A new report from the Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media has led to an argument for greater gender diversity in gaming development. Around 30% of active game developers are female, but almost half of all active gamers worldwide are female, demonstrating a strong appetite for game development.
The institute argues that “improving representation” of females in game development will “facilitate more diverse teams”. The key findings from the report look more closely at the active female gamers in regional areas. 48% of all active gamers in Australia are female, which is the highest concentration. The figure falls only slightly in Europe (47%) and America (46%), followed by 37% in Asia.
The need for diversity in the gaming world
Almost three-quarters (70%) of respondents agree it is extremely important or very important that game content features diverse in-game protagonists, while 73% feel diversity in game storylines is also important.
Developing games has become a much more agile experience of late
Gaming development has undergone a seismic shift in the last decade, aside from the gender diversity debate. In the 2000s and early 2010s, online gaming was largely powered by a resource-hungry plug-in known as Adobe Flash. The inefficient plug-in was eventually usurped by the fifth iteration of Hypertext Markup Language, known as HTML5.
HTML5 has reshaped the digital gaming landscape. It was a game-changer for mobile gaming, with its cross-platform compatibility allowing next-generation game developers to design and build one version of games to operate seamlessly on a multitude of operating systems, devices, and screen sizes.
The rise of HTML5’s versatile web technology was also a boon for the iGaming industry. With its advanced graphics, multimedia support, and ultra-smooth animations, HTML5 has made it possible to design and build visually immersive and interactive online casino games. In fact, it’s got to the point now where the library of slots for US players and those in other regulated markets leave users spoilt for choice – both in terms of which games to play and how to play them.
It’s a similar story in the casual and social gaming scene, which has flourished immeasurably thanks to the adoption of HTML5. The technology means casual gamers no longer need to download and install applications, with the ability to enjoy social games within web applications, which fostered the popularity of games within social media platforms like Facebook. From simple puzzles to complex strategy games, social game developers have since been able to lean on HTML5 to captivate a broad audience of gamers.
The need for new female development pioneers
Some of the most important computer programmers in history were females. The likes of Margaret Hamilton, Evelyn Boyd Granville, and Grace Hopper all made huge contributions to the world of computing through the middle of the 20th century.
There are signs that more women are slowly being inspired to consider programming and development as a career path. According to a labour force survey by the UK’s Official of National Statistics (ONS), over 41,000 women joined the tech industry between 2020 and 2022, with many entering the world of game development. One can only hope the next Granvilles, Hoppers, and Hamiltons will transpire to become the role models for the next generation of female developers in the 2030s and beyond.
