Thursday night Women in Gaming Seminar. I went to GeekGrrls the last two years - I'm friends with the folks who run it, but this year there was a pirate LARP at the same time.....

It is just fantastic that there are two to choose from this year!

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I'll be at the Thursday night Women in Gaming Seminar. I went to GeekGrrls the last two years - I'm friends with the folks who run it, but this year there was a pirate LARP at the same time.....

It is just fantastic that there are two to choose from this year!

Yay! Someone!

I look forward to meeting you.

 

[GeekGRRL]

I plan to be at the Thursday night seminar as well. That way, I can either avoid or continue any issues that were raised. (Avoid issues that were beaten to death or continue discussion that seemed to have more interest).

From the descriptions, I would guess that the two seminars have different foci. Thursday's seminar seems aimed slightly more at women working in the gaming industry. Also, Thursday's seminar seems like a more traditional seminar (with 400 possible slots for registrants) and the one on Saturday that I am moderating is more of a round-table discussion with all attendees (hence the original 40 registrants). I know that when pre-reg closed, the Thursday seminar had hundreds of slots left while mine had sold out. However, as has been stated before, seminar registrations are fairly fluid things. Show up for any free seminar that you want to attend.

SEM00047
Title: Women in Gaming, 8/19/046:00PM-7:00 PM
Description: How has the role of women in gaming changed over the last 30 years? Join our hosts as they discuss women gamers, women in the gaming industry and their roles and effects on gaming. There is additional information on the Mystic Station Designs events on www.mysticstation.com.

SEM00044
Title: Gamers and Geek Girls, 12:00 PM (noon) - 2:00 PM
Description: Discussion Session - Women who game! Let's talk about what we like, what we hate, and why we love to play!

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

What was it all about?

Well... Now that I have attended both of the seminars on women in gaming and including women that do game, I can tell you what I learned...

::What I picked up at the Women in Gaming/Gamers and Geek Girls Seminars::

1.) There are more women than I thought that game for the sheer joy of gaming. Until this weekend, I simply assumed that most women started to game because of their boyfriends/girlfriends husbands/wives. I knew that some women that gamed started on their own... but, didn't realize just how many found gaming without the guidance of a boy/man.

2.) The number of women that game is on the rise. GenCon is, at this point, around 25%-30% female and that number is slowly rising... Partly due to what seems to be the lack of force holding women down in gaming. The gaming world is open to females--there really isn't any discrimination and so, as more and more women become interested, more and more women get involved in the gaming industry.

3.) Men aren't very good teachers. Or at least, that's what it seemed like a lot of chicks were saying. Men, when in the beginning stages of teaching a women to play a game--whether it be role playing or video--go too fast and don't both to teach the rules and the like... instead, kicking our butts and laughing about it. So, women get frustrated and quit.

4.) Chicks that play because their boyfriends play that don't really like the game miff everyone. They are annoying not only to the men but the women, too.

5.) Mystic Station Games is female owned. Cool, huh?

6.) Some men come to these seminars because they want to talk about the current status of women in gaming... not just to try to get a piece... VERY refreshing!

7.) Women can like killing monsters just as much as men.


...and, there's so much more... but, that's just what I can think of right now.

Anyone else that was there-- what things do you have to add??

 

[Buttercup]

I didn't go to either seminar, and I avoided posting in this thread before GenCon, lest I give offense. But now that I've met you, Queen Doppleopperat, er Dopplegang, er Queen D , albiet much too briefly, I'd like to comment on why I was not interested in these seminars. And please know that I mean no slight!

I haven't been into RPGs all that long, only about 4 years. And with only one or two exceptions, I haven't encountered any gender bias. Indeed I have encountered so little gender bias in my life in general, for at least a decade, that the issue seems like old news to me. Of course women game. Of course we come to the hobby in all sorts of ways, just like men do. Of course we have varied tastes and styles when we play, just like men do. Ho hum.

Obviously not all women have been as lucky as I have, or there would be no one to attend or present seminars like this. But I guess I'm really surprised that there are women out there struggling with gender bias in gaming. I feel really bad for them. (And I want to kick the guys responsible in the crown jewels.)

Final thought: There was a t-shirt vendor selling a cool selection of t-shirts with gaming related slogans. I picked one absolutely hysterical one up, and the guy tried to get me to look at a Girl Gamer t-shirt, but I wasn't interested. First, I haven't been a girl in decades. And second, "girl gamer" is sort of like "male nurse" in its sexist assumptions. I'm just a gamer, thanks.

Stepping down from soap-box....

So on another note, Queen D, let's plan on gaming together at GenCon next year!

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

I'm just a gamer, thanks.

After my weekend and a lot of thought-- I've got to say that I really feel the same way.

Some women do, in fact, experience what is a bias or something similar. But, I think that is the exception to the rule. For the most part, there is not an active male force trying to keep women *down* in the gaming world. In the end, I think there is simply less awareness in the female population.

But, it was fun just to vent and discuss with the other women at GenCon. We had a really great time and I met some really great women!

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

So on another note, Queen D, let's plan on gaming together at GenCon next year!

I look forward to it!

 

[Corinth]

Anyone else that was there-- what things do you have to add??

I wish that all attendees had been at CONvergence over the 4th of July to tell the WiG panelists there those very things. This link to my convention report tells why.

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

Queen D. writes;
<<7.) Women can like killing monsters just as much as men.>>

That people, is what D&D is all about!


Scott