Ever wondered what happens behind-the-scenes in The Sims? Three lucky fans got the chance to find out.
In partnership with Amy Poehler’s organization Smart Girls, Electronic Arts invited three teenage girls to Sims headquarters to shadow producers and learn first-hand what it takes to be part of The Sims 4 team. Their experience was featured in a three-episode web series called Smart Girls Build which emphasized creativity and imagination as more important than “fitting in.”
“We wanted to highlight female gamers and game producers. If girls see more women creating and participating in fields like gaming, they’re more likely to say to themselves, ‘Oh, cool! I can do that too,’” said Smart Girls Director of Development, Maggie Lyons.
So far, the 3-episode web series follows 13 and 14 year-olds Celeste, Amisha, and Tcarla as they learn about animation, audio production, and the game development process. Lyons told iDigitalTimes she chose Celeste, Amisha, and Tcarla because they have the enthusiasm and curiosity the Smart Girls’ mission encourages. “They light up when they talk about dance, music, photography, travel, and how their interests inform the way they see the world. They are the epitome of Smart Girls,” said Lyons.
Smart Girls Co-Founder, Meredith Walker, wanted to partner with The Sims because the game encourages girls to pursue goals they’re passionate about. “ The Sims gives them an opportunity to simulate that in a virtual setting before they do it in their real lives,” Lyons added.
Senior Sims 4 Producer Lyndsay Pearson said she believes Smart Girls empowers young women to explore innovative fields. “Their message to girls everywhere is powerful and resonates with us here at The Sims. The Sims is all about empowering our players to be creative and to rule their own worlds,” she said.
Women may be underrepresented in tech fields, but that isn’t the case when you talk about female gamers especially on PC games. The ESRB estimates women represent nearly half of all PC players. Pearson said some Sims players prefer to call themselves ‘Simmers’ instead of gamers. “The appeal of The Sims and our success has been influenced by the connection we’ve forged with both female and male players,” she said. The distinct ‘Simmer’ mentality fosters equality within The Sims Community and aligns with Smart Girls’ message, “Change the world by being yourself.”
“The Sims is such a creative game, and the Smart Girls audience is also very creative. Our motto is ‘Change the world by being yourself.’ These girls really do that in The Sims --They can play out the possibilities of where their passions can take them in their lives,” Lyons said.
This safe environment gives players the confidence and freedom to practice, share and explore new ideas without the same barriers presented in the real world. “Girls learn how to navigate their worlds, face challenges, express themselves, and build their own story -- all valuable experiences that are applicable in real life,” Lyons said.
Female gamers often face the same challenges as women in the tech industry. It’s a field dominated by men and there are often misconceptions about a woman’s ability or commitment. Studies show women get paid less, hold few leadership positions, and may not feel comfortable in a male-dominated environment with implicit biases. However, Columbia Business School found that women in the workplace contribute to greater financial success, performance and innovation. The Sims team also understands the value of diversity.
“The Sims team has always been a very diverse mix of men and women with great respect for each other. This made it easier for me to feel comfortable speaking up, sharing my opinion and realizing what a big part of the team I could be,” Pearson said.
Catalyst, an organization devoted to expanding opportunities for women in the workplace, released a report in 2014 highlighting the gender gap in tech-intensive industries. The nonprofit found 73 percent of women feel like an outsider in STEM fields, compared to 17 percent of men. This is not only both a barrier to advancement and deterrent for women to enter STEM fields, but also encourages women to take their skills elsewhere. This issue is something that organizations like Smart Girls and companies like The Sims focus on.
“The best ideas can come from anywhere, literally anywhere. When you have a diverse team you have more thoughts, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences which leads to better ideas. When everybody comes from the same place and has basically the same experiences you won’t get the variety or alternate point of view that might just be the brilliant idea to make your game sing,” Pearson said.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2022 there will be 1 million more STEM jobs requiring a bachelor's degree than there are right now. At the current pace, there are not enough qualified candidates to fill those positions, particularly when women only make up less than 30 percent of the STEM workforce according to U.S. Census Bureau. That number is far less when women in leadership and higher-paying roles are factored in to the count. The Sims is the perfect example of a STEM team that attracts all types of skillsets, blending creative and tech fields together. For example, Pearson explains, if you are interested in music, dance, or photography, there is a place of those skills.
“There are many different types of roles on a development team like The Sims . If you want to be technical or artistic, creative or process oriented, there’s something for you! I think a great place to start is to learn about the types of people that make these games and learn about what those people do. If you find out you’re interested in becoming a Technical Artist or Animation Director, or Producer than you can start digging into skills you can focus on,” Pearson said.
Games like The Sims allow the audience to feel what it’s like to practice skills in pursuit of a larger aspiration, like Amisha’s fascination with photography or Tcarla’s interest in guitar. “These girls really do that in The Sims -- They can play out the possibilities of where their passions can take them in their lives,” Lyons said.
Pearson said that because The Sims games are a caricature of the real world, Simmers have a chance to play out scenarios that are similar to reality.
“We all have something we aspire to whether it’s a career, exploring the world, creating a happy family, having good friends, or maybe just aspiring to sleep in on the weekend -- and The Sims themselves are no exception. They may be a little more single minded in their goals sometimes, but they want the same things we do. As the player, you get to help guide them through their life, achieving their goals or making up your own new ones,” Pearson said.
Lyons said Smart Girls Build is on hold for now, but there could be more episodes in the future. Stream the web series on the Smart Girls website.
