Category Archives: Events

Diversity events in the meatspace.

Education & Journalism at PAX East 2017

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PAX East 2017 is next week. Though the event is not typically considered a safe haven for a diverse audience of gamers, over the years its programming has expanded to include not only the Diversity Lounge but speakers and panels about LGBT+, PoC, atheism, ageism, and more. As evidence, you need look no further than this podcast, which was launched following a PAX East panel on sexism in gaming. Since then, several episodes of Polygamer have featured speakers first seen on PAX East panels, such as Charles Battersby and Tatjana Vejnovic. There are plenty of open-minded, supportive, encouraging, diverse people and panels at PAX — and I’d like to continue counting myself among them.

In trying to further improve PAX East from the inside, I’ve been moderating panels at the event since 2013, including this year. If you’re interested in getting into the games industry or honing your craft, then do I have the panels for you:

Life After Graduation

Sunday, March 12, 1:30–2:30 PM in Cuttlefish Theatre

Colleges are preparing students for a career in game development and design — but how closely does the classroom match the reality? Are the next generation of creators being given the skills and opportunities they need? We’ll hear from several recent graduates about the reality of their first years in the industry and what they wish they’d known.

Featuring:

PAX East 2017: Life After Graduation

+1 to Journalism: Becoming a Better Writer

Sunday, March 12, 4:00–5:00 PM in Bobcat Theatre

What do you need to know to make it as a games journalist? What pitches do editors love to get, and what tropes have been done to death? Whether you’re helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions, unearthing the history of a franchise, or critiquing video games as art, you have to convey a lot of meaning in just a few words before the reader clicks away. Come hear veteran writers and editors share the best in games journalism and our own mistakes we’ve made along the way.

Featuring:

PAX East 2017: +1 to Journalism

Although my lineup this year may not directly address matters of diversity, there’ll be diversity on stage. I long ago signed a pledge to diversify my panel lineups — but that wasn’t hard to do, since alumni of Polygamer were quick to sign up, including Sarah Como, Francesca Carletto-Leon, and Susan Arendt.

If you’re attending PAX East, I hope to see you in the audience! We’ll be using the hashtags #paxgrad & #paxjourno, respectively, so feel free to follow along, wherever you are. Be sure to say hello afterward, and subscribe to this podcast for audio and video from these panels!

(Promotional images courtesy Thomas Awrey)

Anita Sarkeesian receives Harvard Humanist of the Year award

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It was a snowy day in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when Anita Sarkeesian came to Harvard University. As part of the Sunday Speaker series, Sarkeesian was there to accept an award from the Humanist Community at Harvard, an organization not officially affiliated with Harvard University. The Harvard Humanist of the Year Award featured a Gloria Steinem quote: "A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men."

"Humanism requires feminism," said emcee Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University. The connection is not obvious. In previous episodes of Polygamer, I’ve examined (and lamented) the varying interpretations of the word "feminism". "A feminist is someone who thinks women are superior to men," I’ve heard one person say; "I’m a humanist, not a feminist."

When invited to accept this award, even Anita Sarkeesian was initially skeptical, not of the correlation between humanism and feminism, but of how people interpret and identify with those labels. She confessed that she expected most of her critics to be the religious conservative, and while they are indeed represented among their detractors, atheists have proven to be a larger, more vocal contingent. She read to the audience several angry tweets she’s received with such hashtags as #humanism and #egalitarianism. The educated Harvard audience chuckled at how misinformed those Twitter users are, but there’s nothing funny about the harassment Sarkeesian receives on Twitter, regardless of how her critics self-identify.

Fortunately, Sarkeesian and Epstein were of like mind. "Any definition of humanism that does not include feminism is not on the side of justice," said Sarkeesian. She addressed other groups that have erroneously positioned themselves at odds with her cause, such as Men’s Rights Activists, saying, "All the problems you’re having, feminism is trying to solve."

One audience member asked what they could do to help — which is a big question, one that would take more than a few minutes to answer! Sarkeesian ticked off several key points, including better representation of women in games, but she also included a personal plea: produce positive video responses to her Feminist Frequency series. "YouTube’s algorithm is such bullshit," she rightly griped. "’You liked a feminist video? Here’s a 100 anti-feminist videos for you to watch!’" Sarkeesian acknowledged that producing videos is a very public way to support her, and not one that many people would feel comfortable or safe doing.

