WIGI Seattle Game Conference Announced

Representatives from non-profit organization Women in Games International (WIGI) have announced a new conference to take place in Redmond, Washington, titled “The Balancing Act: Game Industry Careers and Quality of Life”, and scheduled from 1-7 pm on Saturday, September 16. The Women in Games International Conference series has been created as a forum to discuss a wide range of issues related to women in games, including how to break in and advance your game industry career. This half-day conference will provide information for both women and men, as well as new and veteran game developers, who are trying to find a balance between quality of life and successful career in the game industry. At this conference, WIGI will identify quality of life issues and discuss methods for coping or balancing the demands of the industry and a healthy life. The conference consists of an opening keynote address, panel discussions and roundtables with top experts in the field, and a post-conference networking reception, sponsored by Microsoft Game Studios. Panel and roundtable topics will include "Quality of Life: Practical Problem-Solving”, “The Counselor is In: Expert Advice on Game Careers”, “Quality of Life - War Stories from the Trenches (and How We Solved Them)”, “Breaking In: How to Acquire The Skills and Get That First Job”, among others. Bonnie Ross, Director of Production for Microsoft Game Studios, will be opening the conference with her keynote address, entitled “Managing Insanity: How to be Director of Production for one of the largest publishing teams in the game industry and also have a life.” Her keynote topic is focused on her own career as a games producer and executive, her own experiences managing teams in the video game industry. It will also cover networking and other strategies for women in the game industry, and how this can apply to your own career. Ross has been a producer, executive producer, and studio manager on the publisher side. She will be introduced by Todd Holmdahl, Corporate Vice President of the Xbox Gaming and Platform Group. The Women In Games International Conference Seattle will be held at Microsoft, at the RedWest Campus, Building A, and further information can be found at the organization’s official website.