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gg is a first-of-its-kind video game magazine created not just for gamers, but for gamehers. We seek to promote an empowering and welcoming community for women gamers where you can find honest, approachable, and inclusive content. from your editors,

Izabela Quintas

David Garcia

Maxwell Thum Ally Dye

Game Reviews and Critiques

Tell Me Why, What Remains of Edith Fitch, Stray, Valorant, Overwatch, Roblox, Clash of Clans, Toodee and Topdee, Celeste

Tell Me Why is an interactive adventure game released in 2020 that was developed by DontNod Entertainment, the studio creator of the renowned franchise Life is Strange. The game has received several prizes including the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Video Game and The Game Awards: Games for Impact Award. Tell Me Why navigates a heartfelt mystery that unravels the troubled childhood between two reunited twins, Tyler and Alyson Ronan. As they come together as adults to revisit their childhood home, the Ronan twins discover that they share a supernatural ability that allows them to see glimpses and replays of their past traumas. This allows the player to decide whose interpretation of their memories, either Tyler’s or Alyson’s, they choose to uphold. This choices-matter feature of Tell Me Why ensures that the player’s decisions and values lead toward different outcomes of the game’s ending. The stunning graphics of rural

By Ally Dye

Alaska tie into the reality of the story, making the message of the game feel very emotional yet whimsical.

The game also does a good job of providing representation and inclusivity. For instance, Tell Me Why offers a playable transgender character and brings in Indigenous Tlingit characters. Additionally, it’s amazing that the game developers chose to make the game free for the entirety of every June for Pride Month, so that people can be open to queer experiences in video games without the financial burden of purchasing the game itself. However, the narrative of the game focuses more heavily on Tyler, and the game could have done better in balancing the attention between the two main characters. Tell Me Why introduces a romantic option for Tyler, provides much more detail about his past than Alyson’s, and prioritizes Tyler to be the one making most of the

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important decisions within the game. Alyson definitely gets overshadowed by Tyler within the narrative, giving the story an unbalanced gender dynamic.

Although there are flaws within the game, the most beautiful thing about Tell Me Why is the moral of the twins’ story. The game models for players how to deal with past burdens that weigh down on our lives, and how the actions we choose to take ultimately shape our present and future. The ultimate lesson of the game is this: if you choose to confront and acknowledge what happened in your past, you will be able to move on and be free of those thoughts. But if you let your past trail you like a ghost, you will be trapped in an everlasting cycle of grief. Tell Me Why provides a powerful, thought-provoking message of empathy and compassion, traits that we desperately need to see more of within our disheartened community.

using their supernatural ability,

Tags: Adventure, Mystery, Choices Matter, Story Rich, LGBTQ+, Episodic 5

Tyler and Alyson Ronan investigate their past together by

via Tell Me Why (2020), DontNod Entertainment

Tyler and Alyson Ronan exploring the lake behind their Alaskan childhood home via Tell Me Why (2020), DontNod Entertainment

WHAT FINCH EDITH REMAINS OF

By IzabelaQuintas

What Remains of Edith Finch is a compelling story-based game where the gameplay is centered around the deaths of the Finch family and uncovering the mysteries in emotional yet creative ways. As the main character, Edith, journeys through the house, we receive more and more information about the passing of each family member through journals, letters, therapy notes, artwork and other creative forms. Her monologue narrates her past and ties together the clues we get along the way.

This is possibly one of the most creative and tear-jerking games I have ever played and I recommend it to everyone I can. The game deals with loss in thought-provoking and sentimental ways that make each character have their own voice and personality. Although the monologue can seem a li-

ttle pretentious at times, the creativity in the game has no bounds and that by far makes up for it. The game also never really becomes too sad. Yes, it’s sad because it deals with loss but the creative genius that is prominent throughout the game allows you to become enthralled and filled with so many emotions as you experience the game.

To me, this game defies the norms in gaming in many ways and that’s what makes it a gem. It strays away from gripping your attention with action or adventure and instead appeals to your emotional, empathetic, creative and passionate side. There is something so incredibly intimately feminine and passionately beautiful about

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looking at the world through the lens that each of these family stories are shown through. I truly believe it is a hidden gem for the women gaming community on this alone and the way you can escape reality and dive more heavily into your deeply empathetic side.

It also can be not that deep and is just fun to play as a cool monster or a kid flying a kite. :)

All in all, this game really is incredibly playful while still being an emotional masterpiece and I highly recommend it if you want a creative journey and to explore your different emotional and empathetic sides.

SpoilersBelow!

Not only that but the game is centered around a woman’s journey of self discovery as she deals with teen pregnancy. We don’t even realize it throughout the game as Edith climbs through windows and scales the tall odd house. The fact that the game is played through her perspective but doesn’t become derivative of her importance by simplifying her identity down to a “mother” or “pregnant woman” and instead we get to learn about her through her courage, compassion, and fire as she goes through the house. The big reveal and conclusion of the story deals with something every woman that hopes to start a family is afraid of - passing during labor. This is a hard-hitting conclusion to the story to find that she is leaving her legacy the same way her previous family members have - through her diary. And her child is the last Finch reading it.

