This is a harder post to write. Not because it's hard to find reasons but because change is something that can take a long time. I find myself struggling not to get complacent but also struggling to be patient as I wait actively and nudge the change along.

Video games are art, science, music, engineering, and sport all in one. For all the diversity that exists in the components of the industry it has been historically heterogenous in personnel and in product. While there is a rapidly growing sphere of diversity, acceptance, and independence in the game industry, you can still feel the old regime gripping with white knuckles the industry that is "being taken away from them."

From a development perspective there is a trend of overworking and undervaluing staff. These game makers push through this inappropriate treatment and mask their pain with the passion they have for games. Work-life balance is a mythical beast from a far off land. Crunch time is something that should be rare but seems as predictable as the holiday season itself.

From a consumer perspective the fanaticism that causes segmentation and the pervasive elitism that comes with different game genres and platform preferences is unwelcoming. The lies that exclude and impede people from partaking in the pleasure of this medium are daunting:

You have to play on the latest generation console to be a real gamer. You have to have an incredibly expensive gaming PC with a slew of peripherals to be a real gamer. You have to play shooters with competitive multiplayer to be a real gamer. You have to play a sports game and always have the latest annual version to be a real gamer. You have to be a male to be a real gamer.

The mental weight of being different in this industry is taxing but there are people and organizations fighting to change what is normal. Fighting is exhausting but the victory is worth it.