On December 6, 2013, an online community dedicated to being a safe haven for gamers of all creeds and colors, surfaced under the name Ladies of the Round Table (LORT). They’re a group of arcade cabinet collectors, table top gamers, PC gamers, consoles enthusiasts, and tech geeks. Each of the members have a wealth of knowledge about games of all genres and on many platforms.
They have a mission – to be a voice to developers regarding issues with women in gaming. These unique gals are “not here to bash any nuts” and stress that fact by insisting that “this group is not a platform used for male bashing.”
Which was a misconception I had when hearing about this website/show at first.
Then, I was able to interview Carmen, the founder, prior to the official website launch. Since LORT had their premier show live via GoogleOnAir on December 13th, I wanted to check back in and take the time to highlight how well the launch had gone since its debut episode.
Getting attention to organizations like this is paramount if we truly want to see some change in our industry.
“The introduction to the show really set the tone for what already is a great community.”
I wasn’t able to watch the live show, but was able to watch it with the wife on my couch via YouTube. My wife, being a console-only gamer, found great pleasure in watching it with me. Her lack of knowledge compared to the hosts’ didn’t stop her from laughing frequently throughout the hour.
Personally I found it all quite refreshing and reminded me of all the girls I grew up with that played games, beyond the stereotypical level of the 90’s girl gamer or lack there of. The introduction to the show really set the tone for what already is a great community. The mission statement sums it up quite nicely:
“Our mission is to encourage and inspire young women to value themselves and to provide a positive inspiration to gaming and geek culture.”
This statement, again, is not to exclude males, but rather echo the desire for change and celebrate that change as well. Having a united front with civil discussions about relevant topics is key to the change needed in the gaming industry.
Creating such an initiative, being a safe haven for gamers and to provide a female perspective, is quite a daunting task.
With harassment towards women getting more publicity, we need to make sure we have a support system to speak against it/about it. Just this last week we heard about Depression Quest’s developer and her horrific experience just because she was a female. To say we need a little bit of change in how these situations get handled by all parties involved is an understatement. Whether someone is a male or female, no one deserves to have terrible harassing voicemails and such unsettling comments posted everywhere.
One way we can combat these tropes and issues is through creating communities around positive ideas and positive actions.
To help turn the tide of negativity, LORT is associated with Operation Supply Drop, Extra-Life, Girls Who Code, RizeUpGaming, and STEM, and plan on associating with many other charities. The girls will be asking for folks to send in their articles that focus on positivity and want to spotlight those articles weekly, on both the site and the show.
As the year rolls out there will be more things to announce that will help build and shape a strong sense of community. All the staff members get involved in clan matches, and they have already established some in Smite, Warframe, and Dust 514, with more planned for the future. As the site gains more members, its audience should broaden, as well as the variety of games to join in on.
“…I see all the possibilities for us to make this a defining year addressing diversity amongst gamers…”
Since the site’s launch, this incredibly talented team of both men and women have been creating content leading up to, and after the site’s first debut show. When asked what numbers the site has seen since launch, Carmen said, “currently we receive 150+ unique visits a day with over 2,000 fans on Facebook… and substantial growth on our YouTube channel.”
Which is an awesome start for anyone, especially a group founded on positivity. As a games journalist/writer I’ve noticed how difficult it is to draw attention to the good things going on in the industry. There are lots of charitable sites and some great groups around, but few compare to the passion expressed by Carmen, Heather, Paige, and Rebecca. They plan on having a ton of things to keep people engaged and hungry for more positive vibes well into 2014:
- Round Table Discussions – Movies, TV, indie games, all things geek.
- Games – Electronic to Board with first impressions and gameplay highlights.
- An interactive show giving viewers the ability to call in with comments or questions.
- Hot Topic – Trending issues in the gaming and geek community.
- Ladies Limelight – Pro gamers join in to talk about their worlds.
- Twitch Reflects – Highlights from their live-stream gaming sessions.
- Table Top Divas – Playing and reviewing tabletop games.
- Community Spotlight – Shining a light on those within the community who are doing positive things.
- Game/Tech/Product reviews and unboxing.
In addition to that, there are other great things in the pipeline.
One thing Carmen expressed particular excitement about was the new addition to the Round Table. Toni Darling of cosplay fame will be a welcome addition to this already talented and passionate group of women, starting some time next year.
With Sheri Graner Ray and Megan Gaiser on the advisory board, this is becoming quite the powerhouse for women and gamers of all kinds to converge.
Unfortunately it takes more than just these few people. We need to join in on these discussions, we need to speak up and not be afraid of the geeks that we are.
As we look forward into 2014, I see all the possibilities for us to make this a defining year addressing diversity amongst gamers, and getting those voices heard by the right people. The best way I know how to help is actively surround yourself with like-minded people and create a safe haven, if you will. People who enjoy civil, passionate, conversations as well as just all around fun. After all, video games are what brings us together in the first place: these interactive experiences that can make us forget our troubles at the end of the day, brighten our moods, and occasionally make real connections with real people.
What better place than a ‘nut bashing-free’ community comprised of some very talented women helping navigate these new areas of our culture? I know I’m ready to follow along this journey… are you?
LORT will be streaming their live show this Friday December 20th, via Twitch.tv at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. They will also have something special for those arrive early to the live stream. Be sure to follow these gals over @Ladiesrdtable on Twitter and like them on Facebook. If you happen to miss an episode or want to watch any other videos that these gals do, check out their YouTube channel and subscribe. Be sure to hop on over to their website and feel free to comment and participate.
Published: Dec 20, 2013 03:41 am