Charlie Francis Cassidy

We sat down with Charlie Francis Cassidy, programmer at Mighty Games and independent game developer.

QRM: Can you tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do in the games industry?

Charlie: I'm a queer trans masc nb games programmer and general developer. I spend my days programming for Mighty Games, and nights programming and developing my own more personal and/or weird games. I'm often talking on panels at conventions about either mental health or something queer related. Both of which I am super passionate about.

QRM: How long have you been involved in the game industry, and what projects have you worked on? What are you working on currently?

Charlie: About two to four years depending on when you count from, but about two and a half years ago is when I started getting more thoroughly involved. I did a bunch of work on Disney Crossy Road through Mighty and I've now moved on to the wonderful Shooty Skies.

As for my own stuff, I've made some weird stuff here and there, such as my game about tumbleweeds and some point-and-click demos along the way. My real pride project right now though is a little game called In My Mind. In My Mind is a short game that focuses on my personal experiences with mental health, and a few mentions of the impact it had on my trans related journey.

QRM: What inspired you to get started in the games industry?

Charlie: It sounds so cliché, but I just really want to give people experiences. When I was growing up, and having a bad time, I found myself living through Morrowind. If I could have the chance to give that to someone else, then sign me up. It also gives me the opportunity to share my own experiences with others, which is an amazing thing about games.

QRM: In what ways do you feel your experiences as a queer person manifest in the games you work on, and influence the work you do?

Charlie: I kind of feel like anything I touch just becomes that little bit more queer and/or thoughtful? Even if I'm not adding specifically queer content to something, I do always have diversity in mind, because I already struggle to find representation in the world sometimes. I'm also super aware of bad tropes/stereotypes/unnecessary gender roles people can fall into representing and try to steer away from anything potentially harmful in that.

In my own games though, good luck finding something not queer in there!

QRM: Do you have a favourite queer character—in games or media more generally? If so, what is it about them that makes them your favourite?
Question asked by @kamienw.

Charlie: They're not perfect, but it might still be Willow from Buffy. Willow and her relationship with Tara was my first real introduction to queer content. Even though it still took like another few years for me to realise what I was feeling, that definitely helped me work out a bunch of stuff. They still have a special place in my heart.

But also, honestly, I fall in love with just about every queer character I come across.

QRM: Have you ever encountered roadblocks in trying to include queer characters in games? What do you think is preventing greater diversity within games?
Question asked by @dustinalex91.

Charlie: I don't think I have ever had anyone tell me something is too queer to have anywhere which is nice but I think the main problem is that it's still a terrifying thing to suggest/pitch? Especially in a project that isn't just yours. I'm quite lucky with where I work, which is quite open and everyone can pretty freely talk about how they feel about what we're doing. But I know not everyone has that, and even if you do it's still hard because society is telling us we're still the odd ones out.

Also, the reception to queer content is still abysmal. It's terrifying, to wonder if you're gonna make a bunch of cis-het guys start throwing abuse at you cause your main character is queer, is trans, is anything outside their little box. Even I am somewhat worried about the reception for some of my own games I have in production right now. It's not gonna stop me, but I 100% support and understand anyone who does want to avoid that.

A capsule is in a simplified bedroom. A text overlay reads, One thing I didn't really take into account was the testosterone increasing my manic episodes.

QRM: Why do you think it is important that queer audiences are able to see themselves represented in the games they play, and in the developers who make the games they see? What can we do to improve the industry for queer audiences and devs?

Charlie: If all the developers you see are cis-het guys, you're not gonna think there is a place for you there. If all the media you consume is again, full of cis-het people, you're gonna start thinking there is something wrong with you. Like you don't fit in anywhere, which really sucks. I for years didn't realise I was ace, and was pretty confused where I fell just because I never saw that represented anywhere. Definitely not explicitly represented anyway.

The thing about games is that they are a place to safely explore yourself, and it's such a missed opportunity only falling back on the same sorts of representation. Like, how many "macho" white guys do we really need? I think the more diverse games and media becomes, the easier it's gonna be for people to figure out who they are, and feel good about it. Same goes with the people making the media. Queer people will make better queer media, and people will look at that and go, hey, I can make some queer stuff too! I can be queer.

QRM: Have you ever mentored somebody in your role in games, or been mentored? If so, what made these experiences worthwhile for you?
Question asked by @pepelanova.

Charlie: I haven't exactly, but I would love to mentor someone in the future!

QRM: In what ways can non-queer folk increase and support queer diversity present within games, as well as in the industry more broadly? How can we all work to support intersectional approaches to diversity, and why is this important?

Charlie: Hire, queer, people. Talk to queer people. Make sure your workplace is a safe space for them. Make sure your games are safe for them to play. More diversity is only a positive thing. It is not taking away from anything. People that have a different life experience to you are valuable. Games will only get more interesting, the industry itself will improve. More effort going into diversity breeds even more diversity as others can start to see themselves there. Then they know they can also be a part of it.

Take a bowl of just oranges. Glancing at that tells me all I can put in there is probably oranges? Theoretically any fruit could go in there, but it's making me pretty sure it's for oranges. Now take a bowl with a mixture of fruit in it, I am pretty sure I can now put any fruit in there. This was a weird analogy but I think it proves my point. If you don't see queer people in games, it's hard to imagine yourself in there too.

QRM: Is there a message that you would like to share with the queer game players, game studies researchers, and other interested folks who comprise the Queerly Represent Me community?

Charlie: I'd say keep being you because you're amazing, but you can't always do that in this world, so just know I think you're pretty cool.

*

You can find Charlie on their website, and on Twitter .
You can also find out more information about In My Mind here.