Participate in a Survey About Gender Diversity in Video Games

[Voulan]

I hit submit, the page refreshes, and it it sends me to the top of the page with all my info still in. Did everyone else get this? Or is my thing broken?

In any case, the questions felt a tad leading.

I'm having the same problem because it seems to think that I haven't answered one of the questions that make you order things because I was happy with the order. Then I tried rearranging one slot and it still won't accept it. I don't know what to do.

 

[Kaymish]

I hit submit, the page refreshes, and it it sends me to the top of the page with all my info still in. Did everyone else get this? Or is my thing broken?

In any case, the questions felt a tad leading.

I'm having the same problem because it seems to think that I haven't answered one of the questions that make you order things because I was happy with the order. Then I tried rearranging one slot and it still won't accept it. I don't know what to do.

yeah this question "Which of the following archetypes composes most of your game collection? Rank in order of preference" is the problem i think its bugged it wants you to put all the items in the box just do that and you will have no problem

anyway i hope everyone is honest call me cynical but i doubt this will be taken very seriously given that its an internet survey and when was the last time one of those was taken without all the salt in Bonneville given the number of faceless trolls out there

 

[Therumancer]

Well if the right people answer the survey, it would be interesting to see it. (Right as in people who take this seriously and are well informed) (Wrong as in trolling or judging things based on low amount of info).

Well that depends on what you'd consider "well informed". I just took it and I'm not a big supporter of "diversity for the sake of diversity" as presented on these forums as I'm sure many people probably noticed.

That said from what I've seen of most gaming forums right now, I think a "go go diversity" outcome is almost guaranteed if this is the major source of survey participants.

That said I have nothing against diversity in games, but I think it's already better than a lot of people think, and I don't believe in pushing diversity for the sake of diversity.

At the end of the day the big thing that will change things is going to be if the industry gets off it's "AAA only" kick and produces more games, at which point you'll see more diverse types of high end games, and doubtlessly more diverse protagonists. A big part of the "problem" as I see it is that with so few games produced, they can't exactly target niche audiences, and try to go for the widest appeal possible among those that play. More games means you'll see more types of games and content, and it won't be about shoehorning things into a handful of games. Rather than saying pushing an issue of 'gay representation in Mass Effect' for example, an industry again catering to niche audience might just make a gay-helmed science fiction game designed with that in mind for the main characters from the ground up.

 

[LazyAza]

Both of those things are 100% true though so your point is moot.

*If* that were true, there would be no point in having a panel about gender inclusive game design at a Game Developer's Conference in the first place.

100% true, no less? Ah, well. Time for the ashes and sack-cloth, I guess.

What? that makes no sense. It being 100% true is the exact reason these panels need to be held period. If this weren't a rampant issue THEN their would be no reason to have said panels. Panels and other public events are some of the best ways to acknowledge these problems and help to further be rid of them.

I swear people who are blissfully unaware or ignorant of the rampant misogyny across all aspects of the game industry are living under rocks surrounded by fog on the opposite side of a portal to some bizaro land alternate universe. It borders on delusional madness to think these things aren't happening. Further discussion about them is the only way things will ever be set right for this industry.

 

[Random Argument Man]

Well if the right people answer the survey, it would be interesting to see it. (Right as in people who take this seriously and are well informed) (Wrong as in trolling or judging things based on low amount of info).

Well that depends on what you'd consider "well informed". I just took it and I'm not a big supporter of "diversity for the sake of diversity" as presented on these forums as I'm sure many people probably noticed.

That said from what I've seen of most gaming forums right now, I think a "go go diversity" outcome is almost guaranteed if this is the major source of survey participants.

That said I have nothing against diversity in games, but I think it's already better than a lot of people think, and I don't believe in pushing diversity for the sake of diversity.

At the end of the day the big thing that will change things is going to be if the industry gets off it's "AAA only" kick and produces more games, at which point you'll see more diverse types of high end games, and doubtlessly more diverse protagonists. A big part of the "problem" as I see it is that with so few games produced, they can't exactly target niche audiences, and try to go for the widest appeal possible among those that play. More games means you'll see more types of games and content, and it won't be about shoehorning things into a handful of games. Rather than saying pushing an issue of 'gay representation in Mass Effect' for example, an industry again catering to niche audience might just make a gay-helmed science fiction game designed with that in mind for the main characters from the ground up.

