Several female game developers were subjected to forms of sexual misconduct at last week’sGame Developers Conferencein San Francisco, according to reports. However, many are taking a proactive approach to verify the alleged perpetrators are brought to light.The reports of actions taken against women at the event, which ran from March 20-24, range from luring by men into uncomfortable situations to secretly plying them with drugs for presumably sexual purposes. Some of these reports have been confirmed by Stride PR Vice President Guy “Yug” Blombergon his Twitter account, where he said “We’ve been informed of multiple folks that were roofied last Thursday night in SF, most probably at the karaoke event we hosted. Thankfully they had friends who looked after them and they’re ok all things considered.”
Blomberg expressed his “furious” response to the “scumbag who did this” and vowed that the organizers were working to uncover the culprit(s), saying they are reviewing security footage and making inquiries to people who might know something about the incidents. He also noted, quite correctly, that none of the women involved in these incidents are at any kind of fault.
While the officials try to work things out through more traditional investigative measures, at least one female developer is taking an even more aggressive approach.As pointed out by Eurogamer, award-winning developer Leena van DeVenter is using hersocial media accountto call out the perpetrators and is threatening to expose them if they don’t “get the hell out of our industry.”
“We’ve always had each other’s backs but now you predators better be mindful of our fronts We know who you are & who you (currently) work with. We have more info than ever, & more ideas what to do with it;” a post from Saturday states, adding in “hell hath no fury like a woman informed.”
Problems like the ones described by van DeVenter and others are not uncommon at events such as this one.Back in 2020, developer and associate art director Leisha Riddel said she had been “roofied” twice in her life, both at GDC, and that is the reason she no longer attends.
As Blomberg noted, anyone who has information regarding the sexual misconduct incidents can text texting SUPPORT to 23368 to reach the Games & Online Harassment Hotline, or they can contact him directly.
