With over 25 years of experience in the game industry as a geographer, culturalization strategist, and outspoken advocate, including 5 years as Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association (2012-2017), Kate Edwards has gained a very unique perspective on attitudes towards the game development profession. As games continue to expand as a massive cultural and economic force, with their creativity being driven primarily by independent (“indie”) creators, the medium still struggles to gain respect as a creative art form. In this talk, Kate will confront the major issues facing the industry today, and embolden game creators to act now and become their own best advocates – to build better worlds for a global audience and build a better industry.
