Jenny Hide

We sat down with Jenny Hide.

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

Jenny: I'm a game designer and programmer at my company, Fox Tor Games, which I run with my partner. We're making our first game Cultivate: Before Time, a relaxing farming-meets mystery game where you and your quaint, diverse, English village are propelled back to prehistoric times. You get to explore your surroundings in search of friendship, dinosaurs and mysteries to solve.

I also freelance, mainly for General Interactive Co. - I made Terroir, a winemaking tycoon game for them, and a prototype of Chinatown Detective Agency, an adventure/mystery/management game where you're a private detective in Singapore in the year 2032, hunting down a serial killer while keeping your business running.

QRM: What about the games industry excites and inspires you?

Jenny: People finding new ways to tell stories, especially from more diverse perspectives. The games that inspire me the most are often small indie ones that have a specific story or experience they want to get across.

QRM: What about the games industry frustrates or disappoints you? What are the challenges you’re currently facing in the industry?

Jenny: The lack of diversity at the moment. I think things are (slowly) improving, but when going to conferences and events, the majority of talks and roundtables are still very un-diverse!

QRM: If you could make one roadblock magically disappear from the games industry, what would you choose and why?

Jenny: Money! If money didn't exist, or funding was available for everyone who wanted to make a game, many more people could afford to spend the time creating their own games and stories. This would help the games industry become much more diverse.

QRM: What message would you give to allies—both individuals and companies—who want to know how to support marginalised people better?

Jenny: Hire multiple marginalised people - not just one, and listen to what we have to say.

Don't require qualifications - if someone can do the job, that should be all that matters. Allow remote and flexible working - this can help in many ways, from mental health benefits to negating high living costs in certain cities. These things can affect anyone, but disproportionately affect marginalised people.

QRM: What message would you give to marginalised people who are working in games or would like to work in games?

Jenny: Support each other, look after yourself, and try to surround yourself with nice people.

QRM: If people want to find and support you and your work, how can they do that?

Jenny: Say hello on Twitter and/or sign up to my newsletter