Program · Games

SheMakesGames

You've played games — now hear from the Girl Geeks who make them. An opportunity to learn and understand the world of video game development.

There is a lack of opportunities for women to develop their skills in games. SheMakesGames provides networking, support, and confidence to be in charge of your own career.

SheMakesGames pixel heart sticker

What you get

Early career development

Hard technical skills and the soft skills needed to negotiate career success in the formative years of a games career.

Industry networking

Meet women working in indie and AAA studios — and build a community so no one is the only girl geek in the room.

Pathways in

Whether you love characters, community, code or production — your skills are wanted in games. We open the door.

From making games to so much more

In 2015, co-founder Lisy Kane curated the first Australian all-female game-making day. Our flagship event at ACMI-X in October 2016 — part of Melbourne International Games Week — featured keynote Brie Code on what video games can be.

In 2017 we returned with hands-on workshops and a keynote by Anna Tito on working in AAA studios around the world. The format is proven — and available for your organisation, campus or community to commission.

Bring SheMakesGames to you

Women and girls shape the technology that shapes their lives — including the games they play and make.

Game on

  • A speaker on stage at ACMI, Melbourne — one day only, 29 October 2016
    SheMakesGames 2019
  • Lisy Kane, video game producer, speaking on camera
    Co-founder Lisy Kane
  • Participants at laptops in front of the Hacker banner
    SheMakesGames 2019 — Hacker track
  • Participants beside the Hustler banner
    SheMakesGames 2019 — Hustler track
  • Participants listening to a talk
    SheMakesGames 2019
  • A panel of speakers on stage
    SheMakesGames 2019
  • The audience applauding
    SheMakesGames 2019
  • A relaxed session on beanbags
  • PAX Australia, 11–13 October
    Gender Equality Game Jam at PAX Australia

#SheHacksGames

Zero-to-game in two days — game on!

#SheHacksGames was the first all-woman game jam in Australia, and our first hackathon made specifically for the games industry. Teams of Girl Geeks had two days to make a game of any genre, on any platform — with mentors from the industry, great food and a party at the end.

It grew out of #SheMakesGames: our community wanted more hands-on experience, more exposure to the industry and more chances to show what they could do.

A huge group of #SheHacksGames participants cheering at The Arcade Melbourne

#SheHacksGames at The Arcade

Held at The Arcade Melbourne — Australia’s first not-for-profit coworking space for game developers.

  • Cupcakes decorated with pixel hearts
  • The Arcade Melbourne sign
    The Arcade Melbourne
  • Participants on beanbags in front of a shelf of games and toys
  • Participants chatting on beanbags
  • A speaker presenting to a room of participants
  • Participants watching a screen from beanbags
  • Participants on beanbags

More from our games programs

Case study · 2019

Games Career Incubator

Four months of mentoring, networking and training for 62 women and non-binary games practitioners in Victoria — funded by Film Victoria.

Case study · 2019

Gender Equality Game Jam

Australia’s first gender equality game jam — 11 games about stereotypes and the gendered drivers of violence, made at The Arcade.

Games industry friends

  • Unity
  • Game Developers’ Association of Australia
  • Victoria State Government and Film Victoria
  • The Arcade Melbourne