Tags: Indie Game, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Exploratory, Adventurous, Down-to-earth, Relatable

STRAY

By Izabela Quintas

The newly released game Stray has gotten loads of recognition before and after its release. In the story, you play as a stray cat who falls into a walled city populated by mainly friendly (but sometimes not) robots, machines, and mutant bacteria. You set out to return to the surface with the help of a cute drone companion, B-12. One of the most anticipated aspects of this game was the vibes: the rain, the colors, the lights, and most importantly playing as a cat. Because of the aesthetics being one of the main focuses pre-release, it picked up a lot of anticipation with the cozy gaming community (particularly

for women!) and rapidly gained popularity. Playing this game in general was a bit surreal to continuously play in this foreign land with basically different (non-human) beings being the main focus of life on the planet. I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t mainly a cozy game and gave more intense situations like bacteria that can consume you or drones that shoot you. I hope this doesn’t deter you though because it is very vibey. The color palette of the game is one of the most appealing portions with a refreshing take on steampunk while still feeling warm. The streamers playing the game also are very friendly and welcoming so in general the game

can be played or watched with a good community. The most interesting part of the game to me was that there are not multiple endings. This is both a positive and a negative; you get to relax and enjoy the game without worrying about getting a bad ending but it also doesn’t allow for a variety of playthroughs. . It seemed only natural this game was included not only because of the general positive reception but also because the player base that seemed the most excited was mainly female!

Tags: Indie, Cute, Fluffy, Color Rich, Atmospheric, Exploratory, Adventurous, Down-to-earth

Vto the otherwise male-dominated genre. Rather than repeat the same war-like structure of oh so many modern FPS games, Valorant takes a much more vibrant approach to the genre with its animated graphics and superhero-like abilities and util ity. Valorant’s player base consists of 18 million active members who live all across the globe. Additionally, it was the 3rd most watched game on Twitch (at over 1.3 billion hours viewed in 2022). I say all this to show that aside from my own general in terests in the game, Valorant is large enough that its impacts and effects on the gaming community are worth considering. This will act as more of a critique of Valorant rather than a game review, focusing first on Valo rant’s player base and then on the game’s overall progressiveness.

Like many FPS games, team work is essential: the large and com plex maps, abundance of abilities, and team-based structure makes having good communication with

Valorant

By DaViD Garcia

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inally, the game is especially inclusive in its LGBTQ+ representation. During Pride Month in 2021 and 2022, they released free ingame customization features that allow you to show to others your pride or support for the community. These customizations allowed players like me to, in our own small way, make the community just a bit more welcoming! More canonically, in the episodes (trailers for each new act) that Valorant releases, they announced that two female characters, Raze and Killjoy, have entered a romantic relationship. Small pieces of representation like this are constantly sprinkled into Valorant’s con-

While Valorant does an incredible job at highlighting many different underrepresented communities, there’s honestly so much more that it still can and should do to provide a much needed safe space for the community that it works to foster! As its community continues to grow, Valorant needs to set an example in the industry by enforcing stricter community rules and guidelines to create a safer and more welcoming in-game space for

Tags: First Person Shooter, Colorful & Vibrant, Fast-Paced, Free-to-play

OVERWATCH

Overwatch in general has a pretty similar personality player base to Valorant in my opinion. My first time playing the game I got something along the lines of “must be a girl can’t even shoot straight” except more harsh.

I’m sure many other women have had similar or the same experience playing the game but honestly I am not even going to focus on that here. The game has too many issues to list and I’m sure there’s plenty other women that have had similar experiences. However, let’s focus on the particular issue of Blizzard portraying its women characters in the game. Not only has Blizzard had specific

sexist issues and harassment cases from its women within the company, it has released multiple characters for Overwatch that are so obviously unnecessarily sexualized.

D.va is a particularly polarizing character and is viewed by the female audience as a feminist icon while to the male audience she is a sex symbol. Back in 2019, even after so many pornographic videos being made with the Overwatch girls,

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By Izabela Quintas

Blizzard released schoolgirl D.va. You’re telling me that the company saw the porn being made from all their characters (because the character art is so highly sexualized), and decided that this was a good idea, are you kidding me. It’s completely absurd that Blizzard at this point doesn’t realize how much they are playing into the blatant sexualization and dehumanization of women in porn through these characters.

Although I like Blizzard games there is a certain point where the company should make significant changes and address its blatant internal issues that bleed into the toxic player base.

Tags: FPS, Multiplayer, Online, Chaotic, Ability-Heavy, Not Beginner Friendly

By David Garcia

Roblox is a sandbox-game that allows everyday players to make and host their own custom games within the app. Thus, rather than opening Roblox to play some very specific type of game (like an FPS, RPG, puzzle-game, etc.), you can choose from any of the seemingly-infinite game modes that the Roblox community has made. This means that, no matter what genre you’re into, it’s almost certainly captured somewhere within Roblox.

Roblox was the number 16 most played game in 2022, at over 202 million active players. When I was younger, I played Roblox constantly, but eventually stopped and instead began to play games with a more adult playerbase. Now that I’m in college, I’ve come to realize that Roblox is actually a great game for all ages!

It’s worth noting that almost ½ the player base is under the age of 13. Due in large part to its age demographics, the only way of communicating with other players (via the app) is through the use of Roblox’s text-chat, which is actively and robustly monitored in order to prevent bullying or any form of discrimination. This has generally allowed for a much less toxic environment to relax and hang out in as you play, espe -

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cially when compared to many other popular games that have voice-chat functionality. Additionally, the game has a 51:44 male-to-female ratio (according to Roblox.com), which is refreshingly close to an even gender distribution. Finally, I’ve generally felt and seen that the community

is extremely welcoming and inclusive, a stark contrast to other sandbox games out there. Overall, although I wouldn’t necessarily play Roblox every day as its content isn’t as robust as most other standalone games, it is still a great game to check out when looking for a free game to play with friends.

Be sure to check out a couple of my favorite games the next time you’re on Roblox:

and so many more!

Tags: Begginer-Friendly, Sandbox, Fun with Friends

Arsenal: a low stakes FPS

Doors: survival, horror experience

Tower of Hell: tough obstacle course

BrookHaven: role playing game

By Ally Dye

Remember when Clash of Clans first came out in 2012?

