So, Thursday I am giving one of two Insights talks at GenCon! Along with Steve Kenson, of Green Ronin Publishing we’ll talk about Diversity by Design!

image courtesy of GenCon Me and Steve Kenson

Launched in 2018, Insights is an initiative committed to sharing important stories & ideas in tabletop. This year, our theme is Diversity by Design. @cypheroftyr & @SKenson will give illuminating talks (TED-style) about diversity in gaming. Tix available: https://www.gencon.com/events/157233  If you can’t be there? Watch live at twitch.tv/genconmainstage at Thursday 1pm Eastern!

I flee GenCon early on Friday to head to D.C to give the Keynote at this years Smithsonian American Art Museum Arcade (SAAM)!! If your’re in or near the D.C area, come through to the arcade and check out a lot of cool games in the theme of Breaking Barriers.

Grab a ticket here via Eventbrite, and it’s FREE! <3

Can’t be there? SAAM has you covered! Watch the event live on Youtube

https://americanart.si.edu/themes/custom/muse3/images/branding/logo.png
SAAM logo, courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Tanya DePass: Barriers Are Meant To Be Destroyed, Not Just Broken

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2019, 6 – 7PM EDTLearn about diversity in the gaming industry from Tanya DePass, founder of the non-profit organization I Need Diverse Games, who presents a keynote talk that explores the theme of SAAM Arcade 2019, “breaking barriers.” DePass explains how video games fit into unconventional spaces such as art museums, and expands upon how programs like SAAM Arcade serve as a critical aid to promote this idea. She also discusses how her organization seeks to highlight projects and research by marginalized groups within the gaming industry, and talks about her past and current work that encourages a more diverse gaming environment. 

DePass is the editor of the anthology Game Devs & Others: Tales from the Margins, a collection of essays that tell true stories of life in the industry by people of color, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized identities. She founded the podcast Fresh Out of Tokens that analyzes gaming culture through as a person of color, cis woman and queerness. She serves as diversity and programming liaison for GaymerX and OrcaCon, and often speaks on issues of feminism, race, and diversity.

ASL interpretation will be available during this program.

SAAM Arcade is made possible with generous support from Annette L. Nazareth and Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., Director’s Circle members, and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative. In-kind support provided by Intel. Media sponsorship provided by the Washington City Paper.

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Published by cypheroftyr

Tanya DePass is the founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, which is dedicated to better diversification of all aspects of gaming. I Need Diverse Games serves the community by supporting marginalized developers attend the Game Developer Conference by participating in the GDC Scholarship program, helps assist attendance at other industry events, and is seeking partnership with organizations and initiatives. Tanya is a lifelong Chicagoan who loves everything about gaming, #INeedDiverseGames spawn point, and wants to make it better and more inclusive for everyone. She founded and was the EIC of Fresh Out of Tokens podcast where games culture was discussed and viewed through a lense of feminism, intersectionality and diversity. Now she’s a co-host on Spawn on Me Podcast. Along with all of that, she’s the Programming Coordinator for OrcaCon, she often speaks on issues of diversity, feminism, race, intersectionality & other topics at multiple conventions throughout the year. Her writing about games and games critique appears in Uncanny Magazine, Polygon, Wiscon Chronicles, Vice Gaming, Paste Games, Mic, and other publications.