Designing for Inclusivity in 'The Sims'
GDC 2025・2 minutes read
Caterina Mallet highlights the excitement of returning to the gaming industry, emphasizing its immersion and the importance of player feedback while noting the significant impact of The Sims franchise and Maxis' commitment to inclusivity and diverse representation in gaming. The studio's focus on authentic content, collaborative environments, and evolving hiring practices reflects a broader dedication to enhancing player experiences and fostering a diverse and engaged workforce.
Insights
- Caterina Mallet highlights the gaming industry's profound impact on people's lives, noting that its immersive experiences allow players to shape their perspectives and identities, which can influence real-world views. This significance is underscored by the success of The Sims franchise, which has facilitated over 1 billion hours of gameplay in 2021, demonstrating its role in enabling players to explore diverse life scenarios.
- Maxis prioritizes diversity and inclusion in both its hiring practices and game development, with initiatives such as training recruitment panels to recognize bias and creating content that authentically represents various identities. This commitment to inclusivity not only enhances team dynamics and reflects the player base but is also seen as essential for the studio's success and culture, fostering an environment where all voices can contribute to the creative process.
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Recent questions
What is the gaming industry size compared to others?
The gaming industry is larger than both music and film, showcasing its immense popularity and cultural significance. This growth is attributed to the immersive experiences games provide, allowing players to engage in unique narratives and make choices that shape their perspectives. As a result, gaming has become a dominant form of entertainment, influencing not only leisure activities but also social interactions and cultural trends.
How do games impact player experiences?
Games significantly impact player experiences by offering immersive environments where individuals can explore various scenarios and identities. This exploration allows players to engage with different life situations, fostering empathy and understanding. The choices made within games can influence players' real-world views, making gaming a powerful medium for personal reflection and social commentary. The ability to shape one's narrative in a game can lead to deeper connections with the content and a greater appreciation for diverse perspectives.
What is the importance of diversity in game development?
Diversity in game development is crucial for creating content that authentically represents a wide range of identities and experiences. Developers prioritize inclusivity by incorporating features such as same-sex relationships and gender-neutral pronouns, reflecting the complexity of global language and social dynamics. This commitment not only enriches the gaming experience but also ensures that players from various backgrounds feel seen and represented, ultimately enhancing the game's appeal and relevance in a diverse society.
How does Maxis promote inclusivity in hiring?
Maxis promotes inclusivity in hiring by implementing practices that emphasize diversity and representation within the workforce. Recruitment panels are trained to recognize implicit bias, and job descriptions are carefully screened to avoid exclusionary language. This approach aims to create a diverse team that mirrors the player base, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. By prioritizing diverse hiring, Maxis enhances its ability to create games that resonate with a broad audience and reflect the richness of human experiences.
What are the benefits of remote work for companies?
Remote work offers significant benefits for companies, particularly in enhancing geographic diversity in hiring. This flexibility allows organizations to attract talent from various backgrounds and experiences, which can lead to improved team dynamics and creativity. Additionally, remote work facilitates better engagement with employees through tools like recorded meetings and virtual platforms, ensuring that all voices are heard regardless of location. This inclusivity not only boosts morale but also contributes to better business outcomes, as seen in the growth of player engagement in games like The Sims 4.
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Summary
00:00
Gaming Industry Embraces Diversity and Inclusion
- Caterina Mallet expresses her excitement about returning to the gaming industry, emphasizing the unique creative environment and the joy of receiving positive feedback from players, which reinforces the industry's significance in people's lives.
- The gaming industry surpasses both music and film in size, with games providing immersive experiences that allow players to make choices, shaping their unique experiences and perspectives, which can influence their real-world views.
- The Sims franchise has had a significant impact, with over 1 billion hours played in 2021 and 560 million copies sold since 2014, showcasing its role in allowing players to explore life scenarios and identities.
- Game developers prioritize creating content that authentically represents diverse identities, with ongoing efforts to incorporate features like same-sex relationships since 2000 and gender-neutral pronouns, acknowledging the complexity of global language representation.
- Maxis, the studio behind The Sims, aims to foster an inclusive environment, achieving 43% of new hires being women, which exceeds industry averages, while recognizing the need for continued progress in diversity.
- The studio values collaboration, inclusivity, and authenticity, with a focus on creating games that reflect the diversity of life, and team members are encouraged to share their unique perspectives to enhance game development.
- Maxis has shifted its approach to gender representation, allowing players to create Sims with any physique, walk style, or voice, fundamentally changing how gender is represented in the game and expanding player expression.
- The studio's values guide decision-making, especially during challenging times, with a focus on championing inclusivity and authenticity, which are seen as integral to the game's success and the team's culture.
- Hiring practices at Maxis emphasize diversity and inclusion, with recruitment panels trained to recognize implicit bias, and job descriptions screened for exclusionary language, aiming to create a diverse workforce that reflects the player base.
- Caterina Mallet initiated a "listening tour" to gather employee feedback on hybrid work experiences, leading to insights that informed the studio's approach to inclusivity in meetings, highlighting the importance of creating an environment where all voices can be heard.
17:47
Evolving Work Practices for Enhanced Team Engagement
- Large meetings are best conducted on virtual platforms, while in-person meetings should focus on workshops and collaborative interactions, reflecting a shift in expectations for hybrid work environments. Recorded meetings are favored for their flexibility, allowing team members to engage across multiple time zones, enhancing overall productivity.
- Senior leaders are not always equipped to determine the best working styles for every team; instead, their role is to set the tone, reduce barriers, and provide necessary tools. Engagement surveys and monthly pulse checks are valuable, but direct listening through office hours and listening tours is essential for understanding team needs.
- Cross-studio volunteer committees, named "soul" after the Simlish word for hello, have been established to support team health and engagement, focusing on topics like recognition and productivity. These committees encourage diverse voices and participation beyond traditional seniority or function-based structures.
- The company is committed to enhancing community engagement by refining methods for listening to player feedback, including sharing work in progress and exploring direct connections through live streams and forums. This approach aims to foster transparency and trust while ensuring a positive gaming community experience.
- The shift to remote work has allowed for greater geographic diversity in hiring, enabling the company to attract talent from various backgrounds and experiences. This inclusivity not only enhances team dynamics but also leads to better business outcomes, as evidenced by the continuous growth in monthly active users since the launch of The Sims 4 eight years ago.
