So, what's with gaming? Diversity, equity, inclusion and a bright future!

An interview with Chong Ahn (Head of Product Management) at Electronic Arts. To see more of my thoughts go to: www.simonjamescourt.com

I have re-discovered an industry that I have long been fascinated with - not for the industry itself, but its ability to touch and influence at scale. It is an industry that no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, or any other identity group, you are included - yet so many feel excluded at the same time. I am talking about gaming - an industry creeping over the USD$150billion annual revenue range. In fact, according to the Global Games Market Report, it is estimated that in 2020 there will be 2.7 billion gamers worldwide, and by 2023 they will be spending over USD$200 billion annually. That's a lot of players and a lot of billions!

It is also an industry that is rapidly changing and taking stock, one where the majority see their roles as becoming more important to the social fabric. 

In the recent IGDA developer survey: 85% of developers said that diversity in the games industry was important.

I decided I wanted to know more, so I reached out to my friend, Chong Ahn of Electronic Arts. Chong has been around the industry for most of his life, including giants like Ubisoft and fast-growing studios like Scopely, Take Two Interactive, and NCSOFT.

I spoke with Chong to ask him some questions and get to know him further.

Can you tell me about your journey in the gaming industry and what initially attracted you to it?

“My journey started on the other side, providing brand, advertising, and marketing services for the gaming industry. My attraction to the industry was to become a part of the creative process that was constantly on the cutting edge, while evolving with the latest tech, science and art. It was also an industry that was diverse, with talent and projects coming from across the globe.”

What type of games do you love to both play and design? Why?

“I am a huge fan of First Person Shooters, Real Time Strategy, and Fighting games, though I dabble in just about every genre. These are my favorite because it shares a certain DNA:

They all have a deep level of cognitive load, while requiring a certain amount of “twitch” skills with high skill caps, meaning it’s accessible but difficult to master. They are also highly competitive and multiplayer, which I love as each experience with another human(s) is dynamic and unique.

Note - I don’t design games (that is a “Game Designers” role) but I manage and develop product direction for a variety of different genres, meaning I own the revenue, merchandising and live service of the products I own.”

What are your favorites right now? Why?

“Valorant (PC) is an interesting product because it has the essence of CS:GO with enough unique differentiators to compete in the space.

PUBG Mobile is an excellent example of how far mobile shooters have come, with excellent controls, game modes, and live service. The strong business its driving is also an excellent business case for what good looks like.

While not released, EA’s Star Wars Squadrons (launching in Oct) looks amazing.”

The gaming industry, which traditionally tries to separate itself from the broader entertainment industry, is no stranger to misogynistic outbursts. Back in 2014, there was a significant harassment campaign, known as GamerGate, which viciously targeted female gaming professionals. Only a week or two ago, we had the Ubisoft crisis when three high ranking executives were fired - including the heads of HR who are there to protect their employees. 

I asked Chong what actions he thinks the industry should take to create a more inclusive environment.

“Fostering an atmosphere of safety, inclusion, empowerment and transparency is vital to the success of a company, in addition to swift action when a transgression occurs. Creating this and policies reinforcing positive behavior and voicing of negative ones will hopefully allow such incidents as the ones mentioned to be far and few between, if at all.”

Chong continues: 

“We have a social responsibility to ensure our players are treated well and to police those that are harassing others. Games are a great way to connect as evidenced by the millions who play games everyday. Ensuring their experience is amazing and cultivating our communities is critical to our long term success.”

Two years ago, the developers of Battlefield V came under fire for including female soldiers in their WWII game. Male players were upset with historical "inaccuracies" in the game, which pointed towards the unfeasible notion of women on the front line. 

Below we talk more about Battlefield V and diversity in games more broadly.

My friends and I want to see ourselves in the games we play. As a non white game executive, are there specific things you are doing to increase this? 

“I do as well and make a concerted effort to ensure we have a diverse representation across products. I also work with a conscious group of colleagues that also look to incorporate this, in addition to teams that are reviewing cultural sensitivities and potential issues with imagery, language, etc. calling in legal and cultural experts to review the work I do.

As a person of Asian descent, I didn’t see a clear representation of myself in traditional entertainment, outside of stereotypes, until recently, and even then, it’s sparse. However, in games, I feel this is different and another reason why it’s so alluring to players. We still have lots of work to do but it’s something that is very important to continue to push for.”

