Dragon Age News Thread

I would be very much ok with all of this. Thankfully, so is Patrick Weekes.

Girls Behind The Games✌🏽 @grlsbehindgames
Hey, everyone! @bioware here with a takeover. Today you'll be hearing from some of the women behind our games, and the work we're doing to promote diversity in our studio and the greater industry. #GBTGtakeover #girlsbehindthegames

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[HASH]DAT

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Girls Behind The Games✌🏽 @grlsbehindgames
Hi. I’m Shanda, the Studio Recruiter at BioWare. Let's talk about the best way to get a job with a game studio. #GirlsBehindtheGames @shandarecruiter

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The most important thing is to carefully read the job description. Make sure you understand what the role entails and the skills required, and then highlight how you meet those qualifications throughout your resumé.

Likewise, your portfolio and demo reel should highlight examples of what the studio is asking for.

A strong resumé needs to have:
-Contact info and a link to samples of your work
-Work experience or education
-Details highlighting your relevant expertise
-Hobbies or interests that show unique qualities you bring to our team

Include links to your work, preferably at the top of your resumé. You want your reel to be easy to find and review. Also make sure your reel is polished and complete.

When a recruiter calls you, that’s a good sign. 😊 Do your research about the company and position, then have questions for us. You also want to ensure this will be a great fit for you and your career.

Don’t be afraid to apply. You belong in this industry and have the ability to succeed here. You are in the driver’s seat of your own career, so make sure you have the tools in place to make your next move.

If you are passionate about games and want to join the BioWare team, please visit our careers page at www.bioware.com/en/careers/



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Girls Behind The Games✌🏽 @grlsbehindgames
Thanks so much @sammaggs ! To commemorate the torch-passing, here is a picture of Sam working hard and me trying to remember how to print words to take notes for her during a Women In Games event here at @bioware 🙂

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And Hi! Hi, I’m Karin Weekes, lead editor at BioWare. I'm hoping to use this takeover to acknowledge some of amazing things about working in games that make me smile. In no particular order, here are some of my favorite moments from my 12 years in the industry.



Talking with an entire family who were cosplaying as the Normandy crew, complete with a stroller tricked out as the ship itself. Hearing about what the characters, worlds, and stories meant to them, and how they enjoyed that game being a party of their family experience.

Being told “that gay/mature female/transgender character in a BioWare game was the first time I saw myself reflected in a video game.” Being a part of that process is special, and very, very important.



Getting gas for my car after a long day, seeing the face of the young woman at the counter light up when she sees my Mass Effect t-shirt, talking with her about how excited she is for ME2 to come out, and her thanking me and my colleagues for making games that are special to her.

The occasions when I’m lucky enough to go to conventions and meet women from all over the industry, present panels with them, play Cards Against Humanity and Rock Band with them, and realize how many of us there actually are!



Becoming comfortable with not being a “typical” game designer. Who I am encompasses adjectives like “middle-aged/female-identifying/mother/bi-racial/pansexual.” Those traits are assets I can use to make suggestions/ask questions that might make a player feel included in a game.



That geek chic has expanded so much in my 12 years in the industry, and includes so many more sizes, styles, and patterns that actually fit me! (A.k.a. “You can pry my lacy Captain America shrug out of my cold, dead hands.”)

The very many men in this industry who value my skill, and not only “don’t care” that I’m a woman, but who recognize that fact as being valuable. And my male colleagues who want to work in studios and make games that are inclusive and have varying perspectives on the world.

Devs of all genders who realize no one person knows everything, and that it’s good to actively reach out to others to find out what you’re missing as you do your best to create appropriate representation. And who forgive you when you misstep, and help you do better next time.

The amazing creative ingenuity of cosplayers. Tips shared, groups joined, and getting to see that painstakingly-crafted templar armor in person . (This is me meeting @hemiart IRL at @geekgirlcon in 2012. She’s now a #GirlBehindTheGames at @riotgames which makes me smile a lot.)



The smiles and nods you get from the other people wearing N7 hoodies out and about.



My sons’ teachers telling me with a laugh that they have me speak last during “Come Talk To The Class About Your Job” week, because not many other jobs seem as cool as making games. 😀

Twitter. (Yes, really.) Meeting people who make and play games through Twitter has allowed me to make connections, learn so much about so many things, and let me coo over cosplay from the other side of the world. Any negativity is dwarfed by fun and emotion and good experiences.

Getting chances to tell anyone who wants to work in games but doesn’t feel like they conform to the “traditional game dev mold” that they can be here. They should be here. We, the industry, REALLY NEED you to be here. Can’t wait to see you. 😊



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Morrigan is a bit creepy, especially with the god-child bit. But yes, you're right, on balance the women love-interests aren't as full of intrigue. 

You know in this vein I could see a female Tevinter Magister being a LI for the next game with a sort of very interesting manipulative streak.

As a Solasmancer....you don't want this heartache. Trust me.

Yes please, give me the evil queen! Morrigan and Viv (I know, not a LI) were evil bitches but once you got the chance to see behind their bitch mask you found heart and character. EQ should break your heart (after tearing it out of your chest to use it in some blood ritual or something. )

They are also very safe - with the exception of Leliana none of the female love interests can die, and if Leliana dies it's because you chose to kill her. Also, most of the romances are happy and without any real "bumps". Worst case scenario for any of them really is Morrigan leaving you in DA:O (although she then comes back in a dlc) or Cass becoming divine (and it's still implied they are in some kind of relationship still). Meanwhile, with the male love interests (obvious spoilers for all games):

Alistair can die in several ways, either to the Archdemon or because you are forced into a horrible choice between his life and your own former PC's. Also if you're not human he can dump you if he becomes king.
Zevran dies if you don't do his quest in DA2. Jupp, I saw it in the keep. 
Fenris is super easy to miss recruiting at all since he's hidden behind a side quest. 
Sebastian will dump you if you decide to support Anders not kill Anders.
Anders betrays you completely.
Cullen's a drug addict, and I think depending on your responses he can end up dying because of it.
Iron Bull can betray you.
Blackwall leaves you naked and vulnerable and turns out to have lied about everything about himself.
Solas... well, you all know about that.


Not saying these are not good romances, in fact I would say many of them are better than the female LIs just because they have more stakes. It's just weird how the typical male PC/female LI romance is treated with soft gloves as if the players couldn't handle anything really bad happening in them. I hope they actually dare mix it up a bit in DA4. 

If Isabela is romanced she will always return, so that's not really an issue to those that romanced her. And true, Morrigan leaving was probably not fun, but at least she came back and you get a happy family reunion. With Solas he tells you he intends to end the world and takes your hand in the most literal way...

Merrill being a blood mage is the only thing close to conflict, but at least that is apparent from the very beginning. For people romancing Blackwall it comes completely out of the blue, not to mention those who romanced Anders.

What I meant about Leliana is that it is clear that your choice will result in her death - she informs you of this clearly. You have no way of knowing that choosing the Qun over the Chargers will lead to IB betraying you, however with Cullen the player is fairly warned. With Solas you can only "mitigate" the effect on your relationship by vowing to change his mind, but he will leave regardless. So I do think it's pretty skewered.

However, this is not a discussion for the Twitter Thread, so I will leave it at that.