Over a decade later, this mobile game continues to be a dominant force in the mobile gaming industry. Developed by Finnish game developer Supercell, the game has continued to attract new players and maintain its dedicated fanbase. With regular updates and new features, Clash of Clans offers an ever-evolving gameplay experience that keeps players coming back for more.

If you’re new to the game, don’t worry---it’s easy to learn. You’ll start with a tutorial that teaches you how to build your base, train troops, and obtain resources like gold and elixir. There is lots you can do with the gold and elixir currencies that you obtain from battling others. You can build your base by upgrading camps and barracks for more and better troops, buildings for more storage, and even walls for a stronger defense. This game has so much to explore just within your own walls! You can also climb the global leaderboard ranking by getting trophies from successful battles.

Clash of Clans is the perfect game to play whenever you have a short break. You can open the app and start a quick battle against another player’s base to loot resources and earn trophies. If you aren’t feeling up to conquering another player’s base, there is a single-player mode where you fight green goblin bases instead. These goblin missions are a great way to obtain gold and progress through the story. If you complete enough goblin base levels, you can earn achievements and get lots of gems as well.

But what really sets Clash of Clans apart is the ability to form a clan with friends. Not only can you work together in Clan Wars to fight your way to victory and earn rewards, but you can also donate troops to the clan castle to strengthen your army. Personally, I invited my college dorm community to

join my clan called “Suite Clan”. It’s been great for bringing us closer together in a casual way, and we enjoy discussing achievements and strategies within the game all the time.

Clash of Clans also features a range of unique and diverse characters, including female characters like headhunters, the Archer Queen, and the Royal Champion. The powerful and iconic P.E.K.K.A (Perfectly Enraged Knight Killer of Assassins) is also a female character, adding to the game’s inclusivity and representation. There are so many characters to unlock and their unique abilities make battling so much fun. The goblins are my favorite to use! However, it is worth noting that Clash of Clans is a freemium game, meaning that while it’s free-to-play, there are in-app purchases that can be made to speed up and enhance your gameplay experience. You can purchase resources to immediately top off your resource supplies, or purchase gems to instantly finish building upgrades and troop training timers. But it’s important to note that in addition to purchasing

gold, elixir, and gems, there are other free ways to obtain these resources within the game. These in-app purchases are not necessary to progress through the game and enjoy the full gameplay experience.

Clash of Clans is the perfect mobile game to play whenever you have a short break. You can open the app and start a quick battle against another player’s base to loot resources and earn trophies. It’s also great for playing with friends or for taking a break from work. Whether you are a new player or a veteran, Clash of Clans offers an engaging and fun gameplay experience that is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. So, give it a try and see why it’s still so popular after all these years!

An ink sketch of Witch and P.E.K.K.A from Clash of Clans, drawn by Ally Dye

Celeste is a 2018 platformer game about a young woman named Madeline and her quest to climb Celeste Mountain.

Along her journey, Madeline encounters four characters: Granny, Theo, Mr. Oshiro, and Badeline, an “evil twin” character that represents parts of herself she sees as negative—particularly her anxiety, depression, and insecurity. The central plot of the game revolves around Madeline’s struggle with Badeline and the feelings she represents. As Madeline climbs Celeste Mountain, she eventually accepts Badeline as a part of herself she can never truly get rid of. The two then combine their powers to reach Celeste’s summit together, accomplishing Madeline’s goal despite her self-doubt.

I, along with many others, found this story extremely touching and compelling. I found it refreshing to experience a female-led story that

wasn’t centered around womanhood. I think Celeste’s lessons can apply to everyone, regardless of their gender or their personal struggles.

Gameplay

the game’s mechanics are introduced without a word. You have to figure out for yourself what each obstacle or item does, but the game introduces them one at a time in a way which makes them easy to learn.

For example, consider the conveyor-belt platforms introduced in Chapter 1. These show up without a word, so you have to figure out how to use them all by yourself. Luckily, interacting with one quickly reveals its purpose: If you grab onto it, it moves quickly. You also quickly learn that if you let go after it pushes you, you retain the momentum and go flying in the direction the conveyor was moving. Of course, if you’re not careful, you might launch yourself into a spiky death as I did several times.

Celeste’s philosophy on tutorials seems to be “show, don’t tell.” Sure, when you’re learning the most basic controls, the game has to tell you which buttons to use (the game only has four inputs: move, jump, dash, and climb), but most of

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I noticed lots of similarities between Metroid and Celeste before learning that Metroid influenced Celeste’s creators. Most notably, both games have hidden collectibles and secret shortcuts scattered throughout each map. More coincidentally (I think), both games feature female protagonists and have “surprise endings.” In the first three Metroid games, Samus’s female identity is only revealed in the end credits if the player completes the game within a certain time; in Celeste, at the end of the difficult final chapter Farewell, it is hinted that Madeline is a

Review by Maxwell Thum

transgender woman.

Perhaps most importantly for any video game, the gameplay is extremely rewarding and satisfying because it offers an appropriate challenge. As I played the main chapters, the game got progressively harder, but at no point did I feel like the difficulty increased too steeply. Many levels were extremely hard—some stages took me hours and hundreds of deaths—but no challenges felt impossibly hard. When you’re playing, you know that a level may take a long time, but you’ll beat it eventually with enough practice and luck.

However, not everyone has the same experience. Fortunately, the game is very accessible due to its “Assist Mode” feature, which allows players to change the game speed, have infinite climbing stamina, become invincible, and more.

