Comments on: Diversity FTW! I truly hope you are right.... a few things come to mind, though: 1) The European market doesn't look that different from the U.S. market.... Which seems to indicate that something (my guess is cost) invites game makers to pander to a more global audience. I hope indie studios will make a difference, but we will see. 2) Games are *very* much a luxury good. You need an extremely high standard of living to even consider buying video games. That closes off many local markets. My biggest hopes are on the local markets in China and India. Both of them are large enough that they might justify local games, and both countries are slowly becoming wealthy enough that it might be a possibility. (Well, and possibly South America - there seems to be quite a bit of activity there lately) So, while I'm giving my best Cassandra impersonation here, I truly hope you are right - the (gaming) world would be a better place for it. I truly hope you are right…. a few things come to mind, though:

1) The European market doesn’t look that different from the U.S. market…. Which seems to indicate that something (my guess is cost) invites game makers to pander to a more global audience. I hope indie studios will make a difference, but we will see.

2) Games are *very* much a luxury good. You need an extremely high standard of living to even consider buying video games. That closes off many local markets.

My biggest hopes are on the local markets in China and India. Both of them are large enough that they might justify local games, and both countries are slowly becoming wealthy enough that it might be a possibility. (Well, and possibly South America – there seems to be quite a bit of activity there lately)

So, while I’m giving my best Cassandra impersonation here, I truly hope you are right – the (gaming) world would be a better place for it.

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By: snake5/2011/03/21/diversity-ftw/#comment-1864 snake5 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:36:20 +0000 Does someone know what are the last numbers on this subject? I only have the 2005 IGDA report saying that the industry is about 83% white, 88% male. Is it more diverse six years later? (I don't really think so looking at the GDC 2011 Flickr set) Does someone know what are the last numbers on this subject? I only have the 2005 IGDA report saying that the industry is about 83% white, 88% male. Is it more diverse six years later? (I don’t really think so looking at the GDC 2011 Flickr set)

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By: David Evans/2011/03/21/diversity-ftw/#comment-1861 David Evans Tue, 22 Mar 2011 06:27:25 +0000 Well, I think if you are waiting for American publishers to fund games that try and fill gaps in diversity then you're right, that will never happen. But local publishers/developers making games for their own market will by it's very nature be diverse. Well, I think if you are waiting for American publishers to fund games that try and fill gaps in diversity then you’re right, that will never happen. But local publishers/developers making games for their own market will by it’s very nature be diverse.

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By: snake5/2011/03/21/diversity-ftw/#comment-1855 snake5 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:55:57 +0000 don't forget that isolation is a major component of the (cultural) evolutionary process. in a young industry that self selects for the most tech savvy, connected individuals, diversity will have a more difficult time getting a foothold. don’t forget that isolation is a major component of the (cultural) evolutionary process. in a young industry that self selects for the most tech savvy, connected individuals, diversity will have a more difficult time getting a foothold.

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By: Rachel 'Groby' Blum/2011/03/21/diversity-ftw/#comment-1843 Rachel 'Groby' Blum Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:38:02 +0000