Working as a game developer can be intimidating for some women – just ask those embroiled in the gamergate saga – but what’s the environment like for women developers in one of the world’s biggest gaming companies?
According to Aya Kyogoku and Risa Tabata who work for Nintendo, developers of both genders work closely and well together, each offering their own expertise and opinion without being discriminated against.
“When we joined the company, there were more males but recently, even in meetings, I sometimes find the same number of both males and females in the room,”said Kyogoku, who works on games such as Chibi Robo: Zip Lash.
“We make games by implementing good ideas from everyone regardless of gender,” added Tibata, who has worked at the company for 15 years and is a developer for Animal Crossing. “People who have good ideas, people who say funny things, people who think deeply.”
Their advice for other girls and women who want to get into videogame developing is that they shouldn’t feel hesitant to do so because of their gender.
“Please cherish what you really want to do,” said Tibata.
Watch the full interview below.
