Pixelles: Difference between revisions
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===Workshops=== |
===Workshops=== |
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Volunteer led [[workshop]]s are about 2 hours long with a maximum of 20 participants. They are usually hosted on the 2nd last Thursday or Tuesday evening of the month. Previous workshops covered topics such as working with [[Twine]] |
Volunteer led [[workshop]]s are about 2 hours long with a maximum of 20 participants. They are usually hosted on the 2nd last Thursday or Tuesday evening of the month. Previous workshops covered topics such as working with [[Twine]]; an introduction to game design, 3D sculpting with [[ZBrush]], 3ds max animation, programming with [[C#]]; and making a [[dating sim]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pixelles.ca/blog/category/tutorials|title=Tutorials|work=Pixelles.ca|accessdate=20 January 2015}}</ref> |
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===Incubators, Follow Along, & Showcase=== |
===Incubators, Follow Along, & Showcase=== |
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Revision as of 02:20, 21 January 2015
Pixelles, located in Montreal is a non-profit initiative committed to helping more women make and change video games. In response to issues of sexism in video gaming, Pixelles aims to promote diversity in the game-making community and video game culture on a grassroots level.
Pixelles provides motivation and the resources to help these women take the first big step and create their first game. Alumnae have gone on to create more games and be empowered to participate in the Montreal's game community as a culture, professional, and a creative space.
Background
The idea for Pixelles was inspired by Toronto's Difference Engine Initiative, a game-making incubator organized in 2011 by the Hand Eye Society, a video game arts organization. Feminists in Games, an organization of feminist digital researchers, approached game-hobbyist Rebecca Cohen Palacios and game designer Tanya Short to bring a similar project to Montreal.[1]
The debut of the Pixelles in Montreal coincided with a the Twitter awareness hashtag campaign called #1reasonwhy, where women in the game industry provided personal experiences about sexism in the industry.[2]
Programming
Programs are targeted towards Montreal-based women who are interested in making games but for one reason or another have never managed to do so.
Workshops
Volunteer led workshops are about 2 hours long with a maximum of 20 participants. They are usually hosted on the 2nd last Thursday or Tuesday evening of the month. Previous workshops covered topics such as working with Twine; an introduction to game design, 3D sculpting with ZBrush, 3ds max animation, programming with C#; and making a dating sim.[3]
Incubators, Follow Along, & Showcase
The free workshop follows a six week format that provides advice on tools and applications, input from mentors, and support from the rest of the group. The incubator is open to anyone who identifies as female and can attend the workshops in Montreal, no former development experience required. Participants are selected through an application process. In 2013, ten women were chosen from over sixty applicants.[4]
At the end of each incubator, Pixelles hosts a showcase to celebrate the new game makers. The 2013 showcase clocked over 150 attendees from friends to indies to people from AAA industry coming out to support and celebrate women and video games.[5] Games from the 2013 showcase can be played on the official website.
Men could not sign up, but are able to participate either as mentors or as play-testers. They are also able to sign up for the follow-along program, where material and exercises covered in the program were posted online.[1] Follow-Alongs do not have access to the meetings or the workspace, but they can still follow the deadlines and make a game.[6] In 2013, out of over thirty follow along sign ups, four successfully made a game during the allotted time.
Mentoring
The mentorship program is for women wanting to join the games industry. Mentors, who come from a network of experts from every discipline, are male and female. Mentors provide feedback on your portfolio, code, and/or CV while also discussing how to improve your chances in an increasingly competitive industry.
Social Events
See Also
References
- ^ a b "Lady-Players". thelinknewspaper.ca. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Pixelles: Calling all (game-designing) ladies". Cult MTL. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Tutorials". Pixelles.ca. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Pixelles Postmortem: How to Increase Game Creator Diversity NOW". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Empowerment through development: The Pixelles Game Incubator". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Pixelles Postmortem: How to Increase Game Creator Diversity NOW". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Girls Make Games : le succès de jeunes créatrices dans le monde du jeu vidéo". standalonepost.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.