Gamer Girls

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By Mary Kenney & Salini Perera

Publisher Description

Discover the women behind the video games we love—the iconic games they created, the genres they invented, the studios and companies they built—and how they changed the industry forever.

Women have always made video games, from the 1960s and the first-of-its-kind, projector-based Sumerian Game to the blockbuster Uncharted games that defined the early 2000s. Women have been behind the writing, design, scores, and engines that power one of the most influential industries out there. In Gamer Girls, now you can explore the stories of 25 of those women. Bursting with bold artwork, easy-to-read profiles, and real-life stories of the women working on games like Centipede, Final Fantasy, Halo, and more, this dynamic illustrated book shows what a huge role women have played—and will continue to play—in the creation of video games.

With additional sidebars about other influential women in the industry, as well as a glossary and additional resources page, Gamer Girls offers a look into the work and lives of influential pixel queens such as:

Roberta Williams (one of the creators of the adventure genre)
Mabel Addis Mergardt (the first person to write a video game)
Muriel Tramis (the French "knight" of video games)
Keiko Erikawa (creator of the otome genre)
Yoko Shimomura (composer for Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts)
Rebecca Heineman (first national video game tournament champion)
Danielle Bunten Berry (creator of M.U.L.E. and early advocate for multiplayer games)
and more!

Whether you’re a gamer girl who plays video games, a gamer girl who makes video games, or a parent raising a gamer girl, this entertaining, inspiring book will have you itching to pick up a controller or create your own video games!

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12 Reviews

4.0

Audrey Bird

Created 8 months ago

Edelence

Created about 1 year ago

“Gamer Girls: 25 Women Who Built the Gaming Industry" offers a compelling glimpse into the lives and achievements of remarkable women who have played pivotal roles in shaping the gaming landscape. The book succeeds in shedding light on the often overlooked contributions of these individuals, providing a rich tapestry of stories that serve as both inspiration and education for readers. The narratives are undeniably captivating, offering insights into the challenges these women faced and conquered, the innovations they brought to the industry, and the milestones they achieved against all odds. The book serves as a celebration of their accomplishments, breaking down stereotypes and showcasing the diverse talents that have fueled the gaming world's growth. However, a word of advice to potential readers: it's best to approach this book gradually. Attempting to read the stories back-to-back may lead to a sense of repetition, as common themes and challenges emerge across different profiles. While each woman's journey is unique, certain overarching motifs can create a slight sense of déjà vu if consumed too rapidly. Taking the time to savor each chapter independently allows for a more immersive and appreciative experience. By doing so, readers can better absorb the nuances of each woman's story and fully appreciate the impact they've had on the gaming industry.”

KenyaZero

Created over 1 year ago

“Spotted this while doing some social media for the library and knew I needed to read it. It felt highly accessible for all audiences. I loved the layout, and the side quests giving shout-outs to even more women in gaming. This wonderfully inclusive book is informative and does a great job looking at women who had many different impacts on gaming. I learned a lot and it really sparked my imagination.”

Nataliesboooks

Created over 1 year ago

“This was an interesting look at 25 women who shaped the video game industry. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but this was told in a very approachable way which made it entertaining and fun. It also talked a lot about the gender stigma involving video games (only teenage boys play/like/are good at video games) and the assumption that girls aren’t interested in them. Girls play video games! I don’t know how that myth got started, but I’m glad this book exists to show how silly that belief is. I laughed aloud at one of the first games made for girls because it was just so ridiculous. The game was: — pink (because girls like pink, obviously **eyeroll**) — slowed down the shooting “because girls don’t know how to do that”/“aren’t good at that” — fired marshmallows (because girls would find bullets too violent????) Needless to say, the game didn’t sell well, so they did tons of research to find the kind of games girls like. And what do they like, you may ask??? a compelling story with interesting characters! Shocking. Anyway, GIRLS PLAY VIDEO GAMES. Okay, rant over. I also liked seeing some of my favorites like Roberta Williams, Jane Jensen, and Amy Hennig! I would definitely recommend this one.”

Frida Backjanis

Created almost 2 years ago

About Mary Kenney

Mary Kenney writes critically acclaimed video games, long-form non-fiction, essays, and short stories. She works at Insomniac Games, where she was on the writing team for Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and was a lead writer on Telltale's The Walking Dead series. Before making games, she studied in the game design master's program at New York University, and she teaches narrative design at Indiana University. She was an award-winning journalist with bylines in The New York Times, Salon, and Kotaku. When not writing or gaming, she can be found buried in a book, running a tabletop RPG, or trying to keep her forest of indoor plants alive.