9 Feb, 2010
Everyone has heard the phrase ‘Behind every successful man is a wise woman’. This is certainly true in the case of Uncharted’s Nathan Drake.
Not to take anything away from the sausage contingent over at Naughty Dog but Amy Hennig’s role in the development of the multi award winning hit game, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves should be noted with pride.
From Joystiq:
“The Los Angeles Times’ “How I Made It” feature has shined a spotlight on none other than Naughty Dog creative director Amy Hennig, illuminating the secret of how a 45-year-old woman can conquer the gaming industry and nab Joystiq’s Game of the Year with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. She started out as a film student back in 1989 and says she had a revelation while working freelance for Atari that gaming “was a more interesting and pioneering medium” than even the movies.
She worked her way up the ladder and took chances when they came along. When the lead designer on the wacky Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City left the project, she stepped up and took the job. And having talent and intelligence can’t hurt either — she says that she puts her whole education into gaming, from English lit to film editing, and while she downplays her place as a woman in gaming (“This is a young enough and progressive enough industry” to avoid most problems with sexism, she says), she does admit that she, erm, moderated the male perspective on breast size with some of her developers. Because somebody’s got to, right? Excellent profile of one of gaming’s more unlikely stars.”
While I don’t consider myself a feminist, I do find it a little sad that articles like the one quoted above are only newsworthy because successful women in the industry are not the norm. How often do you pick up a game magazine or browse a website and see a female game developer being interviewed about an upcoming game? I don’t remember the last time I did.
Socially, gaming is becoming less and less a male dominated pastime (GGS can vouch for that). Let’s hope in the future, this will pave the way for more women to consider a career in the industry.
You can find the full article from the LA Times here.
Source: joystiq.com
You’re right. As wonderful as it is to see a women leading the way when it comes to gaming, it’s depressing as hell that it’s still such a big deal.
Still – a good read! (And there’s nothing wrong with feminists! :P)
It’s kinda funny to say, but I’ve always followed Amy Hennig’s work ever since Jak and Dexter. Her name was everywhere in the credits, so I looked her up and was really interested and admiring of her work. It’s great you found this about her! I really hope more people look at her as an example, despite your age or gender.
And btw but Uncharted is probably the best game I’ve played in a long time lol