Josie Noronha

We sat down with Josie Noronha from jo-robo, and chatted about their work as an indie game developer.

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

Josie: I am an independent game developer, who worked in an educational game studio for a few months before changing my professional path. Initially I was an art coordinator, guiding external artists on what assets we needed and how to make them fit our studio's style guides. Though it was fun, I think coming home from my day job and working on games I'm passionate about now... it's more my style.

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

Josie: Professional industry? 7 months. I worked on a few edu-tainment type mobile games, but I don't want to mention the company/projects I worked on for them, haha.

Independent development? 4 years. My most notable project is robo-tea – a cute, queer, dating sim series that is determined to help others feel safe and calm. I'm currently working on a sequel game, robo-tea:2ndServing! (and many many more mini-games with my cutiebots).

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

Josie: It didn't really dawn on me that I could work in games until my second year of art school. I started my major, and had a fantastic 3D modeling teacher who worked in games and inspired me to pursue a game art career. Oddly enough, I didn't end up becoming a 3D modeler, and I didn't even become an artist in 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?

Josie: I design things to be queer and comforting. As a child, I wanted games where I could date whomever I wanted to, and was frustrated that so few gave me the options I wanted. I think also having come out around that time to my mom, and being rejected for who I am (even to this day), has set me on a path of making comfort content. Narratives where you're here, you're queer, and it's unquestioned. You aren't asked if you're doing this to challenge anything. You just get to be queer cutiebots and enjoy their everyday lives.

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.

Josie: Hmmm... that's tough! I guess I'll reach back into my childhood and say Sailor Neptune and Uranus from the Sailor Moon series? I loved seeing them interact, and even though I didn't understand their relationship until I was in high school, I knew from a young age that I wanted to be gorgeous and adorable with someone else, just like them.

Oh no, wait. Can I count Utena and Anthy from Revolutionary Girl Utena? I love them too! There's too many, so many, characters I love...

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.

Josie: I personally have not encountered roadblocks, as I am now in creative control of the games I work on. Everyone in my games is queer, whether players like it or not! It also helps that I know I'm providing content for a very niche audience.

I think what prevents greater diversity in games that want a large userbase is that fear that you'll get called out by that small, but vocal, section of gamers who absolutely detest having diverse content in the games they play. Sure, studios have to play it safe, and it's understandable… but disappointing. It's partly why I haven't picked up many games as of late.

Robo Tea one cup logo, containing five androids looking at the camera.

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?

Josie: Very simple! Queer people need to see that they are normal and are part of a community/narrative/world/industry. Without seeing ourselves in media, we start feeling like we are isolated and less likely to meet others like us. That feeling of aloneness is stifling. By including queer characters, you're giving us space to exist and be. By working with queer individuals, you're allowing us to give input that can help your game get that inclusivity.

If I hadn't made friends with the few queer people in the same studio as me, I'm not so sure I would've stayed for even those 7 months.

To improve the industry? I would say be even more welcoming to individuals who aren't just like you. Gaming, networking, being a part of a studio... these are all places where consideration can shine, and we can prove how good of a team player we are (which is literally how most games get made).

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.

Josie: I've been mentored by teachers from the art school I went to, and I've been a mentor of sorts for people in fandom communities. I started making robot dating sims because I hadn't seen anyone else in the Transformers community making them yet. And I keep encouraging others in that fandom to make games too, because I still desperately want to romance robots!!

But in all seriousness? I think being mentored has been worthwhile to see how things can pan out for someone in the industry. Maybe it won't happen the same way as it did for them, but it's helpful when trying to plan your own career.

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?

Josie: Please buy and make more queer games! But especially support the queer games made by queer individuals. A lot of these developers don't have expendable income to market their games, and by you spreading the word and buying their games, you're encouraging them make more diverse content. Many of these devs could use your help! Look on itch.io and Steam for games by queer developers!

And if you are making a game, please consult or include queer people on your team. The more people, the better, as there's tons of queer people and we all have different lives! This makes you more trustworthy as a creator, because you're not sticking to stereotypes or something a friend-of-a-friend said. You're actively doing the research to create queer characters/narratives.

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?

Josie: I make comforting games to comfort myself dealing with the one person who holds me back from being myself 100%. From the time I came out to her until now, I have fought my mom about who I am and what I believe in. Life events led me to moving back in with my parents, and I have to keep silent about things that matter to me. Sharing what I care about (cute, calm, queer robot dates) with others away from home brings me joy!

I encourage you to make something whenever you can, to help remind you of who you are, and what you stand for. It doesn't even have to be a game: it can be writing, drawing, videography, whatever is that comforting thing.

Maybe the things you make will also become comfort for those like us.

*

You can find Josie's games on itch.io and their development blog on Tumblr.
You can also visit their Twitter or portfolio to find out more!