Game Developer’s Conference Takes a Step Back in Diversity, Microsoft Blunders

Just when I thought the games industry at least somewhat started to grow up and become more comfortable with itself, it went out of line again.

At the 2016 Game Developer’s Conference last week, game creators and pioneers gathered literally from all over the world to pore over the latest technologies and how they relate to game design — virtual reality in particular. Among the usual, the events included talks focused on women and much-needed diversity in the field.

Cara Ellison, who’s an incredible games writer and who just published a book about her travels and developers interviewed, had a moderator asking the audience where they thought she started out. Someone responded “stripping!” perhaps because some of her writing on games revolved around sex and intimacy. But one random dude is just that — they will always be out there, whether their thoughts are aloud or not.

Later on, just a few hours after a “Women in Gaming” luncheon, Microsoft’s GDC party took place. Booze and schmooze are pretty much game industry traditions. One tradition that was on its way out, thankfully, in the past few years, made an unexpected comeback.

Dancers.

Some members of the Microsoft team hired ladies dressed like school-girls dressed on podiums just to give the place that strip-club appeal.

As many members of the industry are trying to shed the idea, as though it were an overdue snake skin, that it’s a boys’ club, something like this happens, caused by one of the key players in gaming. A display like this not only caters to heterosexual men, who are already the prevalent makeup of developers, but also makes anyone who doesn’t fit into that category unwelcome.

Microsoft released a statement condemning their event and stating that it doesn’t reflect their values, but how much have we heard that before? I understand that it’s a big company, and it wasn’t Phil Spencer’s idea (head of Xbox). But it’s not like dancers just spontaneously appear or walk-in — it’s something that needs planning. Yet no one thought about how that looked or how it would reflect the company as a whole.

What baffles me is the company’s serial misunderstandings of their consumer. We’ve had several Windows 7 users reporting that their PC automatically upgraded to 10 without their permission, and while stepping up to the next operating system is seemingly good, there’s little that 10 offers now in comparison to 7. Their latest “product” is an integrated Windows Store which effectively turns games and programs into “apps,” omitting their typical function as a .exe file, which may possibly cut out things like mod support.

And when they release a chatbot, it doesn’t last very long without learning how to bash women and love Hitler.