True, "well informed" can take many meanings. I consider "well informed" to be knowing the concepts that are at work and how they can be applied. Diversity is taking into account that there's not just one type of demographic and taking steps to make sure everyone is included.

In your case, I can understand your stance. There's a difference between having a character who's gay for the sake of having a gay character and a gay character that shows how it's like to live his/her life. While I think the long term plan is to do well created characters like the latter type, the former type can be a gateway to better things for a short term plan.

If there's more gay characters, good writers will tend create a game with good gay characters. Granted, this needs to be done properly in order to move on to better things.

 

[Something Amyss]

Well if the right people answer the survey, it would be interesting to see it. (Right as in people who take this seriously and are well informed) (Wrong as in trolling or judging things based on low amount of info).

I heavily anticipate people deciding to tear it down because apparently even broaching this topic is too scary for words.

Still, I answered honestly in the hopes that I'm wrong.

Both of those things are 100% true though so your point is moot.

Oh crap. You'd better add a #notallgamers tag or people will think you're attacking them personally.

Though if people are already commenting that this is a trap, it may be too late.

 

[SilverUchiha]

I took it seriously, but had a chuckle with the question "Do you pick a game because you can easily relate to the character?"

Considering I've bought games with long-legged witches that use gun-martial-arts, super sonic hedgehogs, space mercenary foxes that fight dinosaurs, anime ninjas, aperture test subjects, whatever Kirby is, worms, lego-people, Voldo, and the dozens upon dozens of build-your-own characters that are just different random women I've made... yeah... I'd say that I just pick games because they're unique and interesting. Don't give a damn if I relate to the protagonist at all.

 

[Callate]

Both of those things are 100% true though so your point is moot.

*If* that were true, there would be no point in having a panel about gender inclusive game design at a Game Developer's Conference in the first place.

100% true, no less? Ah, well. Time for the ashes and sack-cloth, I guess.

What? that makes no sense. It being 100% true is the exact reason these panels need to be held period. If this weren't a rampant issue THEN their would be no reason to have said panels. Panels and other public events are some of the best ways to acknowledge these problems and help to further be rid of them.

I swear people who are blissfully unaware or ignorant of the rampant misogyny across all aspects of the game industry are living under rocks surrounded by fog on the opposite side of a portal to some bizaro land alternate universe. It borders on delusional madness to think these things aren't happening. Further discussion about them is the only way things will ever be set right for this industry.

If it were 100% true that the community of those who play games and the people who developed them were misogynists, educating them wouldn't do any good, and acknowledging the problems would be something that one would never expect to occur. Particularly if one combines this with the (not unreasonable) assumption that the vast majority of the wherewithal to create and publish games within the industry falls under men.

Nor is an attitude that assumes "rampant misogyny across all aspects of the game industry" and that those who disagree must be "unaware or ignorant" (at best) one under which actual discussion is likely to happen.

"Discussion" is something that happens when two parties talk to each other, both with open enough minds to believe they might have something to learn. Not when one party sits meekly while the other lectures to them.

And "misogyny" is hatred of women.

If one assumes that the industry and/or the gaming community is ignorant of certain factors, and that knowledge of those factors would enable an existent empathy to alter those people's actions, then there is a point to having a discussion.

If one merely assumes those people hate women... that is not something that will be altered by discussion, or "discussion" or, least of all, screaming at them that they hate women, regardless of the accuracy or inaccuracy of such a statement.

 

[Something Amyss]

In your case, I can understand your stance. There's a difference between having a character who's gay for the sake of having a gay character and a gay character that shows how it's like to live his/her life. While I think the long term plan is to do well created characters like the latter type, the former type can be a gateway to better things for a short term plan.

If there's more gay characters, good writers will tend create a game with good gay characters. Granted, this needs to be done properly in order to move on to better things.

The largest problem here is that people aren't looking for diversity for the sake of diversity by and large. They're looking for options. And there really is no good argument against that, so they resort to straw men where everything must be designed by committee rawr!