Celeste’s gameplay is extremely challenging, but it is neither needlessly challenging nor sadistic like other games of this genre. Even during the hardest stages, the game can feel friendly and inviting, like it wants you to succeed.

Tags: Platformer, Pixel graphics, Story, Memorable soundtrack, Indie, Collectibles

Screenshot from the ending of Farewell featuring LGBT and transgender pride flags on

Level 2 Complete

Visuals

Celeste uses several visual styles. The levels (where the actual gameplay is and where most of your time is spent) feature colorful pixel graphics which evoke ‘80s and ‘90s video games while still feeling modern. This modern feel is largely due to the game’s vibrant color palette and silky smooth 60 FPS framerate.

At the end of each level, there’s a drawing of Madeline. These artworks both neatly conclude each level and serve as cute rewards. I think they could all make nice desktop wallpapers.

The main menu and level select are high-resolution and feature a 3D model of Celeste mountain. You don’t spend nearly as much time looking at the mountain as actually climbing it in-game, but it seems to fit right into the rest of the game’s aesthetic.

Sound

Celeste’s soundtrack, composed by Lena Raine, perfectly complements the visuals and narrative of each chapter. The synth leads (and much of the percussion) have that “8bit/chiptune” sound befitting the pixel graphics, but the accompanying piano has a rich, high-fidelity sound grounding each song. This balance between old and new—between low and high bitrates—makes the soundtrack feel unique and has surely contributed to its immense popularity. Ce-

Super Metroid (1994)

leste’s levels generally take a couple of hours each, but the songs don’t seem to get old as you hear them loop over and over. Each song also has an accompanying “B-side” remix found in its corresponding B-side level. These are fun easter eggs and a nice change of pace.

The sound effects are equally superb. Each action— walking, jumping, climbing, dashing, etc.—has a distinctive sound which nicely supplements the visual information. I felt like these helped train my brain to the different movements and items in the game.

Final Thoughts

After playing it for about 66 hours over the course of a month (during the school semester ��), I think Celeste is one of my favorite video games of all time. I love the plot, the visuals, and the soundtrack, but the challenging, rewarding gameplay was what really hooked me. I hope my review has convinced you to play Celeste if you haven’t already!

Celeste is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Xbox One. At the time of this writing, it costs $19.99 in most places, but is on sale for $4.99 on Steam. The game was developed and published by Matt Makes Games, written and directed by Maddy Thorson, and programmed by Maddy Thorson and Noel Ber-

By David Garcia

The game Toodee and Topdee is a fast-paced puzzle game that you can play by yourself or with a friend, and it’s honestly one of the most creative indie games that I have seen. You switch between two whimsically named characters, one named Toodee, who lives within a 2D platformer dimension, and the other named Topdee, who lives within a top-down puzzle dimension. The game’s most unique mechanic is that you get to switch between each of these characters, and thus, change the dimension you’re playing in. Visually, switching between each of the character’s home dimension tilts the game board, changing walls to floors and floors to walls – which allows for changes in gravity and enemy capabilities, making it an essential component to solving these multi-dimensional, mind-blowing puzzles!

Unlike many other 2D platformers or top-down puzzle games, Toodee and Topdee has a much less gendered feel since all the characters are non-human and usually stray far away from our usual conceptions of gender. Furthermore, the same things can be said about the game with regards to race, sexuality, and almost any other identity group, which makes the game feel that much more welcoming no matter what your background or identity is!

I highly recommend checking this game out, especially if you have a duo (as it can lead to a chaotically great playthrough).

Bonus: This game is full of little inside jokes and easter eggs, so be sure to be on the lookout for them, especially if you are learning to or know how to program!

Tags: Puzzle, Single Player / Co-Op, Mini Adventure, Indie Game, Colorful, Unique

Interview Chats

Quintas

Video Game Developer Izabela

Interview Chat with Female Game Developer

By Izabela Quintas

Because of her high position within the company and her role in the development of an up and coming new big game being released, she has asked to stay anonymous. She also refrained from answering some of the questions she was unable or some of the information was redacted to stay true to NDA agreements. Her work is especially interesting because it dabbles in video games that are very prevalent in the male gaming industry so it is interesting to see the perspective of a woman in that area.

Introduce yourself please!

Hello! I am an artist working at an AAA* game studio in California. Our project’s overall team size is small so I tend to wear a lot of hats. Asset creation is probably what I do the most, but I also dabble in creating procedural tools and set dressing/environment work.

*The term “AAA Games” is a classification used within the video gaming industry to signify high-budget, high-profile games that are typically produced and distributed by large, well-known publishers. These games often rank as “blockbusters” due to their extreme popularity.

How did you get into your work? What inspired/motivated you to where you are now?

I grew up playing lots of video games with my sister. I have always loved video games and I always knew I wanted an art-related career. It was the one thing in school that always came very naturally to me. I can get lost in creating art for hours and not even notice. Making the swap to learning 3D digital art in college wasn’t easy by any means, but I have come to love it as much as I do traditional drawing and painting.

How is the gender ratio among your team or past teams? Among the company? Do you see an even distribution of women/men in leadership positions?

When I first started my job I was the only female on the art team, and one of 4 women at the entire studio which consisted of about 60 employees. Since then our studio has grown pretty significantly. I have seen 2 female coworkers promoted to lead positions and we have hired many female employees, but honestly the ratio hasn’t improved much.

What have you seen with regards towards creating more inclusivity and gender representation in video games?

I do think the industry as a whole has been moving in the right direction in regards to inclusivity and gender representation. At my studio I have seen firsthand how intentional developers need to be about this. I do not consider myself particularly girly or feminine, but when I am creating things for the game I am still doing so from a female perspective, and it has been surprising to see how different my work can be from my male counterparts when we are given the same tasks.

