We all know that we need more women gamers in the world. The problem, however, is that unless people know what kind of games really like, there isn't going to be that chance to get more women gamers into the fold. A great way to get more women gamers is to have more women game developers, but how do you go about wooing those women?

From the article:

Speaking to an invitation-only crowd at that San Francisco bar, in town for the recent Game Developers Conference, Simmons was joined by several other women from SOE to announce the details of the program, a partnership with The Art Institutes. The program, the first of its kind, would give the winning female student currently enrolled at an Art Institute school $10,000 toward her tuition and a paid internship at one of SOE's development studios.

However, this is not the first time the issue of women in the video game industry has been addressed.

Simmons, who enjoys playing video games with her three children, believes that women are being "gamed down to," because, she says, "there is a lack of understanding about how women play."

Studies and sales data have shown that women are more likely to play hand-held casual games, such as the Nintendo DS, along with social oriented games such as "The Sims," where women make up more than 55 percent of players.

Though the number of women who play games is high, they represent just under 12 percent of the industry, according to the International Game Developers Association. By diversifying the work force, developers can create products that appeal to a wider audience.

Simmons wants to see "more women making games," she says, "making more games that women want to play."

Read the full article over at CNN.com

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