Honestly, though, I can see a single reason not to have female and gay and black and whatever else characters done the exact same way as the straight white dudes. You can make a straight white dude without having to justify him, so really, why do we have to justify pretty much everyone else?

 

[Mister K]

You know, three months ago I may have taken this survey. Now, after buckets of shit were spilled in "gender politics in games" discussion, I just don't care about it. I am tired of carying about this.

I'll just do what any sane consumer should do: I will vote with my wallet.

 

[Elfgore]

Well besides number 11 being a forced question, the survey wasn't that bad. But some itching feeling says my indifference may be taken wrong.

 

[Jake Martinez]

Real diversity is of opinions and viewpoints, not genitalia or melanin count.

The thing that is really sad about this is that it's obvious that regardless of the outcome, it will be used to beat developers over the head about how they are (pick one)

a) Sexist.
b) Homophobic.
c) Racist.
d) Abelist.

Simply because they don't have some ill-defined level of minority representation in their video games.

Those who level these kinds of charges against people in the creative industry are basically just children. They have an incredibly simple and naive view of what represents diversity and by focusing on issues like gender and race almost exclusively they are essentially dehumanizing the very people they are claiming to speak up for by using them as tokens or pawns in their crusade to get media creators to create media just the way that they like it and no way else.

How about we try this for a change: Let people write the books, comics, movies and games that they want to and let's stop trying to force them to self-censor themselves based on any one persons esoteric political agenda or social mores.

EDIT: Almost as an afterthought I did a tiny bit of cyber-sleuthing after I wrote the above.

1) Confirmed: Jennifer Allaway is an activist of the self proclaimed social justice variety.
2) Presented with Brandon Sheffield at GDC on sexism in games and gaming industry in March.
3) Interesting note: 115 Tweets of #womenaretoohardtoanimate in the last 30 days. Obviously people are very concerned about Assassin Creed's lack of a playable female character.

I was unable to find the actual research paper that she wrote, but I did find out that it was sourced of of only 34 interviews and 344 survey respondents. No idea where the samples were sourced from or what the raw stats look like so it's hard to establish sampling bias or sampling error.

Finally, her study makes claims about perceived sexism in gaming, but as far as I can find there is no comparison between overall perception of sexist attitudes amongst gamers and the population at large (To point: Is this a gamer or games specific issue, or is it a societal one).

One thing I would like to add - there is a factual claim about pay discrepancies between men and women in the game industry. I'm curious as to if this is worse or better than other industries, particularly broken down by job type (creative vs. STEM). Also, I think it's fair to point out that this, along with harassment in the work place, are issues that society as a whole agrees are major issues. Which is why we have laws against them.

If you are being harassed at work because of your gender or not being paid fairly because of your gender, you have legal recourse. You don't need a twitter hashtag for it.

 

[Angelowl]

This study is made by americans isn't it? The whole "Race is mandantory" approach seems completely alien to me. Ethnically I am a half swede half scanian, so that means I am of north germanic heritage. I simply refuse to put "caucasian" since none of my ancestors ever been at the caucasian mountains. I guess I can put "white" since people seem obsessed by skin colour, but I frequently get asked where I am from due to my dark complexion and dark hair. Not to mention that "white - people of colour" erases the oppresion of samis, jews, romas and finns that have occured in Sweden during the 20th century.

Otherwise, playing games on PCs: how am I supposed to specify the platform any more than that? A PC is a PC.

Rant mode off/

 

[Hoplon]

Participate in a Survey About Gender Diversity in Video Games

Jennifer Allaway invites game players and game developers to respond to a survey about diversity in video games.

In June, #womenaretoohardtoanimate [http://www.polygon.com/e3-2014/2014/6/10/5798592/assassins-creed-unity-female-assassins] hashtag. Student researcher Jennifer Allaway is examining the relationship between players' desires for diversity and game developers' understanding of that desire for a GDC 2015 talk.

Allaway is using this situation as a case study for disparities among game developer expectations and player desires. The study comprises two surveys. One survey is specifically designed for players who are not in the games industry and asks consumers for their opinions on diversity in the games themselves, whether players feel represented in games, whether a discussion about diversity is important, and whether game developers are doing enough for diversity.

If you are a consumer and would like to participate in Allaway's research, fill out the player survey here [http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1776666/PlayerSurvey].

