
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
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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.