Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day! It’s a day meant to commemorate women’s achievements and for others to be inspired by their skills and words of wisdom.
To celebrate, we’re highlighting the incredible women working at Blindspot Games. We hope you’ll take a moment to get to know these ladies, to learn about themselves, their advice on how women can support each other, and on how to succeed in the gaming industry.
Marylène Raymond Senior UI Artist
How long have you been at Blindspot Games?
1 amazing year!
What got you into gaming?
I got hooked on video games at a very young age. My oldest memory is probably playing A Link to the Past when I didn’t even know how to read!
How can women in games support each other?
A lot of women I’ve met so far helped me become better with my work and get into the industry instead of being in competition with each other which I think is the most important thing we can continue to do.
What is your proudest achievement during your career?
Probably just getting in? It’s been a journey and I think it’s even harder as a woman.
Is there anyone that inspires you in your career?
Toby Fox, Eric Barone.
What advice would you give to other women interested in pursuing a career within the gaming industry?
Don’t give up!
Fanny Belhadjar Audio Director
How long have you been at Blindspot Games?
It’s been a little over 1 year since I’ve been working at Blindspot Games.
What got you into gaming?
The reasons I was drawn to this industry was the possibility of creatively combining sound/music with playful and digital interactivity; to work closely with artists, developers, the people who are inventive and ingenious.
How can women in games support each other?
I believe that we can support each other by inspiring trust, by listening, by initiating caring dialogues. It is also sometimes necessary to encourage each other professionally when we sense that a colleague may be going through a difficult phase.
What is your proudest achievement during your career?
It’s now been 10 years that I’ve been doing this job, going from sound designer to composer by exploring the various roles of audio in the video game sector. Throughout my career, every recognition of my work and creations is a source of pride. To be able to get the satisfaction of the players when you release a game is an incredible accomplishment.
What advice would you give to other women interested in pursuing a career within the gaming industry?
The first piece of advice I would give is to always remember that we belong in this industry. Even if appearances and numbers still show few women in this field.
The second would be to surround yourself with inspiring and caring people, who make you feel strong and serene.
And my third piece of advice is to meet professionals in the field, get to know them, to share experiences, in short, to network.
Katherine D'Astous Community Manager
How long have you been at Blindspot Games?
It’s been a little over 1 month since I started working at Blindspot Games.
How can women in games support each other?
Listening, praising, and uplifting each other’s ideas and passions is a big one. Being there for one another will help break the feeling of imposter syndrome creeping in. Feeling supported and empowered helps to feel like the sky's the limit for what we can achieve.
What is your proudest achievement during your career?
I am very proud that I found this role at Blindspot Games after months of looking in this industry. I wasn’t sure that I would work again in the gaming field with the ongoing massive layoffs, but I’m proud to have found a role as a Community Manager. I love meeting new people, bringing ideas to life, and being a part of a new exciting project.
What advice would you give to other women interested in pursuing a career within the gaming industry?
Go for it! I understand it can be daunting to enter this field with the layoffs, but keep applying and reach out to your network for support. Don’t be afraid to take risks, apply to jobs where you don’t meet all of the qualifications, and reach out to new people on LinkedIn for coffee talks. Diving into the unknown will help you learn, grow, and meet new people!
Christina Robinson 3D Animator
How long have you been at Blindspot Games?
I’m one of the newcomers to the team: I joined Blindspot Games three months ago.
What got you into gaming?
When I was younger, I had two hobbies that took up all of my free time: drawing and video games. Combining my two passions has always been an ultimate goal for me and I'm happy to have made that dream come true today.
What is your proudest achievement during your career?
Rather than one particular moment, I feel a lot of pride when my work is shared with the public. Especially with The Hexadome, the feedback and enthusiasm from the community makes me even more proud.
Is there anyone that inspires you in your career?
There are a ton of artists who inspire me every day! I particularly admire the rhythm and musicality in the works of animation director, Raúl Ibarra. Artist and director, Ikumi Nakamura, also has a background that inspires me a lot and makes me believe that it is possible to achieve my dream projects.
What advice would you give to other women interested in pursuing a career within the gaming industry?
I’d just encourage them to pursue their passion. Since video games have become hyper-accessible in several countries, I think it's even more important for women to share the messages and ideas they want to express through such a popular medium.
Alison Auzias Brand Manager
How long have you been at Blindspot Games?
I arrived in January 2023 so it’s been a bit more than a year!
What got you into gaming?
It’s been a dream of mine since I was a teenager. I used to watch my brother play video games, then played on my own around the age of 12-13. It was Final Fantasy IX, and I got hooked straight away. From that moment, I decided that I would learn Japanese, move to Japan, and have a career in video games at Squaresoft (dream big!
How can women in games support each other?
Celebrate each other’s accomplishments, ideas, and ambitions. Have each other’s back and speak up if/when necessary! Be willing to offer help and advice to other women in the industry: reading about other women’s experiences, struggles and good moves has inspired me a lot over the years.
What is your proudest achievement during your career?
Getting into the industry is a teenage dream of mine, so that’s on top of my list for sure! I’m also very proud of the network I’ve built during all these years trying to get in. I used to be very shy, and networking was a big challenge, that used to really take me out of my comfort zone. The Montreal’s gaming industry people I’ve met have been very helpful and supportive, and I’m grateful for that.
Is there anyone that inspires you in your career?
My best friend who is now studio head in a great indie studio – she’s a passionate hard-worker and the career she built is an inspiration! I also have a sweet spot for solo devs and passion-driven projects: Toby Fox (Undertale) and Eric Barone (Stardew Valley) managed to create exceptional games and I never get tired of reading about their dev-journey and playing their game.
What advice would you give to other women interested in pursuing a career within the gaming industry?
Network a lot, there are more and more events aimed at supporting and empowering women in gaming. Support each other, talk about both your accomplishments and your struggles: it’s not a competition. Don’t be shy to show how badass your work is (it is!): I’ve discovered most of the women I know in gaming through networking events and LinkedIn, where they proudly shared their work. And finally, dare to reach out to other women devs for advice!
We’ve got lots of exciting news coming up in the next few months! We’re already gearing up for our Beta playtest and we’re preparing for PAX East. We'll be in Boston from March 21st to March 24th - If you’re going, come by our booth #18102 and say hi!
Want to stay in the loop on the latest developments? Be sure to join our Discord, Wishlist The Hexadome on Steam, and follow us on Twitter, Tik Tok, and Facebook for exclusive sneak peeks, playtest updates, and exciting news!
