Discussion on the exclusionary aspects of the gaming industry at University of Leicester on Thursday 28 September

Free public event organised by the University of Leicester to take place at the LCB Depot in Leicester on Thursday 28 September

• Over last few years the gaming industry has seen fast-paced technical developments and a number of controversies surrounding exclusionary aspects
• Recent controversies include Gamergate, which saw prominent women working in the games industry be subjected to harassment and abuse online, and racial slurs by popular vloggers
• Systematic underrepresentation of women and people of colour in games industry, with workforce in the UK including only 14% women and just 4.7% individuals identifying as BAME

LEICESTER, 26-Sep-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Exclusionary aspects of the gaming industry and ways in which the industry can be more inclusive in the future will be highlighted at an event organised by the University of Leicester on Thursday 28 September.

‘New Horizons in Gaming: Tech, Publics and Politics’, which is organised by the CAMEo Research Institute for Cultural and Media Economies at the University of Leicester, will feature gaming experts from industry and academia.

The event seeks to ask: what new gaming technologies can we expect? What new forms of interaction and community are emerging from gaming? And how can we make gaming more inclusive?

Speakers include Alison Harvey, Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Leicester; Kish Hirani, freelance consultant, mentor and advisor and first Chair of the UK advocacy group BAME in Games (http://www.bameingames.org/); and global leading eSports company ESL UK.

Dr Paula Serafini, Research Associate at CAMEo Research Institute for Cultural and Media Economies, University of Leicester, who is organising the event, said: “In the last few years the gaming industry has seen fast-paced technical developments, as well as the evolving role of gaming as a social activity, and a number of controversies surrounding the exclusionary aspects of the industry and its publics.

“From Gamergate, which saw prominent women working in the games industry be subjected to harassment and abuse online, to the more recent controversy surrounding the vlogger PewDiePie’s use of racial slurs when live streaming gameplay, gaming culture has been surrounded by controversies related to diversity and representation in recent years.

“Part of this problem is the systemic underrepresentation of women and people of colour in the games industry. A 2012 Creative Skillset Census of the Creative Media Industries report showed that in 2012, the computer games workforce in the UK included only 14% women and just 4.7% individuals who identified as BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic).

“We are therefore hosting this salon to bring together experts and enthusiasts to talk about the future of gaming and how the industry and its culture will change in the future.

“This will be the third salon hosted this year by CAMEo. With this series of events, we are hoping to bring together academics, creative industry professionals, artists and the general public to discuss topical issues in the arts and media and generate connections between people.”

Following presentations and discussion, attendees are invited to stay for a pop-up arcade after-party (8.30-9.30pm) and play some of the most interesting and unusual games available for free online.

The event, ‘New Horizons in Gaming: Tech, Publics and Politics’, which is organised by the University of Leicester, will take place at the LCB Depot in Leicester, on 28 September between 6:00PM – 9:30PM.

ENDS  

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Dr Paula Serafini on paula.serafini@leicester.ac.uk or Stevie Marsden on stevie.marsden@leicester.ac.uk

This is a free event and all are welcome.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/143640742901225/?ref=br_rs

SOURCE: University of Leicester

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