What do you see in regards to you or other women in the field/company getting promotions?

I have actually seen a good number of female coworkers promoted, including into lead positions. The higher ups at my company are very supportive of them but I have heard stories from female leads experiencing issues with male counterparts that report to them and do not respect their leadership.

What do you think your company/the field as a whole can do better to be more inclusive of women?

Hire them. Promote them. Champion them to be leaders. Ask their opinions on the gender dynamics in your game. Men can do a lot of research to try to create inclusivity, but nothing can replace the lived female perspective.

What advice can you give to other women trying to get into the industry?

Make networking one of your highest priorities. Attend conferences like GDC and Siggraph. If you cannot afford to pay the ticket prices; apply to be a volunteer! The key is attending the events outside of the conference. Spend your time at these events cultivating genuine friendships with other people in your field. So much of getting a job in this industry is who you know. Every time my team has an opening my art director asks us if we know anyone looking before the job listing is even posted. When it comes to salary; companies will absolutely try to lowball you so do your research on what is a standard pay range for your role in that area. Ask for closer to the high end of the range even if you don’t think you have enough experience yet. Negotiate! Their first offer is likely not as high as they are willing to go to get you on the team. The worst they can do is say no. It is difficult to do but it is absolutely worth it in the long run.

Twitch Streamer HapaBear

Interview Chat with Twitch Streamer HapaBear

By Izabela Quintas

Izabela Quintas

HapaBear is a popular Twitch streamer for the game, Hearthstone Battlegrounds. With around 13K followers she has ammassed popularity through her sick in game decisions and friendly and endearing personality. She has played and won many tournaments including WSOE Online IV and F2KUnited. She speaks openly about her experience in the streaming and gaming community as a woman and talks about her experiences.

Introduce yourself please!

I’m hapabear. I’m a twitch streamer and I play mostly Hearthstone Battlegrounds on stream and that’s actually what I do for a living is I just steam the game.

Can you give a general description of what you do for your work?

I play the game (Hearthstone) and I stream with the people, but a lot of it is also interacting with chat, for me. Like trying to remember little things about people, so that I can ask them about it again when they come in (if I can like get my attention in both places, sometimes I’m playing the game and I can’t really talk to people that much, but if there’s downtown a lot of it is about talking to people, getting to know them, asking general questions, answering people’s questions about the game, and just like trying to be entertaining and educational at the same time)

How did you get into streaming? What motivated you to get to where you are now?

So I didn’t play games growing up because I wasn’t allowed to because my parents just thought that video games were like a ~new thing~. They had this whole idea that if kids play video games, then they wouldn’t want to go outside or will be antisocial or violent, you know. So growing up, some of my friends played, but even when I went to my friends house I wasn’t allowed to play. This is why I don’t know anything about anybody [referring to steamers] so mostly this [gaming] wasn’t a part of my life.

In college, Hearthstone came out and somebody suggested I try it. I was like, “there’s no way that I’m going to like that, like I don’t play card games”. I played like Uno and stuff like that, but that’s it – I thought I’m not going to like that, that’s not what I do, I don’t play video games and am not on the computer or anything like that. So I tried it [Hearthstone] out and I immediately got addicted.

Ever since then, it’s just been like “what was I doing my whole life?” – I feel like this whole time I could have been playing games and I just didn’t have that opportunity to and I just thought I was a different person: I would go out to parties and be like “yeah I like this”, but I didn’t accept that [not enjoying going out partying] about myself until later – that I’m just not actually that kind of person – I like being at home and playing strategy games. You can try to push yourself a little bit [out of your comfort zone], but ultimately like you are who you are and you like what you like.

It started with mobile games [generally, not Hearthstone] – I wasn’t into games, but then when I got my smartphone (Clans Clash was my first strategy game, which was a college). I just didn’t really know what I was missing. I didn’t know why I felt like I wasn’t doing the things I wanted to do in life. I just thought I needed to be different and suck it up. I didn’t know there was another way of living, I guess. But it was cool, I did go outside more and now I don’t go outside at all lol (but to be fair, there was the pandemic going on).

How did you start streaming?

Twitch didn’t have a “Just Chatting” at the time, so people would play (but not really to play). A lot of girls would choose Hearthstone and then be cute and show their cleavage and not really care about their game (because they didn’t have the option for just chatting). A couple girls streamers got big off of, but I didn’t want to do that. [Around this time] When people who I knew in real life saw I played Hearthstone, they would say “You’d be such a good streamer! You’re so talkative” but I was still like “noooo, I could never do that, I literally have extreme social anxiety”.

But, I tried it one day (for like 3 months) while I was in between college and finding a job. I actually did like it, but then I quit. At the time, I was just trying to waitress and make whatever money I could because I was tired of being so broke from social services. I thought maybe I’ll just try streaming again as a side thing and that’s how I started up again. I thought it would be like a good side gig to make money, but I was really wrong about that. I don’t think anybody should try to stream on Twitch to make money – it’s not my sole way of making money for sure.

How well has Twitch done in order to create a gender inclusive environment? How well have the games done in order to create a gender inclusive environment?

For better or worse, I don’t really know, which I know is a lame answer. I remember HS and whether or not they invite women to tournaments and stuff. I just don’t really know where I stand on that kind of stuff I feel like… I was trying to be good and having Twitch streamers like haafu be so good at the game was inspiring to me. It made me feel like I could be good as a pro – but I think that if people like them didn’t exist, then I don’t know if I would have been able to take myself seriously, which is really sad.

