The basic principles of creating inclusive video games — IGDA instruction

The International Association of Game Developers (IGDA), with the support of Facebook Gaming, has compiled instructions for creating inclusive games. In her opinion, taking steps in this direction is the most important task for the industry. The organization spoke about the basic principles of diversity that developers should adhere to both within their teams and during project development.Photo: Rene Gittins, IGDA Executive Director

The document was published in early December on the official IGDA website.

Also yesterday, Facebook Gaming Product Design Director Bree Miller and IGDA Executive Director Renee Gittins gave additional comments on issues of inclusivity in the gaming industry to GamesBeat.

The main principlesAccording to IGDA, in order to create an inclusive game, it is necessary not just to achieve a variety of characters, but to meet a number of conditions.

It is necessary to assemble an inclusive team, conduct internal research, introduce diversity into game mechanics, and also take into account the suggestions of the community and the marketing department.

“An inclusive team has more diverse ideas, experiences and points of view. This is reflected in the game, which a wider audience can enjoy, which will be an excellent motivation for the team,” Miller notes.

At the development stage, inclusivity implies the ability of each team member to feel comfortable discussing issues with colleagues and improving their level of knowledge. This approach, according to Miller, allows you to achieve a greater variety of proposals and creative ideas even at the initial stage of product creation.

IGDA notes that it is necessary to observe the principles of inclusivity when hiring and retaining employees. It is important to get rid of unconscious bias both in job descriptions and at the interview stage. IGDA also suggests involving marginalized groups in decision-making, which may be directly affected by various biases.

What should be considered when creating an inclusive game?Creation of the world.

• It is important to remember that the features of the game environment directly affect the user experience. It is necessary to take into account the cultural and historical features of the chosen setting, as well as not to forget about the correct representation of clothing, the appearance of the characters and the ways they interact with the world.Characters.
• It is necessary to create characters that can evoke empathy and emotional attachment on the part of the players. It is also important to think carefully about their character, appearance, gender, relationships with other characters and their development within the story.Availability.
• It is necessary to take into account the capabilities and characteristics of different groups of players, avoiding the creation of unnecessary barriers. Users should be able to choose the size of the text, reassign the controls and change the game tempo. It is impossible to make the game accessible to everyone, but it is important not to create artificial restrictions for players (including those with vision or hearing problems).Audience requests.
• It is necessary to take into account not only the interests of core players, but also potential users. When developing, it is worth paying attention to the level of violence, the depth and complexity of the basic mechanics, as well as adding elements to the game that are suitable for the widest possible audience.Creating a protagonist.
• In games where the hero does not have a pre-prescribed history and identity, it should be possible to choose different genders regardless of gender characteristics (in English-language projects, various variants of pronouns should be added). It is also worth giving players the opportunity to choose a romantic relationship if the character’s preferences are not limited to the plot.Working with the community.
• It is necessary to combat the toxic and negative behavior of users, to stop any forms of harassment and verbal violence, to moderate the behavior and communication of players. IGDA also advises encouraging good user behavior and taking into account the wishes of different groups when developing a project.Marketing.
• When launching advertising campaigns, it is necessary to take into account the audience of the sites and correctly select influencers, including representatives of minorities and marginalized groups. It is also important to carefully choose the visual accompaniment, avoiding offensive materials, monitor the language used in the promo (phrases, gestures, expressions, etc.) and inform players in advance about the degree of accessibility of the game.According to IGDA, increasing diversity and inclusivity is the most important factor for the development of the gaming industry.

However, it is still hard for many studios to fight with their prejudices and admit their mistakes.

Miller noted that today it is no longer enough just to talk about the importance of representation and inclusivity — it is necessary to move on to action.

“Most people get into the gaming industry not for the sake of a career, but because they are fond of games. Today’s players will become developers tomorrow. It is important that the industry sees this as an unprecedented opportunity to develop creativity at all levels,” Gittins concluded.

The full recommendations of IGDA and Facebook Gaming can be found here.