I will be speaking in three panels at GaymerX2, which will be taking place in San Francisco from 11 – 13 July. This second incarnation of GaymerX is looking like the last convention they hold, so I’m glad to be a part of it.
The first one is going to be interesting because I never actually “came out” as such, and what people typically assume about this part of my identity is different from reality.
Coming Out in the Game Industry
Friday July 11, 2014 3:00pm – 3:45pm
*GX Panel Room C (3F) (Union Square (3F))Moderator: Mathew Anderson – Community Manager, SixFoot, LLC
Speakers: Thomas Abrams – Head of Recruiting, ArenaNet, LLC; Regina Buenaobra – North American Community Team Lead, ArenaNet, LLC; Chris Wright
Figuring out how to come out to anyone can feel like a heavy weight bearing down on one’s mind. The good news is that with support lifting this weight can make you feel light as a feather afterward. The even better news is that coming out is getting easier. This panel aims to discuss the current issues and how we can overcome the stigma of coming out to friends, fellow gamers, and as a professional in the industry.
I’m really looking forward to this one. As a long time gamer and lover of stories, I have opinions about identity exploration through media. I’m honored to be in such amazing company. There might be one or two additional panelists added, so I’ll update this post if/when that happens.
Creating Character: Exploring Queer Identities Through Games
Saturday July 12, 2014 10:00am – 10:45am
*GX Panel Room B (3F) (Grand Ballroom C (3F))Games allow us to explore and identify what it means to be ourselves. They also create opportunities to explore and appreciate the identities of others. Our panelists will examine how our relationships with our in-game personas carry over to the real world, from personal and anecdotal experience.
Moderator: Carolyn Petit – Editor, GameSpot.com
Speakers: Regina Buenaobra – North American Community Team Lead, ArenaNet, LLC; Heather Cerlan – Texture Artist, Naughty Dog, Inc.; Emilia Schatz – Game Designer, Naughty Dog, Inc.; Josie Doggett – VFX Artist, Harmonix Music Systems
Because community managers are generally the most accessible people at a studio, and because so many fans want to break into the videogame industry, I’ve fielded a lot of questions about these topics over the years.
Saturday July 12, 2014 11:00am – 12:45pm
*GX Panel Room C (3F) (Union Square (3F))Moderator: Thomas Abrams – Head of Recruiting, ArenaNet, LLC
Speakers: Mathew Anderson, Community Manager, SixFoot, LLC, Regina Buenaobra, North American Community Team Lead, ArenaNet, LLC
Whether you are a game designer, programmer, artist, or producer, it is not easy to break into this market, as you have a lot of competition for only a small number of roles. You only get one chance to get noticed in our industry, so you have to put your best out there! We see time and time again that talented candidates do not have a solid game plan before searching for the right studio to work for. The norm is to just apply to a lot of studios and hope that someone notices you. Hope is not a plan. This discussion will cover all topics related to getting hired in gaming.