The Program
Women in Games International, in partnership with IGDA Women in Games, is launching GameMentorOnline, the first-of-its-kind online mentorship program for the international games industry.
Designed to serve students and young professionals, men and women alike, GameMentorOnline has been carefully co-developed by both organizations to meet the growing need for peer-to-peer mentorship support in games.
As our industry expands, contracts and evolves, there is a continually pressing need to shepherd and educate new talent, while tapping into the significant knowledge and resources of a growing community of advanced game professionals whose expertise could be lost if not passed on to new generations of game industry employees.
GameMentorOnline is a free service, open to mentors and mentees of all types and in all disciplines of games business and development. GameMentorOnline is powered by a turn-key mentorship matching solution that enables multiple options for mentees when selecting their mentor of choice. GameMentorOnline has been created with a purpose in mind, to carry the mentorship relationship through key milestones to an eventual outcome.
The biggest challenge for GameMentorOnline and any similar program is the ability to attract and maintain committed mentors. We are asking all experienced members of the game trade to consider dedicating themselves to a minimum of one mentee relationship per year. By meeting this goal, we all contribute to strengthening the games industry as a whole, and giving back to a community that needs our support.
How To Participate
The initial phase of GameMentorOnline is open the following people:
- Mentors who have at least 3 years of experience in a technical field, or in the video game industry.
- Proteges who are students at a junior/community college, college or university at any level, or post-doctoral students. You are not required to be pursuing a video game-related field for the program.
Become A Sponsor
At this time, we are seeking sponsorship for GameMentorOnline, both cash and in-kind. IGDA Women in Games and WIGI are offering blended marketing benefits to a limited number of year-round sponsors. Contact sponsor@womeningamesinternational.org for more info.
Sponsors
TITLE SPONSOR
Microsoft Game Studios
www.microsoft.com/games
Microsoft Game Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. which develops and publishes video games for Windows-based PCs and the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles. It also develops games for the Nintendo DS. MGS publishes games for several Microsoft-owned first-party developers, such as Lionhead Studios and Rare Ltd. MGS has also published games created by third-party developers, such as BioWare and Bizarre Creations as of October 2007.
PREMIER SPONSORS
Design Direct Deliver
www.designdirectdeliver.com
Design Direct Deliver (DDD) is a company that provides contracting and consulting services specializing in video game development and improving the customer service experience. After an evaluation of the client's existing products or processes, DDD works with clients to enhance or create new products and processes to help them achieve their goals while increasing customer satisfaction and bottom line.
Sony Online Entertainment
www.soe.com
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest, EverQuest II, Champions of Norrath, Untold Legends, and PlanetSide, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA with additional development studios in Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Denver, CO; Tuscon, AZ; and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.
G.I.R.L.
www.girl.soe.com
G.I.R.L. - Gamers in Real Life - is an initiative to educate women about video games, to positively impact the way females are depicted in video games and to influence content to be appealing to women.
GameMentorOnline is powered by MentorNet.net
MentorNet, a Presidential Award-winning non-profit organization, is dedicated to helping students in science and engineering succeed by connecting them with professionals in the field for online mentoring relationships. With its focus on women and minorities, MentorNet has matched more than 24,000 students on 110 campuses with professionals at more than 1000 corporations, universities, and government labs. To learn more, visit MentorNet at www.mentornet.net/protege.