Happy Ada Lovelace Day

Today, March 24, is Ava Lovelace Day, "an international day of blogging to draw attention to women excelling in technology." I'm thrilled to see the day getting lots of publicity. If you've been following along here at DeusXM, you know that issues of gender equality are near and dear to my heart.

I signed the pledge weeks ago, intending to write about Roberta Williams, pioneering game designer and co-founder of Sierra On-Line. When you wax nostalgic for the halcyon days of King's Quest, you should take a second to think of Roberta and be grateful for her contributions to the canon of modern computer gaming.

But one of the things I absolutely love about the ARG community is the way it has historically attracted girls and women, both as players and as developers. So let me shout out to some of the women working in our cutting-edge, innovative field, who are excelling in technology and showing little girls that yes, they can come to the party, too. In no particular order, I give you:

• Jan Libby


• Maureen McHugh 


• Naomi Alderman 


• Krystyn Wells 


• Marie Lamb 


• Wendy Despain 


• Dee Cook 


• Brooke Thompson 


• Geneviève Cardin  


• Michelle Senderhauf 


• and (of course) Jane McGonigal 

Every one of these women has done something amazing, and I expect further amazement as the days go by.

If you're a woman who makes ARGs and I've left you off the list, I'm so sorry! I mean no disrespect; this is just the few I thought of on the spur of the moment -- and the fact that the list is as long as it is is a massive credit to us all, don't you think? But consider this an open thread to talk up the women in tech you admire -- particularly the women in games in general and ARGs in specific -- even if that woman is yourself.

Updated to add: So of course I leave off Kim Plowright, who has been my link to sanity lo these many months during the Routes development cycle and run. Sorry, Kim! You know I loves you!

Update 2: And of course Catherine Herdlick, too. Sheesh!

Comments

[Merzmensch]

I also greet all the great and creative female Puppet Mistresses and all the ARG goddesses (PMs, players and everybody) :-)

Btw, Ada Lovelace was in the middle of an ARG, which run in Germany for a year.

[John Evans]

Christy Dena? :)

[Andrea]

I just lose, don't I? Of course Christy Dena, and Mez, too. Sigh.

[labfly]

oh queen of awesomesauce :) i think we need to addandrea phillips to the ald mix - she's not just making greatwork but also one of the most supportive geek sistersout there -http://www.deusexmachinatio.com/about.html

cheers