THE FINAL BOSS: INCLUSION OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN VIDEO GAMES

Jill Doyle, Facilitator

2pm-6pm March 18

Edna’s
159 Frederick St Kitchener, ON N2H 1K8

A conversation and conference surrounding queer, non-binary and femme representation in video gaming. As a non-binary person and a gamer, Jill finds it increasingly difficult to find representation of characters, stories and experiences that reflect their life back to them. Or – if they do find that kind of representation, it is often in the form of a token character that is not accurate. Videogames can be utilized as educational tools, with the inclusion of LGBTQ2+ stories, there is an invitation for all members of the gaming world to be able to use videogames to learn about gender, sexuality and themselves. With idealizations surrounding games with male voices and experiences being heard the loudest, we assert that there is plenty of room for all stories to be told, inclusive of those in the LGBTQ2+ community and femme experiences. Aren’t they?

Jill Doyle is the non-binary, queer and neuroatypical facilitator of The Final Boss: Videogame Conference and Conversation for Femme Folks Fest. Jill holds a BA with honours in English from McMaster University and is in the process of competing their MA in English and Theatre at the University of Guelph. In their spare time, they love playing videogames, but are often disappointed at the lack of representation of enby, trans and queer characters. Jill is interested in talking about how to include characters outside of the cisheteronormative without tokenising characters, and how to authentically and genuinely tell stories in games.

Panel participants:

Practical:
Sagan – Hand Eye Society
Madeline Tate
Felice Kuan
Mallory Littleton
Madeleine Tate
Dee Warrick

Theoretical:
Rina R Whebe – Games Institute U Waterloo
Sid Heeg – Games Institute U Waterloo
Gada Jane
Lillian A Black