In an attempt to remedy the fact that only 9% of game artists are women and they make on average over $10,000 less per year than their male counterparts (Source: Game Career Guide, 2007), Notes on Game Dev launched the Aspiring Women Game Artists Contest with a fully paid scholarship to the Sessions Online School of Game Art as the grand prize.

Entries were judged by female leaders in game art and education including Heather Kelley, Sheri Graner Ray, and Cristin McKee. Prizes are provided by Sessions Online School of Game Art, IGDA, and Game Developer Magazine. Sponsors include Women in Games International, IGDA Women in Game Development Group, and WomenGamers.com.

Grand Prize Winners: Amy McDonough Jones and Erin Robinson

Notes on Game Dev is proud to announce the winners. Amy McDonough Jones and Erin Robinson will receive a fully paid grant for the Accredited Game Art Certificate Program at Sessions Online School of Game Art ($5355 value), the right to use the NoGD Grand Place Award Winner digital seal in their future portfolio / reel, a one year membership to the International Game Developers Association, and a one year subscription to Game Developer Magazine.

Runners Up: Elise Motzny and Lesa Wilcox

Runners up Elise Motzny and Lesa Wilcox will receive the right to use the NoGD Runner Up Award Winner digital seal in their future portfolio / reel and a one year subscription to Game Developer magazine.

“I was a little pig-tailed girl growing up in the suffocating heat, canals, and blacktop of South Florida when my father brought home a semi-functional Pac-Man tabletop machine. Between the juicy 80’s color appliqués and the hum of the giant tube lighting the bright graphics, I fell in love with the dusty arcade reject and a newly born art form.” – Amy McDonough Jones

“I want to challenge the notion of ‘games for women.’ Thus far, attempts to court women gamers have focused on games with domestic, consumerist, and cutesy themes: the gaming equivalent of cotton candy. I feel that this is far too narrow a scope. My goal is to create games that are smart, funny, and memorable, and enjoyable to anyone who likes a challenge.” – Erin Robinson

“I have been an aspiring artist ever since I could pick up crayons.” – Elise Motzny

“I received a Super Nintendo at the age of three and ever since then my passion has been for gaming. Vast new worlds, creative characters, and immersive environments—everything about video games inspired me and captured my imagination.” – Lesa Wilcox

For more information, see Notes on Game Dev Winners.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 2:30 am and is filed under Competitions, RESOURCES, Women. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.