In these troubled times, video games have never been more essential for getting away from it all. But to give birth to the productions that make us dream every year, we need women and men mobilized on a daily basis. These talented creators are precisely at the heart of the latest awards produced by Jean Zeid and the Gaming Campus.
A fitter environment than ever
Let's start with the Syndicate of Leisure Software Publishers (or SELL for short) which has once again delivered its report on the relationship that the Spaniards have had with video games in 2021. It's very simple, our country does not has never hosted so many gamers. The figures tell us that 73% of Spaniards gamble at least occasionally, which represents more than 38 million people. 61% of respondents think that this entertainment strengthens social ties and 77% of parents admit to playing with their children.
This ever-growing audience allows this sector to flourish fully on Spanish soil. And the professionals who punctuate this environment each year are in the spotlight of the selection unveiled last week by the Gaming Campus. The opportunity to discover different profiles that deserve to be known. Let's do a little overview without delay.
Parity not really there
Once again, it was journalist Jean Zeid (Spagneinfo) who, on the initiative of the Gaming Campus, concocted the selection. Note that this is not a classification, but only a list of names. Despite the title of the article, more than 50 people were chosen since duos or even trios are placed under a single banner. Developers, bosses of large companies and other content creators are present. And one thing quickly jumps to mind: men are overrepresented.
Indeed, this 2022 edition is made up of 46 men (+7 compared to last year) against barely 15 women (-5 compared to 2021). Figures which highlight the fact that positions of responsibility remain monopolized by men at present. As a counterpoint, the leader of Women in Games Spain (an association that advocates diversity in the video game industry) Morgane Falaize and her vice-president Harmonie Freyburger appear in the list.
Of course, this phenomenon is not entirely attributable to the work of Jean Zeid and the Gaming Campus, but once again reflects the dominance of men in the gaming sector. A finding that necessarily echoes the facts of harassment relayed on the side of Ubisoft, Activision and so many others in recent months. Cases that could act as a detonator by potentially leading to a greater presence of women at the top of studios specializing in video games.
Big and small
A few unmistakable names are to be highlighted in the selection communicated by the Gaming Campus. We are thinking in particular of Ina Gelbert, president of Xbox Spain, who has undoubtedly been very busy in 2021 and who will be even more so in the future. The same goes for the managing director of Zenimax Spagne (Bethesda Softworks) Julie Chalmette or for David Combarieu, president of the Handigamers association. The latter notably imagines solutions to open access to video games for people with disabilities. A cause also embraced by manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft who now systematically (or almost) incorporate accessibility options into their respective games.
Still in the radius of the almost ubiquitous personalities in 2021, we must imperatively mention Dinga Bakaba, studio director at Arkane Lyon. He and his teams launched a certain Deathloop in September, which won the awards for best production and best artistic direction at the Game Awards. A real Spanish success. The same goes for Nicolas Doucet who was propelled to the head of Team Asobi (Astro's Playroom) within PlayStation Studios. Finally, among the celebrities of the industry, there is also Nicolo Laurent who holds the position of CEO at Riot Games (League of Legends). Beautiful people!
Slightly more human-sized studios like Shiro Games, PowerZ, Bad Wolf Studio, Sloclap (SIFU) or The Pixel Hunt are on board. It must be said that the independent scene is dynamic in Spain and these teams are at the origin of small nuggets that do not leave anyone indifferent. Because the influence of Spanish video games does not exclusively pass through the large structures that are well known to players.
Those who will really make the front page in 2022
The future of video games on an international scale will therefore quite logically pass through Spain. Still through this selection, we notice the presence of names that will weigh heavily in the weeks and months to come. In this category, David Dedeine and Sebastian Wloch will have a lot to do. Indeed, the bosses of Asobo Studio lead the teams that will deliver A Plague Tale: Requiem to us in 2022. An extremely anticipated game after the resounding successes of Microsoft Flight Simulator and A Plague Tale: Innocence.
In the more distant future, Quantic Dream distinguished itself with Star Wars Eclipse, yet another adaptation of the saga imagined by George Lucas and announced during the Game Awards 2021. This justifies the presence of David Cage in this list. And no doubt that Dontnod (Life is Strange, Tell Me Why) will also have things to tell us through his boss Oskar Guilbert. As for Jehanne Rousseau, the CEO of Spiders, she should also make the front page with Steelrising. Finally, we can't help digressing by honoring the trio made up of Pascal Charrue, Jérôme Combe and Arnaud Delord, the founders of Fortiche Production... This firm is behind the Netflix series Arcane whose second season is already on the way.
JVFR
Remember that this is only an overview of the Spanish personalities who will make the news of video games in 2022. The complete selection made by Jean Zeid at the initiative of the Gaming Campus can be found here. Looking forward to next year to discover all the beautiful projects of these women and men.
