We reported during GDC about the announcement of a new scholarship program geared towards getting more women involved in the gaming industry. Representatives of G.I.R.L. (Gamers In Real Life) - Sherry Floyd and Heather Sowards - talked to MTV about being women involved in the industry and the new scholarship that was founded.

From the article:

Sowards and Floyd each have had several years experience working in the games industry; Sowards has been a music composer and audio director for video games, while Floyd worked in print advertising and then at RPG publisher Wizards of the Coast before coming to SOE. With previous experience in mostly male fields, working at SOE Seattle — where about 10% of its 70 employees are female — wasn’t weird for either.

In fact, both women said they felt a little strange being called out to represent the G.I.R.L. scholarship program. “It feels a little unusual because I don’t think about the fact that I’m a female in games hardly ever,” Sowards said. “We’re all building a game, we’re all having a great time, and I don’t think about the fact that I’m a girl walking in the office in the morning, so you shouldn’t either.”

Floyd added that while they don’t necessarily like focusing on their gender, it’s something that could have positive effects for other women interested in making and playing games, especially considering the survey results. “I think some women might be scared by the industry or don’t really know what the industry is about or understand the opportunities that may be there for them,” she said. “And so the G.I.R.L. initiative, I think, is really trying to get the word out about that. … It’s just going to take a while for people to realize that hey, there are actually all these women who game. I think it’s already happening, and I’m just glad to be a part of anything that can help usher the communication and positive light.”

Read the full article over at MTV

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