I was the kind of person who doubted myself because of my gender. I was surrounded by mostly male players and a lot of the people who talk to you on Twitch (like chatters / streamers) have a really mathematical, statistical, and analytical approach. I mean I think I’m kind of smart, but it made me feel like maybe I was out of my element. So yeah, having women at the forefront of things (i.e. playing this game and doing well) does make a difference for the the female player base.

Can you expand on the difference it has made and how it has impacted you?

It’s not as simple as “if a woman wants to be there, she can earn her spot” because it’s more complicated than that (the game is certainly not 50/50 men to women). It just almost feels a bit patronizing. They end up inviting 50% really good, really popular, huge male streamers and then 50% women who literally weren’t as good. That just makes them [the female players themselves] look bad and makes women [in general] look bad. It’s a Band-Aid fix that also comes with a lot of other problems. In some ways, I liked it I’m more likely to get invited, but gives other people zero chance of being invited.

I just remember feeling really guilty and like an imposter when I was invited to certain tournaments and it just felt like I’m literally taking a spot because of my gender. I get it, I do believe in affirmative action as being something that is good for society, but it just depends on the way you go about it. But I did feel bad, I legitimately felt bad and felt like people would be mad at me and bitter against me for it.

Twitch in general I really don’t know what they’ve done to make women feel welcome or not (I don’t really pay attention to the company) and then for blizzard, that’s all I can think of really. Of course, obviously, they had all these lawsuits and stuff.

Have you ever experienced any harrassment?

It is more hazardous to try to get tournaments or sponsorships but it’s always something that you have to be aware of as a woman when you’re in the industry that has more men in it, there’s much higher odds that some guy who’s in charge of a project is going to come to you with the project just to end up hitting on you. Before it happens, you feel you can just tell them ‘you’re not interested’ or avoid them, but when it actually happens you’re like ‘oh my god if I tell them I’m not interested they’re going to tell their boss and they’re going to stop offering me this opportunity’

How is the gender ratio amongst your viewers and in general in Hearthstone?

For Twitch, there’s no data for that that we can see (whereas youtube does have that). As far as I can see, it’s like no women or almost no women. When I first started streaming, I got like one girl and then later it was like two or three. I feel like it’s maybe like 5-ish percent, maybe closer to 1%, I don’t know for sure but it feels like it’s almost no girls. Some people lurk and never talk, so I don’t know about those people.

[For battlegrounds] A really really small percentage. I don’t know and you can’t know for sure, but a lot of the streamers are guys. I feel like there’s so many different explanations for that but I really wish it were higher. There’s a part of me that just feels inferior or maybe men’s brains are just better wired for this, but I don’t really think that’s it. I feel like women should be able to be just as good. I think it’s just a societal thing. A lot of women play BG’s for a little while but stop trying or quit.

Have you experienced any gender discrimination while playing games?

I feel like I have a bit. It’s not often that someone comes in and says something like ‘you’re a woman so you can’t possibly be good at this game’. Like most people don’t say stuff like that, it’s more just like little clues here and there – like people come in, talk to me, and interact with me but then I might see them in another [streamer’s] chat and I see just how differently they act with a guy of like a similar MMR.

There’s always going to be some guys and girls who don’t take me as seriously as they would if I were just a different gender. I think a lot of it is unconscious, but it feels bad. I feel a lot of pressure all the time – I have gotten comments in the past, especially when I first started streaming. People would come in and say, “Wow, you’re really good for a girl!” In a tournament or something if there’s two women and 6 men – if I do poorly and the other woman also doesn’t do great, I’m like ‘oh my god people the comments are going to be so bad’

I do sometimes get comments about my looks. It’s not too often, but are like “you have such a sexy voice” or like “wow boobs”. I just ban them. It doesn’t affect me too much, I think. If it were to happen too much, then I don’t know if I would be able to handle it. If it was constantly like that, I’d feel really uncomfortable. But there’s so many nice people and normal people who say normal things. So if every now and then some kid comes in and says that, it’s okay.

I also started dressing differently. I used to dress up, do my makeup, my hair, and wear a nice shirt. I definitely stopped doing that. Part of this was laziness, but another part of it was ‘if I do this, then they won’t be able to comment on my face or body cuz I’m so covered up, ya know.’ Not the ideal solution – I mean I’ll still wear a nice top if I really really feel like it, but sometimes I’m not willing to risk it.

I feel really comfortable in my hoodie with my hood on. I felt like when I first started streaming, I did think that the only reason any guys would ever watch me was because I was a girl and they wanted to look at me. This is embarrassing, but I just thought (because I don’t have a lot of self-esteem) no one would ever care about what I had to say. I was wrong, streaming actually proved that wrong. People do listen to me, and do care about the game I’m playing, and want to hear why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Check out and support HapaBear!

News in the Community

By David Garcia

Hi everyone, I’ve recently been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (cancer). I’ll be starting up treatment very soon. With that being said I’m not too sure how my body will react to the treatment so I do apologize in advance if my stream schedule isn’t consistent! Stay safe <3

- Kyedae

Kyedae, a well known and liked Valorant streamer, has recently released some heartbreaking news on twitter. In her tweet on March 3rd 2023, she stated the above comment (read now if you haven’t already)

Our hearts go out to Kyedae as she has been a beacon of overwhelming positivity within the gaming community and a huge advocate for diversity and representation within gaming.

Kyedae began streaming on Twitch in 2016. As she continued to create high quality content, her viewership gradually grew until she was featured on the front page of Twitch.

Although she recently has been on a Valorant grind, she does also play a pretty wide variety of games – anything from AAA (games produced and distributed by larger publishers) titles to indie games, and always seems open to playing new games.

Currently, she is a high-level Valorant player who usually switches between comical trolling-style videos as well as playing more serious ranked/ competitive games.

