Canadian Game Industry Essay

The Canadian game industry has seen significant development and success, providing "4.5 billion dollars to the Canadian GDP in 2019." (Perks and Whitson 132). With the rise of self-publishing and digital distribution platforms like Steam, Apple, and Google Play, the business appears to be here to stay. Despite its success, the gaming industry has faced numerous problems. Three key takeaways from Matthew Perks and Jennifer Whitson's chapter "Inclusion, Access, and Equity: Diversity Initiatives in Canada's Game Industry" can help highlight the shortcomings in the Canadian game business.

This industry has been heavily criticized due to its expectations and working conditions demanding longer, underpaying, and overall instability of the career

The pipeline model, which is how individuals progress from education to entry-level to higher positions in the game industry, has flaws. The assumption that everyone has equal access to education and learns at the same pace overlooks discrimination, especially towards marginalized communities. White heterosexual males dominate the game industry. The industry perpetuates a gender bias, with computer-related ads primarily targeted toward boys, resulting in only 20% of women pursuing computer science careers at post-secondary levels. This creates a stigma that "computers are for boys" (Perks and Whitson 134), excluding many talented women from the gaming community. Thus, many boys grow up immersed in gaming while girls are left out. This exclusionary culture within the gaming industry is a significant factor in hiring predominantly young males passionate about gaming. Despite the pipeline model's efforts to decrease discrimination in the game industry, minorities continue to face numerous obstacles when entering the sector. There is already an overall lack of diversity in the industry due to a lack of women and minorities who share a similar passion for gaming, but the few minorities who do break

One significant issue is the toxic gaming community and the prevalence of exclusivity. To help address these issues a recommendation would be to place more policies against discrimination, as well as sexual harassment in the workplace in addition to a zero-tolerance policy. Discrimination against women is a prevalent issue in the tech industry, and it is vital to promote diversity by hiring people from different backgrounds, genders, cultures, and sexualities. This will create a more inclusive workplace and bring in different perspectives and ideas that can benefit the industry in the long term. Another recommendation for improving the game industry is establishing a positive work culture that values work-life balance. By offering more flexible work arrangements and mental health resources, companies can help their employees thrive professionally and personally. This can lead to a more positive and productive work environment, encouraging collaboration, open communication, and teamwork. Overall, addressing these issues can help the Canadian game industry continue to flourish and become a more welcoming and inclusive place to