It’s long been accepted that video gaming is a male-dominated form of entertainment. Reports state 62% of all gamers are male. If that isn’t enough, the industry site GamesCareers.biz, reports 10% of all job applications received are from women. It’s a situation the industry feels must be changed as soon as possible. A degree from accredited online schools will allow entry into a field that is much more than just programming.
To the industry, this situation implies it’s missing a large chunk of its desired market. They feel if they employ more women, both on the research and development as well as marketing side, it will give them the insight to have that needed appeal.
The employment gap is considered so dire that Microsoft held a conference at its headquarters in the state of Washington. CNET pointed out approximately 150 pros attended and the vast majority (90%) of them were women. The cable news service then joked Microsoft managed to reach about all the women in the field. If you need more information about computer science degree, look on the internet.
One can see why many women don’t want to work in gaming. The gaming giants EA and ActiVision are facing lawsuits about their work environment. Although they are paid well in a field other guys would die to be in, developers tend to work long hours with little overtime compensation. This is a situation that isn’t particularly attractive to young women, which studies have profiled as more family- and home-oriented.
One company taking the initiative is Sony Online Entertainment, another leader in the video game field. According to CNN, they have created G.I.R.L., Gamers In Real Life, a scholarship program to attract more young women to careers in game development. It is being led by Torrie Dorrell, Sony’s Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.
Gamers In Real Life has already granted two sums of $10,000 each to two deserving students. It has a third scholarship set for May, 2010. Another reward is the recipients become interns at Sony. You can learn more about this program on the web. If women look around, they probably can find other programs like GIRL. There is an abundance of information about schools online on the web.
This isn’t the only program available for ladies who desire to play games as a career. Game development is a part of computer science, and as such is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field. Contacting the National Science Foundation about an S-STEM scholarship/grant should be seriously thought about. After all, even the military uses game simulation as a way to train its young warriors.
Finally, as many college degree programs offer game development as part of their curriculum, they should be thought about for more information about the industry. Women should contact a university’s financial aid officer to see what other opportunities are out there to help them obtain a computer science degree.
July 19, 2010 by Michelle Conner
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