Generally, she is well known for her ability to engage with her viewers and her high energy, which has helped build up a devoted fan base. Similarly, Kyedae is a strong advocate for creating an inclusive space within the gaming community for everyone. As a result, the community that she has helped to create is extremely supportive and accepting of everyone!

We, the gaming community, wanted to collectively thank you Kyedae for being so strong and for working so hard to make this a better space for everyone!

amouranth

By Izabela Quintas

Tracer

Black Widow

Misty

About AMOURANTH

6.4M followers

Amouranth became Twitch’s mostwatched female streamer for the second year in a row, generating over 32.2M Hours Watched in 2022. In addition, she entered the top 6 ‘Twitch girls by Peak Viewers’ (82K viewers) and the top 3 ‘number of new followers’ (up 1.24M). (Streamcharts) She is a legend in the Twitch community,has gained lots of followers and viewers, and became a very large icon in the industry. Although she became insanely popular, she still had her fair share of haters that mainly stemmed from being a woman.

Fairly recently, toward the end of 2022, news came out that she accused her husband of emotional and financial abuse in October 2022. Although she got a lot of support

from her female viewer base, her male fan base was outraged because of not disclosing her relationship status and “intentionally manipulating and scamming her audience”, as they put it. This is honestly pretty atrocious but very typical of the male viewer base to only be watching a female streamer because they want her and think she is single. It wasn’t even her that wanted this, her husband had pressured her into saying she was single so they could make more money, according to Amouranth. She even claimed her husband allegedly threatened to kill her dogs if she didn’t do a 24-hour stream, and she posted recordings of her husband chastising and berating her. Her toxic viewer base bullied and pushed her out causing her to take a break from streaming for a few months. They did it to the point

where she’s “not sure when she’ll be back”.

Not only does this case highlight the issues with Amouranth’s male viewbase, but the general male fan base and the way they treat women in the gaming community. Insider explained that this kind of backstage abuse of female creators is endemic to the industry, three well-known women who make content for OnlyFans or Twitch told Insider. All of them sympathized with Amouranth’s situation and said they’ve personally experienced or witnessed this type of abuse and exploitation. This is all too common among women in the industry and it is outrageous that numerous women have to experience this and yet very little is ever done to fix it.

By David Garcia

Sons of the Forest is a highly acclaimed and anticipated sequel to the hit game The Forest. The game was so popular in fact that the uptick in people rushing to buy the game on Steam (one of the most popular online video game stores) caused the site to crash. While some may be rushing to buy the game, it’s worth slowing down and considering the impact that the game is having, especially within the already gender-unbalanced gaming community.

It has become increasingly popular to learn how to get a “mutant girlfriend” in the game, a female NPC Virginia with 3 legs and 3 arms, which was meant by the game’s creators to act as a helpful com-

panion. Instead, however, large parts of the game’s player base have, yet again, converted this female character into a sexual object.

Many of these tutorials feature disturbing comments, which generally focus on wanting to see her “in a swimsuit in the rain,” as the game’s rain mechanics make her (and all other characters’) clothing see through. Additionally, a significant portion of these comments are about her mutant body, describing wanting mods (implicitly that allow for sex with the character) and what they fantasize doing with Virginia’s

extra limbs. It is disheartening to see the male gaming community reduce this game, like many others, into a place to go see a naked girl.

Much like the female companion Virginia, there is a helpful male companion named Kevin in Sons of the Forest. Unlike his female counterpart, Kevin is not sexualized by the player base – the closest comments I could find were some female members of the player base calling Kevin “cute” and “fun.”

There are so many creative aspects to this game that make it incredibly enjoyable that are completely worth exploring in and of itself, so this is in no way written to discourage you from playing either of the games The Forest or Sons of the Forest; the piece is written, rather, to highlight and call out the toxic side of the player base, which is far too often detrimental to women, and highlight how players need to be and do better.

HBO has recently created a television adaptation of the hit video game franchise The Last of Us. Actors Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal have gained increasing recognition for their roles in the show as Ellie and Joel, the main protagonists of both the video game and show.

Both of these actors have done an amazing job of bringing this beloved game to life with their incredible performances, yet the show has been met with mixed reactions from fans. In particular, parts of The Last of Us fan base were quick to criticize Bella Ramsey once they were casted for the role for being “too ugly” or “not pretty enough” to play the character Ellie.

To contextualize this a bit more, Bella Ramsey looks very much like a 14 year old, the in-game age of Ellie, and shares many similar phys -

By David Garcia

ical characteristics with Ellie, yet was still chastised for their physical appearance. These criticisms about their appearance are appalling and perpetuate the expectation that all female characters, even 14-year-olds, should be sexualized.

The hateful comments are deeply rooted in misogyny and the belief that women must conform to society’s expectations of femininity. Aside from completely ignoring Ramsey’s incredible talent as an actor and the stunning performances they have had in each episode, the backlash highlights the pressure women often have to conform to the standards of physicality and femininity perceived through the male gaze.

Despite all the non-stop harassment Ramsey has faced on all of their social media accounts, they responded to these comments in an interview with Elle, stating,

“Believe me, I had my doubts, too. It took a long time, actually, for me to accept that I was Ellie, and that I could be her and that I was the right fit. It took me a good while, even after we finished filming”

Although these comments certainly get to Ramsey from time to time, they haven’t stopped them from continuing to play the role. The season finale of The Last of Us aired on March 12th, 2023, with season 2 confirmed to start filming by the end of 2023. While we’re lucky to see Bella Ramsey continue their role as Ellie, this appalling treatment brings to light the disgusting male gaming community’s desire to sexualize and objectify any and all female characters.

