Spotlighting the trailblazing journeys of women in game dev, from math wizards and literary buffs to game design maestros and artistic virtuosos
Sponsored by Xbox, Predator Gaming, and SkillSearch
Women in Games Italia and Event Horizon School just dropped the speaker lineup for the inaugural Women Create Games Forum. This epic event is slated for September 13, 2024, at Event Horizon School’s Milan campus and will be live-streamed on their YouTube channel. This all-day educational bonanza dives deep into the game dev universe, focusing on the STEM magic wielded by pro women in the industry.
The Gender Gap in Gaming
A survey by Women in Games at GDC 2024 revealed some gnarly stats: less than a third of game devs are women, and only 13% hold decision-making roles. The forum aims to flip the script by giving industry leaders a platform to share their career sagas and drop knowledge bombs on game dev best practices, inspiring the next wave of talent.
Leveling Up Knowledge
Attendees are in for a treat, gaining wisdom on a plethora of topics:
- The multifaceted role of game producers
- Using lighting as a storytelling tool
- Game design nuances and their impact on player experience
- The importance of cross-team collab in development
- A global take on environment artistry
- The crucial role of UI/UX in player engagement
Powerhouse Speakers
The Women Create Games Forum boasts an all-star lineup, including:
- Alessandra Tomasina, Senior Producer at Nacon Studio Milan: From game critic to production maestro, she’ll dish out insider deets on managing complex game launches.
- Arianna Fusetti, Lighting Artist at Frontier Developments: Journeyed through 2D motion graphics to become a lighting artist for AAA titles.
- Carola Pettinato, Associate Game Designer at Criterion Games: Switched from modern lit studies to a coveted EA internship, now shaping the latest Battlefield experiences.
- Lisa Gobbi, Senior Environment Artist at Avalanche Studios: Merged economics with environment artistry, crafting worlds for top studios in Italy and the UK.
- Maria Elena Silletti, Lead UI at Nacon Studio Milan: Turned a childhood passion into UI mastery, elevating user interfaces in Italian games.
- Irene Filoscia, GFX/UI Programmer at Milestone Srl: From pure math to game dev, highlighting the importance of cross-team synergy and programmers’ role in unifying development processes.
Keynote Speaker and Hosts
Fiona Cherbak, Lead Talent Program Manager at Xbox Game Studios, will drop the keynote address, bringing her expertise in promoting diversity and inclusion in gaming. The event will be co-hosted by Micaela Romanini, Founder of Women in Games Italia, and Fabio Cristi, Project Manager at Event Horizon School.
Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of Women in Games, shared: “We are stoked to partner and support the Women Create Forum, alongside Women in Games Italia and Event Horizon School, to celebrate and champion the work of women across Europe. Events like this are crucial, providing a safe and supportive environment for women to inspire each other. We can’t wait for September!”
Powered by Sponsors
This rad event is powered by big-name sponsors: Xbox, Predator Gaming (Acer), SkillSearch, and partners Swipe Right, Women in Games, and Devcom.
The Women Create Games Forum is open to students, professionals, and anyone keen to learn more about the contributions of women in the gaming industry. Get ready to level up your knowledge and be inspired by the awesome women shaping the future of gaming!
