The Tropical Island Dilemma: Challenging Video Games' Stereotypes

According to video games, the only thing I'm interested in—when I'm not being lazy—is sunshine, fun and carefree living. In the world of video games, this is the stereotypical Caribbean person. » 7/01/14 5:00pm 7/01/14 5:00pm

The Most Diverse Video Game Cast Is Getting Even More Varied

Not just one old person. A few of them. Not just one shade of brown person but lighter and darker tones. Not just able-bodied people. People in wheelchairs, too. » 5/22/14 1:00pm 5/22/14 1:00pm

If anyone can make indie games, then where are the Black and Latino people? Developer Shawn Allen—one of the relative few people of color independently spearheading the creation of their own games—gave a talk at New York University's Game Center that looks at the dearth of diversity in the video game creator talent… » 5/07/14 12:15pm 5/07/14 12:15pm

Gamestop's Only Female Executive Is Fictional

GameStop, the videogame retailer, is having a rough time. They shut down two percent of their stores in 2013. In March, they announced plans to close another 2 percent this year. » 4/22/14 6:38pm 4/22/14 6:38pm

Was PAX East's Diversity Lounge A Success? I Asked People Who Went

Ubiquitous webcomic Penny Arcade's taken some rather poor stances on diversity in the past, leading some people (myself included) to avoid PAX altogether for the time being. However, PA is at least attempting to clean up its act, starting with a "Diversity Lounge" that debuted at PAX East. But did it help? Or did it… » 4/21/14 6:29pm 4/21/14 6:29pm

Why I Didn't Attend PAX This Weekend

PAX is a behemoth. A monolith. It's nearly outgrown the ubiquitous webcomic that spawned it. It's an incredibly popular event, where tens of thousands of video game fans come together to celebrate their favorite pastime. But I think the convention still has a lot more growing to do, and in some ways is growing in the… » 4/12/14 10:31am 4/12/14 10:31am

A Look at Characters with Disabilities in Video Games

Recently there has been a lot of discussions about the need for diversity in video games. There has been a lot of attention given to the call for inclusion of more female characters, of more gay and lesbian characters, and more characters of racial minorities. Today I'm here to talk about another group that is often… » 3/27/14 11:32am 3/27/14 11:32am

PAX Will Now Have "Diversity Lounges", Penny Arcade Says

The organisers of the Penny Arcade Expos will next year be introducing "Diversity Hubs" in an attempt to be more inclusive to attendees. » 12/17/13 10:46pm 12/17/13 10:46pm

In SpyParty, Your Prejudices Might Just Be Why You Got Shot in the Head

When SpyParty creator Chris Hecker says he wants his tense, psychological espionage simulation to be the most diverse game ever, he's talking triple-decker diversity. » 7/01/13 9:00am 7/01/13 9:00am

This Is Why We Need More Black People Making Video Games

When I traded correspondence with writer David Brothers last week, I made the argument that video games needs its equivalent to Blazing Saddles. This time, I'm saying that it could use its own version of Milestone Media, the groundbreaking comics company started by a crew of black professionals. » 3/01/13 11:00am 3/01/13 11:00am

This Is How We Get More Black People In Video Games

It's Black History Month, that time of year when people look at exceptional achievements and moments having to do with African Americans and black culture. What does that have to do with video games? Sadly, not a whole lot. There's such a paucity of black characters and creators in video games that it's difficult to… » 2/20/13 9:00am 2/20/13 9:00am

This eloquent Kill Screen piece ruminates on why diversity should be important to the future of video games. » 1/23/13 9:30pm 1/23/13 9:30pm

Gaming Accessibility Project Hopes To Help More Developers Make Games…

There are two kinds of accessibility that come up in gaming discussions. One is that understanding how a game works, or how to master it, can often be impenetrable to the newbie. But the other is that no matter how experienced a gamer is, if he or she has certain disabilities, the games can be literally almost… » 9/04/12 11:30am 9/04/12 11:30am

The Gamers We Can't Spot A Mile Away

Boston is my birthplace and always my home, but I haven't lived there since late 2005. So for three years and counting, when the time for PAX East comes I find myself sitting in an airport, abuzz with energy. » 5/03/12 4:30pm 5/03/12 4:30pm

Disabled Gamers Laud The Old Republic as 2011's Most Accessible Title

The advocacy publication for disabled video game enthusiasts has named Star Wars: The Old Republic its Mainstream Game of the Year, meaning it is the most widely released title that also is most accommodating of gamers who have different needs to enjoy full-featured gameplay. » 1/21/12 6:00pm 1/21/12 6:00pm

Even If Yoshi Is Gay, Where are the Other Gay Video Game Heroes?

Can an egg-laying dinosaur without sex organs be gay? IGN's Jack DeVries makes the case that Mario's green dinosaur steed with the prehensile tongue is "dating"-in the strange, largely irrelevant backstory that frames the series-Birdo, the pink, bow-wearing dinosaur first seen in Super Mario Bros. 2. » 4/28/11 5:00pm 4/28/11 5:00pm

Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center

While it's unlikely that the White House coordinated with the makers of Grand Theft Auto, the two parties managed to make May 26, 2009 a significant date for Latinos. » 5/26/09 6:20pm 5/26/09 6:20pm

Sounds Like Destiny's Next DLC Will Be Way Less Cruel

The Majora's Mask 3DS Is Sold Out For Now [UPDATING]

Geforce GTX 960 Review: Sweet Spot' GPU or Not?