Libraries’ gaming series focuses on BIPOC representation on March 29

Join us for a Raiders of the Lost Arcade all about BIPOC Representation in Gaming on Wednesday, March 29, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in the Hill Library Fishbowl Forum. We’ll play a variety of games that have taken strides in inclusion and diversity. Everyone is welcome and no gaming experience is required.

Raiders is the Libraries’ event series that’s all about gaming—and this month, we focus on the industry’s struggle with fostering an inclusive environment. We’ll feature games that try to overcome that, including Tekken 7, Apex Legends, Guacamelee!, 2064: Only Read Memories, The Sims 4, Aztech Forgotten Gods, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Watchdogs 2.

While representation efforts have increased over the past decade it's the type of representation that really matters. Diversity in gaming doesn’t just mean that a designer can click a different skin color for a character and call it a day. This Raiders asks: Can players from diverse backgrounds see themselves as the heroes of their journey? Or are the characters that look like them marginalized as well?

Raiders of the Lost Arcade is part of the Libraries’ Making Space series. Raiders provides a platform for campus members to critically engage with tropes and stereotypes about gamers and video game characters, and to use video games to promote experiential learning, empathy building, and storytelling. It’s also a lot of community fun.