After the talk and Q&A was a greeting line. I was in no rush to have my photo taken with Sarkeesian, having done so when she spoke at Northeastern University in November 2013. But I did want to at least say hello. Unfortunately, I was the last in line, and the line got cut off immediately after the person in front of me. Our reunion will have to come another time.

My thanks to Sarkeesian for enduring a snowstorm and a cold to come to Massachusetts. I went to her talk wondering why she’d bother speaking to a group of humanists, which seems off the beaten path for a media critic whose time I imagine is very much in demand. I walked away with a better understanding and appreciation of both sides.

At PAX East 2015, Achievement Unlocked: Parenthood. Now What?

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When I was first solicited to moderate the parenting panel that is this week’s episode of Polygamer, I was surprised. My contribution to the discussion of how to be a parent in the gaming industry is don’t, as I’m an advocate for acceptance of the childfree lifestyle. But the selfish purpose of Polygamer is to expose myself to lifestyles other than my own, and moderating a panel on parenting was the perfect opportunity to do so.

As the date of the panel grew closer, I got more excited for the discussions we were about to have — so much so that I already wanted to continue the conversation at PAX East. I reached out to my friend Nicole Tompkins-Hughes, whom I’d previously seen moderate the BostonFIG 2014 panel "The Next Generation: Making Games for Kids and Families" and for whose freelance article "The Last Tinker: When Good Games Make Bad Choices" I was an early reader. I knew she’d submitted some panels to PAX East — were any of them about parenting?

They weren’t! But Nicole was as excited about this topic as I was. With just 24 hours before the submission deadline, we sprang into action. I recruited Nicole to moderate the proposed panel, drafted Amanda Warner from the Women in Games panel, then took Nicole’s direction in recruiting four other panelists. We submitted our proposal, waited three weeks — and got accepted!

Achievement Unlocked: Parenthood. Now What?

Saturday, March 7th at 10:30am in Bumblebee Theatre

No role-playing game can present a greater challenge than the real-life role of parent. Does gaming end with parenthood, or is it just the next level? Hear from industry professionals on how they manage their time, handle the joys and journeys of gaming with their families, and maintain relationships of all kinds both online and off.

Nicole Tompkins-Hughes (Freelance journalist), Kyle Churchill (Co-host, Run Button), Steve Lubitz (Co-host, Isometric), Stephen Duetzmann (Editor in Chief, Engaged Family Gaming), Christopher “Gonzo” Gonzalez (Designer & Owner, DapperPixel), Amanda Warner (Co-Founder/Creative Director, Giant Spacekat/Giant Spacekittens)

This is the first time I’ve submitted a PAX panel that I wouldn’t be on. Since I’m not one of the panelists, the PAX East schedule coordinators saw no conflict in putting me on another panel that is happening at the same time. I regret that I will not be able to be in the audience for this great panel, especially since it includes three friends. But I’m glad to see PAX East give this topic the attention it deserves — I’m sure it’ll be a great session!

(Featured image CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 by Sean Dreilinger)

Anita Sarkeesian in Cambridge, Mass. on Feb 8, 2015

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You can’t discuss equality and diversity in gaming without mentioning Anita Sarkeesian. The Kickstarter for her Feminist Frequency videos not only made the gaming industry aware of issues involving gender representation in games; it also began a chain of reactions that led to the founding of the Polygamer podcast.

Sarkeesian’s latest Kickstarter update outlines her accomplishments since launching her project and the challenges she’s faced along the way. Her mission has evolved to include numerous public speaking opportunities, including her October appearance on The Colbert Report.

Despite her growing popularity, Sarkeesian still makes time for local events as well. If you’re in the Boston area on Sunday, February 8, 2015, I encourage you to attend her talk at the Humanist Community at Harvard, part of their Sunday speaker series. Free tickets are required for the event — get yours at Eventbrite.

Post by Gamebits.

This won’t be Sarkeesian’s first visit to Boston: she spoke at Northeastern University in November 2013, after which some friends and I joined her for dinner.

Ken Gagne of Gamebits, Monica Castillo of Cinema Fix, Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist Frequency, and "Moviebob" Bob Chipman of the Escapist -- an all-star cast!

Ken Gagne of Gamebits, Monica Castillo of Cinema Fix, Anita Sarkeesian of Feminist Frequency, and “Moviebob” Bob Chipman of the Escapist — an all-star cast!

Sarkeesian is a stalwart ally and deserves all your support. Please join me in welcoming her to Boston!