The LGBT+ community has struggled for accurate representation - and even simple recognition - in mainstream media for years. But there are signs of a turning tide.
Within the games industry, more and more LGBT+ characters and stories are being written: Ellie from The Last Of Us, Parvati in The Outer Worlds, and Undyne in Undertale to name just a few.
According to a 2020 games industry census compiled by Ukie, 21% of those working in the UK games industry identified as LGBT+. Xbox recently announced a partnership with GLAAD to increase LGBT+ representation in their future games. Itch.io now releases a yearly Queer Games Bundle during Pride Month.
Everywhere you look, progress is being made - but is it being made quickly enough? Can more be done to encourage the LGBT+ community to join the industry and share their stories through their games?
What to expect from GameMaker Pride Week
This week is GameMaker Pride Week (#GameMakerPride), where we’ll be highlighting the incredible work of not only LGBT+ game developers, but the games that star or tell the stories of LGBT+ characters.
Across the week, we’ll be exploring representation in indie gaming with a series of interviews:
A few words of advice on how to include LGBT+ themes and characters with the creators of Blood Nova, Aviv Salinas and Ross Gardner.
Talk on the inclusivity of the indie game development scene with Tobey from Samobee Games, the studio behind Princess Farmer.
Discussion about potential backlash LGBT+ games can face, with the Deconstructeam trio, Jordi de Paco, Marina González, and Paula Ruiz, developers of The Red Strings Club.
A delightful conversation with surprise guests!
LGBT+ developers and Games in the GameMaker community
Allison James, developer of Ne Touchez Pas 5 and Sympathy for the level
Line, sound designer
Gagonfe, developer of Archaeogem
Nana, developer of Virgo Versus The Zodiac
Shaun Spalding, youtuber and game developer
SamobeeGames, developer of Princess Farmer
Cosmic Void, developers of Blood Nova
Logan, developer of Seals of Bygone
Lena Raine, Composer & Game developer
Greg Lobanov, developer of Chicory
Rata, pixel artist and game developer
ThalesNobre, concept artist
Nael, pixel artist and game developer
Bea Henrique, game developer
Saria lemes, sound designer in Super Chicken Jumper
Dani Serranú, sound designer in Moonleap
Hatim b, developer of https://hatimb00.itch.io/talking-to-my-dad
Fiore, developer of Neo-Gensokyo Zero
Spider Lily Studios, developer of Retrace
Baku, developer of Satan Loves Cake
Griffin Cyan, developer of Omurice Next Time
Hazel HASNOGAME, developer of HEXXXED
Riuku, developer of Eti Tyty 2
Owl New Worlds, developer of Love You Up
Paige Marincak, developer of Gataela
Fiskyfisko, developer of Sang: The Desert Blade
Benjamin Kiefer, developer of Revita
Studio_DigitalC, developer of Chained
Vertebrae Entertainment, developers of Antidote
Nick Vinkel, developer of Super Squares Island
- Tydecon Games, developer of Cookies & Cataracts and Disc Recovery
- The Fox Knocks, developer of Nomad Survival
Should your game be on this list? Send us a message on Twitter!
Happy GameMaking!
