Sony offers scholarships for women in game design

There seems to be a bit of confusion when it comes to guessing the ratio between male and female gamers. But with more and more women appearing in the gaming industry as well as the gaming scene its no wonder that Sony Online Entertainment, LLC hadn’t come out with this scholarship years ago.

In fact, according to a survey published on the Entertainment Software Association website, 38 percent of all gamers are women and that women over the age of 18 make up most of the game playing population.

Just announced February 19, 2008, SOE will be offering the G.I.R.L. Scholarships beginning April 1, 2008. Women who are currently attending one of The Art Institutes campuses are eligible to qualify. Female students interested in receiving the scholarship must submit an in-game design, concept art and two essays by May 31, 2008.

If selected one student will receive a $10,000 tuition scholarship towards their education at The Art Institute they are enrolled in and will also receive a paid ten week internship at one of Sony Online Entertainment studios located in Austin, Denver, San Diego or Seattle. The winner will be selected and announced around June 30, 2008.

The decision to create the scholarship came about after commissioning Insight Express to perform surveys with The Art Institute students via e-mail in January 2008. Of 143 female students currently enrolled in Game Art & Design, Visual & Game Programming and Visual Effects & Motion Graphic courses, only 53 of students who received the survey completed it, which is 37 percent of the responses expected.

According to the surveys received, 61 percent felt that because the industry is believed to be male dominate, women felt discouraged to pursue a career in the field. 42 percent claimed they would like to see female leaders in the industry, 35 percent would like create games that are fun and more interesting for women to play, and 31 percent would like to become more involved in gaming because women needed to be represented in the industry.

Read [Fox Business News] Read [Entertainment Software Association] Scholarship site [Sony Online Entertainment G.I.R.L.]