Welcome to episode two of the Twitching Curtain. This episode mainly focuses on inclusivity. In the aftermath of controversies such as “gamer gate” and “consultant gate”, and recent moves by mainstream publishers to reflect greater diversity in their games, how can we attract under-represented groups into our wonderful hobby? We talk about best practice from a number of conventions, especially the UK’s Nine World’s Geekfest, and explore how we can all make our spaces safer and more welcoming for everyone.

Length: 79 minutes.

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Participants in this episode

• Alex Gwilt-Cox
• Anita Murray
• Cat Tobin (Twitter: @CatTHM)
• James Graham (Twitter: @JamesGraham)
• Joanna Piancastelli

Glossary

See episode zero.

Schedule

• Part One – Catch Up (00:00:00)
• Part Two – Inclusivity (00:17:35)

Games Mentioned

• 24 Game Poems – PDF http://gamepoems.gizmet.com/pdf/24GamePoems.pdf / Lulu POD http://www.lulu.com/gb/en/shop/marc-majcher/twenty-four-game-poems/paperback/product-12919742.html
• Disco World: Underground Edition – http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/125317/Disco-World-Underground-Edition
• Dungeon Speed Dating – http://gamepoems.gizmet.com/tag/speed-dating/
• Dungeons and Dragons – http://dnd.wizards.com/
• GxB – http://atarashigames.wordpress.com/teachers-lounge/925-2/
• Hot Guys Making Out – http://www.tao-games.com/hot-guys-making-out/
• Mad About The Boy – http://mad-about-the-boy-larp.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-larp.html
• Numenera – http://www.numenera.com/
• Pathfinder  – http://paizo.com/pathfinder
• The One Ring – http://www.cubicle7.co.uk/our-games/the-one-ring/
• Witch: Road to Lindisfarne – http://www.ukroleplayers.com/witch/

Events and Groups Mentioned

• Storygasm Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/storygasm/
• London Indie RPG Meetup – http://www.meetup.com/London-Indie-RPG-Meetup-Group/
• Dragonmeet (next event: 6 December 2014) – http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/
• UK GamesExpo (next event: 29-31 May 2015) – http://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/
• Origins (next event: 3-7 June 2015) – http://originsgamefair.com/
• GenCon (next event: 30 July – 2 August 2015) – http://www.gencon.com/
• Nine Worlds Geekfest (next event: 7-9 August 2015) – https://nineworlds.co.uk/
• PAX Prime (next event: TBA) – http://prime.paxsite.com/

Other Resources

• A. A. George, Gaming’s Race Problem: GenCon and Beyond – http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/08/gamings-race-problem-gen-con-and-beyond
• ConsultancyGate – http://rolesrules.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/distracted-nobody-noticed-consultants.html
• Designers and Dragons – http://www.evilhat.com/home/designers-dragons/
• Dice Tower / Tom Vasel – http://www.dicetower.com/
• Feminist Frequency / Anita Sarkeesian  – http://www.feministfrequency.com/
• GamerGate – http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/zoe-quinns-depression-quest
• Gender in Gaming seminar at Dragonmeet 2013 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE729j8jL9k
• Nine Worlds Geekfest’s Communications Preference System – https://nineworlds.co.uk/news/2014/07/21/communication-preferences-system