Another survey is available for game developers and asks questions about target audience, opinions on how important diversity is to players, and predictions of players' behaviors surrounding diversity in games. Allaway will compare the two surveys to examine how effectively game developers are predicting the desires of players when it comes to matters of diversity of racial background and gender identity. Allaway believes this information will fill in missing information about how diversity affects games' profitability, games' content, and how companies are understanding or misunderstanding players.

If you are a game developer and would like to participate, fill out the developer survey here [http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1776663/DevSurvey].

Allaway plans to present her findings alongside Sheri Graner Ray, studio design director at Schell Games and author of Gender Inclusive Game Design--Expanding the Market, at GDC 2015.


Permalink

what was weirdest about this is after the "it would be too much work" they then released videos about the making of saying it would be super easy and they in fact already have all the animations etc they would need.

 

[bificommander]

Hmm, most of the questions are multiple choice, but I suspect there will be a few colorful messages in the free text fields. And by colorful, I mean threats of violence.

Filled it in. Had a bit of trouble with some questions, like how much it matters to me that I can relate to the character. This is fairly important to me, but that doesn't mean the character has to be like me, just that I don't think he or she is an idiot or asshole.

Also, I went ahead and assumed that by a character with "different physical limitations", they were referring to some form of disability or handicap or the like. Because most characters I play have different physical limitations than me. I can't lug 20 guns, run for kilometers on end, jump 10 feet in the air, spin a Zweihander around me twice in a second, etc. etc.

Among the only things that I felt slightly mattered to me in terms of "playing as someone else" was Socio-economic. I filled that one in because I remembered my time with GTA: San Andreas, and how I just couldn't relate to the gansta-culture of the protagonist. In Vice City, my knowledge of mafia and organized crime stories was enough that I could comprehend why I was tasked to do missions where I shot a bunch of people (I obviously didn't agree with it in real life, but I got why the character would do it). I liked San Andreas less because I didn't have a clue why I was fighting half the time, and didn't like any of CJ's friends and their motivations either.

Kinda had the same thing when I watched Deer Hunter. To me, the protagonists were acting like a bunch of wackjobs even before they went to Vietnam, so the whole "come back traumatized"-message fell rather flat.

 

[Caiphus]

Quick note about the survey: some of the questions aren't crystal clear.

What does it mean when it talks about "different physical limitations", for example? Presumably it's talking about disabilities. But unless you're reasonably clued into the diversity debate, that's probably not clear. Kratos, for example, has different physical limitations than me; he has none, and I have plenty. I doubt it's talking about him though.

Also "What is your gender identity?". Again, probably going to get raised eyebrows/confused looks from people who haven't already been participating in these discussions. So you might be getting some fairly heavy non-response bias here, if you're confusing people from the very beginning. If you weren't getting fairly heavy bias in your responses already, and I'd imagine that you would be.

Also Question 9 doesn't work super well. Need to select every category. Also asks you to rank in order of preference, while also asking you to sort the categories in order of how many you have. Slightly pedantic, but whatever.

Edit: Also yes, Question 11 requires you to tick at least one box.

 

[Karadalis]

Participate in a Survey About Gender Diversity in Video Games

Jennifer Allaway invites game players and game developers to respond to a survey about diversity in video games.

In June, #womenaretoohardtoanimate [http://www.polygon.com/e3-2014/2014/6/10/5798592/assassins-creed-unity-female-assassins] hashtag. Student researcher Jennifer Allaway is examining the relationship between players' desires for diversity and game developers' understanding of that desire for a GDC 2015 talk.

Allaway is using this situation as a case study for disparities among game developer expectations and player desires. The study comprises two surveys. One survey is specifically designed for players who are not in the games industry and asks consumers for their opinions on diversity in the games themselves, whether players feel represented in games, whether a discussion about diversity is important, and whether game developers are doing enough for diversity.

If you are a consumer and would like to participate in Allaway's research, fill out the player survey here [http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1776666/PlayerSurvey].

Another survey is available for game developers and asks questions about target audience, opinions on how important diversity is to players, and predictions of players' behaviors surrounding diversity in games. Allaway will compare the two surveys to examine how effectively game developers are predicting the desires of players when it comes to matters of diversity of racial background and gender identity. Allaway believes this information will fill in missing information about how diversity affects games' profitability, games' content, and how companies are understanding or misunderstanding players.

