Speaking Out For Games

by Nichol Bradford

[Following is the script of the "rant" delivered by Nichol during the IGDA's 2007 Burning Mad rant panel session at the Game Developers Conference.]

The games industry should take its RIGHTFUL leadership role in exciting young people about math, science and literature. Collectively, we posses the best "hook" our society has for addressing one of its biggest challenges: poor motivation and learning in middle school and high school.

Every year, Junior Achievement surveys its teens asking, "What career do you want?"  In 2003, “Computer-Related,” which includes video games, ranked #7 behind Entertainer and Athlete. In the 2006 survey, Computer-Related was #3, outranking Entertainer and Athlete which were tied at #5. This suggests that in 2006 more kids wanted to be Mike Morhaime [president of Blizzard) than Kobe. That's huge. And judging from how kids perk up when they hear I work in games, there's no doubt in my mind that this sentiment is universal... and exploitable by anyone who gives a damn about young people today.

Add to that that the US graduated only 70K engineers in 2006 - the folks who know how to make stuff, or that kids are showing up at college without requisite skills, that even more are dropping out before finishing high school - and THAT is your national security issue - NOT whether or not I bring mascara onto the plane.

And if you consider the intellectual rigors of game development and the transferability of those logic and problem solving skills, the possibility of a career in gaming prepares young people for a wide variety of options – inside AND outside of gaming. 

Parents don't know what games really are and frankly neither do kids. They don't know that underneath the action lies engineering, organization, discipline, storytelling, character development, artistry and leadership... or in high school terms, math, science, art class, English and student council.  In the past, parents have only had a dismal, "do well in math... because it's good for you."  Well so is broccoli.  If parents were informed, when they bought a game they would know that they could motivate at the same time, saying instead, "If you really want to make games, you need to do well in math, science and English." 

Imagine the impact of parents AND kids being demanding clients to the school system, calling loudly for the basics of education as fundamental building blocks of a career in games.  You see, we bring something new to the debate about schools... we can bring the kids in as active participants because they want to be you.

So what does that mean for us?  Where's the rant?  We need to be the leaders in society that we can be.

Companies give on a corporate level...great...corporate giving doesn't absolve you nor I from doing our part.

What about every person in this industry, taking responsibility and becoming the evangelist they have the power to be?

Do you know your power to affect change in this situation?  Do you grasp the scope of your own impact? 

Not something you read about, or that someone told you... Not a heard-tell, like the old folks used to say... Not resting on your title or on your stock options or your investors or your crunch record.   Do you know what you have to give to the world, through this passion of yours, through this path that you call your career, but really is your calling?  Yes we make games but we can also make possibilities and... options.

We collectively bitch about our bad image, that folks don't understand games, that the politicians are censures attacking 1st amendment rights for quick media hits - all true... but how many schools have you or I spoken at lately?

Want to improve our image? Ensure our right to sell the products we make?  Don't be abstract.  Begin to tell as many kids and parents as possible about what we do, the skills needed to do it, and that many of our lowest salaries are higher than the national earning average of a dual family income home... and watch the support FOR gaming swell.

And note, this isn't a plea for "educational games" this is about revealing the process behind commercial games of any rating in a deliberate manner.  Does this address the infrastructure, accountability, and funding issues of the educational “problem” – no, but it does empower the clients of the system with a goal they can sink their teeth into.

So that's my rant... is it a “publisher rant” – no – It's the rant of a person who gives a damn and I am on fire about it... and so here's the call to action.  Here's the finger in each and every chest – including mine – asking what have you done TODAY to make the fact that you make games matter?

So, this session really is to set something up, we - that's me, the IGDA, and you - can build a national, maybe even global, speakers bureau.  The vision is a self-sustaining database where speakers post their bio and willingness, where parents and teachers and groups query off of a zip code to find you.  There will be rules to tap your time – like – the group must have 30 or more confirmed participants.  And rules to sign up – like – be willing to say no if you can't commit because if you say you can… you have to go… our credibility depends upon it.

So, let's take our rightful spot, get out of our studios and offices, and be leaders in affecting a critical issue at a critical time in our nation's history.

Why not?

That's my rant.  If you're ready to be an evangelist and to do something great for your country, let us know.  Because we're doing it…

• Speakers Bureau - Call for Participation
• Nichol Bradford's post-GDC interview at Joystiq
• Education SIG
• "One Game Designer's Response to Nicole Bradford's 2007 Rant"

Nichol Bradford is the Global Director of Strategic Growth for Vivendi Games, which includes strategic planning, special projects, and investigating ad-hoc product, business and partnership opportunities. Prior stints in senior marketing roles with Vivendi and Disney Interactive, enabled her to work extensively with major film studios and game publishers. As co-founder of Into The Pixel, the world's only juried art exhibition that brings together traditional fine art and game art, she has brought critical focus to the artistry of games. She is also founder of the organization, Diverse Professionals In Gaming, as an effort to connect and support diverse game industry professionals.

The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the IGDA.

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