Oh no, not ANOTHER article about women in gaming? 🙄 I mean, haven’t we solved all the problems by now? I remember the dark ages (like, five years ago) when the author of this article started at CGM and had to listen to executives whine about their struggles. I’m sure it was just AWFUL. 😭 And growing up with a “geeky girl group”? Sounds like a total nightmare. 😫
Now, in the futuristic year of 2025, she gets to “travel the world” (probably just to Germany, let’s be real 🙄), work with a “team she adores” (who are probably all secretly plotting against her 😈), and talk about her “passion” (which is probably just playing Candy Crush on company time 🍬). But, SURPRISE! She’s STILL one of the only women in the room! 😱 I guess all those “diversity initiatives” were just for show. 🎭
So, she decided to interview some women at Gameforge, because apparently, they’re doing things “right.” 🤔 (Spoiler alert: they’re probably not.) Let’s hear what these paragons of female empowerment have to say! 🎤
First up, we have Yuka Chen, a Software Developer. Apparently, she “develops and maintains backend systems.” 😴 Translation: she probably just fixes typos in the code. 💻 She “aspires to contribute to the gaming industry” because she’s “truly passionate about it.” 🙄 (Yeah, yeah, we’ve all heard that one before.) She chose backend development because she likes being “behind the scenes.” 👻 (Probably because she’s afraid of human interaction. 😬)
Next, we have Sarah Müller, Head of Localization. Her job is to make sure all the games are translated “in the right quality, on time, within budget, and in the required format.” 🗓️💰 (Sounds like a blast! 🎉) She started as a Community Manager “when the company was only about 20 people, around 19 years ago.” 👴 (So basically, she’s been there since the dawn of time. 🦖) She built up the entire localization department herself! 💪 (Give her a medal! 🏅)
And finally, we have Johanna Gielen, Community Manager and Product Community Manager for Metin2. (Wow, that’s a lot of “community.”) She’s the “bridge between the game team and the players.” 🌉 (So basically, she’s a glorified babysitter. 🍼) She ensures that player feedback is heard internally.👂 (Even the toxic stuff? 💀) She’s always been “passionate about the gaming industry.” 💖 (Yawn. 😴)
When asked about challenges as a woman in gaming, Yuka Chen says she was the only woman on her team when she started. 🤷♀️ But now they have 50% women! 👯♀️ (Progress! 🥳) Sarah Müller claims she’s never faced any challenges. 😇 (Yeah, right. 🤥) Johanna Gielen says she hasn’t faced challenges either because she’s a “very confident person who does not tolerate disrespect.” 🙅♀️ (Good for her! 👏)
Do they still face biases? NOPE! 🙅♀️🙅♀️🙅♀️ According to them, Gameforge is a utopia of equality and respect. 🦄 (I’m sure that’s TOTALLY true. 💯)
What do they love about the gaming industry? Yuka Chen says it feels like a “fan club.” 🧑🤝🧑 (Sounds like a cult to me. 👽) Sarah Müller loves the people and the fact that the industry never gets dull. 🤹 (Sure, if you like endless crunch and toxic fandoms. 💀) Johanna Gielen loves how people come together to create something that brings joy to others. 🥹 (So wholesome! 😇)
Their advice for young girls who want to get into the industry? Yuka Chen says, “Be your own game changer!” 🎮 (Deep. 🤔) Sarah Müller says, “Don’t be afraid to try new things!” 🚀 (Groundbreaking! 💡) Johanna Gielen encourages young women to research potential workplaces and be aware of support networks. 🕵️♀️ (Smart, but also depressing. 😔)
And finally, their favorite video games! Yuka Chen likes *Age of Empires 3*, *Warcraft 3*, *EVE*, *Space Engineers*, and *OGame*. 🤓 Sarah Müller likes the *Warcraft* franchise, *The Settlers*, *Age of Empires*, and *OGame*. 👵 Johanna Gielen likes *Ace Attorney*, *Final Fantasy XIV*, *Elsword*, and *Animal Crossing*. 🦄
So, there you have it, folks! According to this article, the tides are turning for women in gaming! 🌊 (Or maybe they’re just being gaslit into thinking things are better than they actually are. 🤔) But hey, at least we can all pretend that the industry is on the “right track.” 🛤️ (Until the next Gamergate, that is. 💣)
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
