User:Tiffanywiffany/Dames Making Games

Lead
Dames Making Games (DMG) is a Toronto-based non-profit organization that speaks out about female achievements in the gaming industry and supplying information about game development. Providing resources and hosting workshops, Dames Making Games aims to create a comfortable platform for women, non-binary, femme and queer people in the creation of video games.

History
Dames Making Games' earliest conception can be traces down to a 2011 month long program held by TIFF Nexus called “The Difference Engine Initiative,” also in collaboration with the Hand Eye Society, which educated young women in game creation. The co-founder Cecily Craver, inspired by her experience in the program thought of creating a platform to diversify the demographic of people in the game developing industry. Sparking the name Dames Making Games, Craver recruited Jennie Faber to help host meetings. Soon after Alex Leitch was recruited to help with the creation of DMG. Since been founding in 2012, the group has held workshops, game jams, socials and other events aiming to educate and support gender-diverse gamers, citing the male-dominated culture of gaming as a barrier faced by many would-be gamers. DMG's goals also include diversifying the depiction of gender in games to better reflect the breadth of human experience. In 2015 and 2016, the group collaborated in organizing Indigicade, a video-game development initiative aimed at Indigenous girls and women.[5] All the support is volunteer based and donations are encouraged.

Challenges
In their early years, DMG had a small group of supporters ranging around 30 to 40 member by 2013. As their company group, various criticism in the organization's purpose and benefits. Primarily men within gaming would mention that there is not need for female involvement in gaming. Additionally, mentioning that the organization does not have a strong goal in mind for their community. DMG retaliates by stating helping and providing resources for other women in gaming is also considered a goal. Striving for togetherness and support, DMG looks to change the direction of gaming.

Damage Camp
Lasting about a month long, Dames Making Games host Damage Camp, an event consisting of workshops and discussion panels, with guest speakers talking about a variety of topics related to females in gaming. Topics include, creating an inclusive environment for video game developers, gaining financial stability in the industry, and the incorporation of different minority groups within the gaming community. This event is made available to the general public and no membership is needed to register.

New Game Makers
In part of DMG's Fall speaker series, New Game Makers is a workshop that introduces those who are new to game developing and supply them with tools to get started. Craver was the first to introduce the first event and kept in mind progressive methods of developing games. This workshop touches on how to manage free and cross-performing software.

Support
Damage Camp is supported by Ontario Creates which is an agency which helps host the program.