If you are a game developer and would like to participate, fill out the developer survey here [http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1776663/DevSurvey].

Allaway plans to present her findings alongside Sheri Graner Ray, studio design director at Schell Games and author of Gender Inclusive Game Design--Expanding the Market, at GDC 2015.


Permalink

what was weirdest about this is after the "it would be too much work" they then released videos about the making of saying it would be super easy and they in fact already have all the animations etc they would need.

Actually it wasy only one PR person who said it would "to hard" in an interview.

That actually pissed off the animators.. you know the guys who later showed that it is rather easy and not time consuming at all, because they felt being thrown under the bus and abused as a shield for the PR department to hide behind.

Animators where NOT happy about that statement.

On the other hand the entire char cast could be female and you wouldnt see 50% of the games playerbase suddenly become female.. nor would sales rise. Quite the contrary... it might even drop. (However i am curious if that would turn out to be true or if people didnt really give two shits about the protagonists gender... i mean hey... tomb raider sold 5 million + copies... again the majority of the buyers being males)

 

[Hoplon]

what was weirdest about this is after the "it would be too much work" they then released videos about the making of saying it would be super easy and they in fact already have all the animations etc they would need.

Actually it wasy only one PR person who said it would "to hard" in an interview.

That actually pissed off the animators.. you know the guys who later showed that it is rather easy and not time consuming at all, because they felt being thrown under the bus and abused as a shield for the PR department to hide behind.

Animators where NOT happy about that statement.

On the other hand the entire char cast could be female and you wouldnt see 50% of the games playerbase suddenly become female.. nor would sales rise. Quite the contrary... it might even drop. (However i am curious if that would turn out to be true or if people didnt really give two shits about the protagonists gender... i mean hey... tomb raider sold 5 million + copies... again the majority of the buyers being males)

To the first point, Yet the PR guys are responsible for both being released to the public. Strange people.

To the second point, I don't think most people care about the gender of the protagonists so much as them not being another cardboard cut out with Ubisoft protagonist syndrome, I.e. an angry white man who is very angry but other wise is a total dipshit with the personal charisma of a dead rat. Only Ezio has not fallen in to that trap. and then when it should be jsut a choice since they aren't the protagonist anymore, they shut out any other options.

It's not even like they can't produce other characters, but they constantly make this same boring fuckwit the lead save for some DLC and a vita game. Probably because marketing says to.

 

[J Tyran]

Thing is you have to wonder how diverse people want the games, before all this blew up again a few weeks ago I was watching some videos of different dialogue and events I missed in the Mass Effect trilogy and I noticed something that wasn't exactly disturbing (creepy in a way) but it really made me think.

I noticed all kinds of Shepards, male Shepards, female Shepards, default Shepards, ugly Shepards, attractive Shepards, people that are hopeless with the character creation Shepards and people that wanted to make a stupid looking Shepard.

In hundreds of short clips and videos there where almost no African or Asian Shepards, 99% of them where white. All that diversity in player choices apart from ethnicity even though the options are there, it really got me thinking and wondering what was going on. I don't have any answer apart from the obvious, not many people are really bothered or willing. The real question, "why?" isn't so obvious.

Surely lots of people with different ethnic backgrounds play games, in the developed countries games can be had for the investment of a minimum wages weeks worth of wages new and far less second hand. Don't they play those games? Don't they make and upload videos? If not why? Economics again isn't such a barrier in the west, an Avermedia capture device or something costs less than a last gen console.

So do African and Asian people avoid playing the games and making the videos because they are disillusioned or is it something cultural or societal? Or are they just playing and making videos of white characters for some reason? Maybe they are "programmed" after years of playing white characters that they just make those.

The answers are probably complex and not all that obvious.

 

[likalaruku]

I did the survey but when I clicked submit, I was redirected back to the survey without a confirmation or something. NoScript was off globally for that. I can only hope my answers were saved.
I also hope it doesn't get ruined by certain internet groups.

It's probaby #9. You have to drag ALL of the available options into order, even if you don;t play them.