Who Gets to Make Video Games?

On this episode, we discuss the lack of representation in the video game industry, from the stories that get told in games to the people who get to make them. While gamers of color are more active than their white counterparts, they still only make up about 13% of the gaming development industry, according to a study by Pew Research. First, we hear from Neil Jones, a Black video game developer who went independent after struggling for years to break into the industry. He shares what inspired him to pursue a career in video game development and the difficulties he and his peers faced looking for employment at traditional gaming studios. He shares how he created and released his own survival game, Aerial Knight’s Never Yield, to carve his own path in. Then, host Carla Harris sits down with Damon Packwood, co-founder of Gameheads, a video game industry job training non-profit aimed at preparing marginalized students for work in the lucrative video game industry. We discuss how the marginalized youth in his Bay Area community are primed to take advantage of the upcoming demographics shift within the gaming community.

Come on and join us for the ride.

https://www.morganstanley.com/what-we-do/inclusive-innovation-and-opportunity

Disclaimer text

The guest speakers are neither employees nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. (“Morgan Stanley”). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and figures contained herein has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information or data contained in this podcast.

This podcast does not provide individually tailored investment advice and is not a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

© 2021 Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Members SIPC.