I read a blog post recently that states 72% of women play games on their smartphones, and around 41% of all women play games in general. Gaming apps are among the most popular types of mobile apps among women, ahead of the news, entertainment, and health/fitness apps, with free to play games such as Homescapes and Subway Surfers being the most popular. 

What is your opinion on representation within the games themselves? I read an article once stating that the problem with designers is they are mostly young, cis, white, hetero males. Do you have an opinion on why this is? Is this a diversity issue or something different? 

“Interesting question and thought. IMO, I believe there is a strong push for inclusion with a desire to have a diverse range of characters from all backgrounds and ethnicities. Similar to film and television, there may have been a certain stereotyping of characters, especially in the early days of the industry. However, one of the main benefits of the medium is the ability to create a diverse range of characters, both “real” and completely imaginative.

Take Mario from Nintendo - he is an Italian plumber but created by the great Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Take games like Overwatch, where they introduce characters from a variety of regions and ethnicity, including Asian, American, European, etc. in addition to straight, gay and LGBQT characters. Diversity is important and the gaming industry is on the forefront of tackling this challenge.”

Below we talk about the impact games can have on the broader community.

What has your experience been like at the many gaming companies you have worked at? Have you seen growth and change in the mindset of industry players? Is there an actual movement towards diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or is it more a feeling like they ‘have to do’ instead of want to do.

“I feel there is a conscious desire to continue and iterate in this direction. Our work is creative in nature and having the viewpoints of many people from all backgrounds and experiences is necessary to spark new conversation and ideas.”

This sentiment is echoed by Jo Twist, CEO of games industry body Ukie. “Diversity isn’t a nicety; it’s a necessity if the industry is going to grow, thrive and truly reflect the tens of millions of people who play games every day in this country,” she says. “A diverse industry that draws on myriad cultures, lifestyles and experiences will lead to more creative and inclusive games that capture the imagination of players and drive our sector forward.”

Is there a silver bullet you think may work? If you were going to suggest one initiative that would go some way to stopping any systemic issues in the gaming industry what would it be?

“I don’t think there is a silver bullet or a single initiative that will solve any systemic issue. With that said, by having all members be conscious and calling out any toxic behavior without fear of reprisals would be amazing. It’s much harder in practice but knowing you have a support system and alignment in attitude may go a long way in reducing and self-policing members.”

The gaming industry is growing so fast and intersects every level of our society, there will be some in the industry that feel games could become more ‘PC’. Do you think there is an opportunity to increase awareness without losing the fun of the game?

“I believe so. I think it’s occurring. Games like The Sims allow for all kinda of diversity unlike anything seen in Entertainment. Will there be more ways to do this? Absolutely!

Strategy games like Civilization provide real world examples of countries and cities that someone may never have been exposed to.

The tactics are endless. It’s just a matter of doing so in a well executed manner so it doesn’t feel forced.”

Below we talk about the make up of the industry and the studios themselves.

E-sports is male dominated and growing exponentially. It’s the next hot thing. Any thoughts around making it more inclusive? 

“While pro-esports may still be that way (though there are standouts, including female stars like Xiaomeng Li), I believe inroads are being made.From streamers, to all girl teams, the table is set for many to come in. However, it also needs investment, from businesses and teams to the players themselves. Having more females in STEM, having more acceptance that a female can be just as good as a male, etc are all required.”

There are some incredible groups out there we should all be aware of like GirlsMakeGames and Girls Who Code as just two of many examples.

Is this a chicken egg, or egg chicken problem. Is it the responsibility of the studios, designers, gamers, communities, or the entire lot to make the changes required. 

If the gaming industry can continue to tackle diversity issues, they could foster a sense of empathy and engagement among audiences and make the most of monetization opportunities in the process. 

And beyond political correctness and revenue considerations, the fact is that gamers come from various backgrounds. Is that not a big enough reason to include game characters everyone can relate to? Does it then make sense that our studios and industry should reflect not only our communities, but the games themselves - should they not all reflect each other?

All in all, the gaming industry has had a checkered past. What I am seeing is a movement from both within and externally, a movement that is being taken seriously by those in power and can make the systemic changes required. Gaming has a bright and inclusive future.

Below is a quote from Mark Rosewater from Wizards of the Coast.