The name LadiesGamers isn’t chosen randomly, our name sort of gives it away: even when our writers and readers are of different genders, we especially welcome female gamers. After all, that’s how the site started: with the views of an older woman on the world of gaming. And for a couple of years now there are two older ladies at the helm!
We feel it’s time to give women that work in the gaming industry a podium. A lot of avid gamers would probably love to have a job in the industry themselves and we think it’s especially important to encourage girls in particular to go for their dream job.
So time for a new series of articles, featuring ladies who are working in the gaming business!
Meet Katherine at Lightwood Games
Who is Katherine in everyday life?
Outside of gaming, I enjoy a lot of crafting (knitting, spinning, weaving) and music. I’m currently trying to master playing drums with my feet whilst also playing ukulele and singing – it’s quite the mental workout! Although right now, most of my time is spent looking after our two new little kittens and trying not to freak out the older cats with their crazy antics! :o)
Can you tell us a bit about Lightwood Games
Lightwood Games is Chris and myself making games from our home office. We make puzzle and word games for Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Our focus is always on excellent content rather than on flashy graphics – each puzzle is hand crafted and tested. Generally, Chris focuses on the content creation and publishing tasks, whilst I do all the game development.
Did you notice that all Lightwood game titles are followed by “POWGI”, which stands for Puzzle On Word Games, Inc!
How long have you been with the company, and how did you land this job?
I’ve been with Lightwood Games 11 years this month. I was made redundant from a job where I had been making games for mobile and finding something similar was proving challenging. Chris was looking for someone to help with iPhone apps which his clients were requesting to go alongside their websites. Once those were done I convinced him games were more fun to make!
Was the fact that it had to do with video games an added incentive?
The job didn’t start out with games particularly in mind but now it’s full time game development!
Does your educational background match your position in the gaming industry?
I have a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics which, whilst not specifically gaming related, was about the closest available at the time. I was lucky that my parents had a computer at home so I had been interested in programming for a long time. Making games was a dream I never expected to become a reality!
Gaming Habits
Do you play video games yourself, or have you played them in the past growing up?
Yes! I’ve played video games since I was a kid and continue to play now! The first games I played were point and click adventures like the Monkey Island series and Day of the Tentacle – anything where I couldn’t die and have to start over! I still prefer games with a good story and where my character doesn’t die :o)
What is your preferred video game console or handheld device to play games on?
I mostly play on PS5, or my Vita if I feel like playing somewhere other than the lounge. I do have a Switch as well which is mostly used for playing Animal Crossing at present.
What is your favorite gaming genre and why, and what is the game you are currently playing?
Broadly, “puzzle games” would be my favourite genre. I like games which make me think, and preferably don’t include any timed jumping! I play pretty much anything though. I just finished New Super Lucky’s Tale and I’m trying to decide between returning to Dragon Quest Builders 2, or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla next.
On Vita I’m alternating between some of our puzzle games, and Riddled Corpses EX which I’m finding surprisingly fun despite the constant death and restarting.
Women in the Gaming Industry
Do you feel the gaming industry is still very much male dominated, or do you think that has changed or is changing?
This is a hard one – certainly there appear to be more women interested in gaming and I think the industry is changing, but it still feels like a very male dominated space. Certainly in the past, when attending events, it was rare to find other women in the room, particularly during any technical talks. With children being taught programming at a younger age now, I think there’s likely to be a better mix of genders in the future.
Do you think a woman has a different approach when it comes to making a video game?
I think individuals all have different approaches, but to generalise, yes I think so. Obviously working in a company of just two people, our games are made by both of us working together and we each have our own approach.
What advice would you give girls who have a dream to one day have a job in the gaming industry?
My advice to anyone wanting to get into the industry is simply to try :o) Try making games yourself using whatever tools you find easiest – every mistake you make is a chance to learn something new.
Also, apply for the job you want regardless of whether you think you’re qualified – my first job in the games industry I was completely unqualified for, but they happened to need some of my other skills at the time so hired me and trained me in the rest.
Last question: If you could be a character in a game, which one would it be and why?
That’s a tough one, characters in games don’t generally have the easiest of lives – all that struggling through harsh conditions and fighting to save the world! I think chilling out on my Animal Crossing island with my villagers sounds like the safest option! Although being Aloy and exploring the world in Horizon Zero Dawn would be pretty epic :o)
I too would like to be in either the world of Animal Crossing or Horizon. Maybe Animal Crossing since you don’t have to worry about getting attacked by machines. But hey, doesn’t hurt to have that as your fantasy world.
Animal Crossing for me! With these prolonged COVID lockdowns and the lack of going on a holiday I can totally see myself lying on the beach there!