Women in Games, an organisation dedicated to promoting more gender diversity in gaming, said the industry is “going backwards” following further accounts of abuse and drink spiking at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).

This comes after three women shared stories of either themselves or friends who were roofied at past GDC events and warned other women to look out.

Team17 community manager Marion Mỹ Anh who had similar warnings for women going to any industry event said: “I don’t go to any event, internal or public, without someone I fully trust,” she said. “I never feel safe enough to drink more than one or two glasses if I don’t have someone I fully trust by my side.”

In a statement from Women in Games CEO, Marie-Claire Isaaman, the organisation said that “none of this is okay, none of this should be happening.”

Isaaman went on to call on GDC and organisers at other events to “work with Women in Games so that we can help them make these events safe spaces for all.”

She said: “We are going backwards as an industry! 

“When the day comes that a woman at a global games conference doesn’t have to wonder whether she will be safe when she has a business meeting, alone, with a man – that’s when our work will be done.”

“Until then, we must pull together and fight to put an end to this type of behaviour being somehow acceptable.”

“Harassment, abuse and assault of any kind online and in person must be called out!”

“And we urge the organisers of GDC – and all other industry expos and conferences – to work with Women in Games so that we can help them make these events safe spaces for all.”

“Women in Games is not going anywhere. We can’t…”

What is spiking

Spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink or body without their consent or knowledge, according to the police.

“People can also be a victim of ‘needle spiking’, which is injecting someone with drugs without their consent.

“Spiking can happen to anyone, anywhere and can be carried out by strangers or people you know.

“Spiking someone could be a number of criminal offences, which can carry sentences of up to ten years in prison; even when no other offence, like theft or assault, has happened.”

Symptoms of spiking may include

confusion, nausea or vomiting, hallucinations and paranoia, disorientation or poor coordination, loss of ability to communicate properly, and unconsciousness.

Security operatives play an important role in situations like this.  

In October 2021, 25-year-old Swansea resident Kirsty Howells was rushed to A&E after her drink was spiked, causing her to endure a seizure. 

She has since made a full recovery.

Bar staff and venue security acted quickly to get her the help she needed. Of the incident, Kirsty said: “Bouncers rang my partner who came to pick me up. I’m really grateful for that, because I have no idea what might have happened had they not helped me.”

If you think you or a friend has been spiked, Police say:

Alert a member of staff or security if you’re at a venue.

Stay with your friend and keep talking to them.

Don’t let them go home on their own or leave with someone you don’t know.

Report to the police online, on 101 or, in an emergency, call 999.

(Source: TheGamer and Wales Online)

(Image: SIA)