Talk

Shareef Jackson

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Shareef has been obsessed with technology ever since he was a child, disassembling game controllers and driving his parents crazy. He has helped to interview gaming luminaries such as Adam Sessler and Jeff Canatta on the Spawn on Me podcast, which spotlights people of color in gaming. Shareef highlights issues of gender and race on his Gaming Looks Good YouTube series. Shareef's broader web presence includes an award winning science blog Science Looks Good which has been featured on NPR, Scientific American, and NASA TV.

Chicago, IL August 8, 2015
The Timing of Diverse Character Placement
Some violent gaming scenes may be shown.

Have you ever stopped playing a game because it just didn't connect with you in the first few hours? Even games with great overall diversity can suffer if the beginning is dominated by cis white men. Well written diverse characters should be on display throughout an entire game, not just shoved in during the middle or end. Using clips from small indie games as well as big budget AAA releases , the timing of diverse character placement is discussed. Can this ruin or enhance a gaming experience?