3 Mins
3-Fold Games are a micro game studio of two women (Chella Ramanan and Claire Morwood), who met at the XX+ Games Jam in Bristol, UK in 2016. At the Jam they won Audience Choice Award for Before I Forget, motivating them to push on with development. They have since exhibited the game in the UK and internationally and collaborated with sound designers and artists to complete the development of their first game, Before I Forget, a narrative exploration of a woman with dementia. Chella and Claire have since launched a sister brand, ‘3-Fold Presents’, as a vehicle for future collaborative projects that fall outside the bounds of 3-Fold Games. The first ‘3-Fold Presents’ project is a branching narrative adventure game, Windrush Tales – the world’s first game based on the real-world arrival of Caribbean immigrants who were invited into Great Britain to help the country, post-war.
Recently we spoke with Claire and Chella about their experiences on what it’s like for women working in game development and these were their fantastic insights.
What is it like being a woman in games?
Claire:
I remember having some amazing role models when I was starting out making games and was lucky to have a local meetup for women in game development. For me, this was really motivational and made me feel more connected to the industry. However, there are still a lot of issues in the industry as a whole when it comes to representation, opportunities and company culture in regard to gender. Women still only represent around a quarter of game developers, even though the percentage of women who play video games is closer to double that amount.
Chella:
When I first started, as a journalist, I was the only woman in the press room at events usually and possibly the only non-white person. Most women in the industry were in PR. But that was so normal I didn’t think about it that much.
That said, it’s been great to see events and networks that support and celebrate women in games become established over the years.
The face of the industry has definitely changed.
Have you faced any challenges being a woman in your industry?
Claire:
While the awareness of the challenges that women face in the games industry has improved over the last few years, as women we’re still underrepresented as game developers in the industry. It’s also still much less common to see women as relatable protagonists in games themselves. It can feel isolating at times due to this, but the support networks for women that have grown since events like gamergate occurred have been very positive, and encourage safe spaces for women to feel that they are not alone.
Chella:
It took me a really long time to get a break as a journalist. It felt like a club for white guys, until an editor commissioned a piece for The Guardian from me. That one break opened doors, alongside my decision to break into speaking at events, which raised my profile.
As a developer funding is probably the biggest challenge. Statistically, women are less likely to gain funding and investment and that drops again for Black women. We definitely felt like we lived this statistic while trying to secure funding for Before I Forget. That’s frustrating and disheartening, but we persisted.
And you do suffer the usual micro-aggressions. Not being heard in meetings until a man says the same thing. And there is a fear of moving companies or even projects because of a lot of toxic or discriminatory work cultures.
Thankfully some are being called out, but it is an underlying anxiety when it comes to making career moves.
Do you have advice for women trying to be successful in the industry?
Claire:
Stay connected with other women who are doing amazing things in the industry through social media, mentor schemes and meetups, and where possible do research into the company culture of the jobs that you are applying for.
Chella:
I agree with Claire. Find community. Research companies. Find a mentor who can help you navigate the industry, even if it’s not a formal mentorship programme. Just someone you can check in with.
Also, when you “make it” make sure you hold the door open for women coming up behind you.