- Bella Ramsey, in an interview with Elle speaking about her role as Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us.

Transphobia Controversy Behind Hogwarts Legacy

By Ally Dye

Is it possible to play Hogwarts Legacy while still supporting the transgender community? It’s been known that the creator of the Harry Potter universe, J. K. Rowling, has made multiple derogatory statements regarding the trans community, and continues to defend her hateful stance today. This has fans considering whether or not purchasing the newest game of the franchise, Hogwarts Legacy, would be transphobic. To tackle this question, I believe it is important to first consider Hogwarts Legacy’s development process and the game’s social impacts and consequences on

the trans community.

In regards to game development, J. K. Rowling was not directly involved with the design of Hogwarts Legacy. Ac -

with it for the right reasons. We know that’s a diverse audience. For us, it’s making sure that the audience, who always dreamed of having this game, had the opportunity to feel welcomed back. That they have a home here and that it’s a good place to tell their story.”

His response attempts

cording to their game FAQ website, the devs only collaborated with J. K. Rowling’s team to ensure that it satisfied the “magical experiences” for the players. The game director, Alan Tew, offered a comment regarding the game’s goals: “We know our fans fell in love with the Wizarding World, and we believe they fell in love

to ensure the community that unlike Rowling’s infamous views, everyone will be accepted within the game. In support of this, the RPG introduces the first transgender NPC character within the Harry Potter universe, Sirona Ryan. Although Sirona does not explicitly state that she is a transgender woman, she has a dialogue in reference to her old classmates that says: “Took them a second to realize I was actually a witch, not a wizard”. It seems a bit too coincidental that the game subtly offers a trans NPC character within the game, as if it was a simple offering of peace towards the player fanbase.

Although the game attempts to sprinkle gender-diverse NPCs within the game, does Hogwarts Legacy’s character creation tool allow for freedom in personal gender expression? The answer is surprisingly yes—there are 32

Sirona Ryan via Hogwarts Legacy (2023)

different hair colors, 50 different hair styles, and 15 unique face shape options to choose from. The character voice selection and customization options are not gender locked, and the game also consults the user whether their character will be referred to as a “witch” or a “wizard” throughout the story, which is an improvement towards creating a more inclusive RPG environment. It seems that the devs have made a stronger effort towards gender inclusivity within Hogwarts Legacy, even though these values are not upheld by J. K. Rowling herself.

By choosing to boycott Hogwarts Legacy, the game developers at Avalanche Software would be unfairly impacted. Even though they weren’t directly involved with J. K. Rowling’s hateful opinions, the boycott would affect the developer team’s revenue from the lack of sales. Considering this, it seems a bit unfair that Hogwarts Legacy’s game developers are the one that takes the greatest hit from a boycott, even though the issue is with J. K. Rowling herself.

However, the booming popularity of Hogwarts Legacy is giving J. K. Rowling a platform. She is getting a portion of the profit from the game, as she is the creator of the Harry Potter franchise, so there is definitely a level of concern regarding supporting the game. Keeping this in mind, it is not invalid to boycott Hogwarts Legacy due to the transphobia controversy.

On the other hand, there are several games with high-level controversies that are still being supported today. For example, relevant companies include Riot Games’ League of Legends and

Valorant, and Blizzard’s Hearthstone and World of Warcraft. Both of these game development companies have had large scandals involving their women employees, yet the gaming community still enjoys and supports these games today. It’s as if it’s become a social norm that after acknowledging the companies’ flaws, it is okay to continue playing these games.

Overall, it is completely reasonable to boycott Hogwarts Legacy due to J. K. Rowling’s transphobia controversy. But it’s also valid to enjoy the game while acknowledging the creator’s history of transpho-

bic comments. While there is no right answer, it is important to do research and be informed about this topic before deciding whether or not you want to support the game. To truly support the transgender community, it is critical that we voice our opinions over what is right. By spreading the word and raising awareness about the social impacts of transphobic platforms, we can create a more inclusive gaming community for us all.

gg’s Guide to Mechanical Keyboards

Are you thinking of buying a mechanical gaming keyboard? Whether you’re not sure where to start or just looking for opinions and advice, this is the place to look. This is especially a great reference if you’re considering buying a custom keyboard. Although this guide is primarily written for a gamer audience, almost all of the information applies to mechanical keyboards in general. In fact, much of it applies to non-mechanical keyboards, but most gaming keyboards that aren’t cheap are mechanical, so I’ll (mostly) focus on them. We’ll start from the bottom, at the physical layout of the keyboard itself, then work our way up, going next to wired vs. wireless, then the lighting, then the key switches, and then, finally, the keycaps.

by Maxwell Thum

Sizes & Layouts

Modern keyboards come in many shapes and sizes. Most keyboards are pretty similar in their layouts—you know, what you imagine when you think “keyboard”—but many keyboards now come in smaller sizes or have alternate arrangements of keys.

Keyboard size

Most keyboards come in three sizes: 100% / full-size (104–108 keys), 80% / tenkeyless (87–88 keys), and 60% (61 keys).

Full-size

Full-size keyboards have it all: Numpad, function keys, you name it. Full-size gaming keyboards often have extra bells and whistles like lighting controls, media keys, volume knobs, and customizable hotkeys.

Example: Logitech G915 ($229.99 on Amazon)

• Ultra-thin

• Logitech GL low-profile switches (clicky, linear, or tactile)

• Wireless (USB and Bluetooth)

• Per-key configurable RGB lighting

• Lots of extra buttons, including dedicated media keys and a volume dial

Example: Wooting Two HE ($194.99 at next.wooting.io)

What makes this keyboard so special is that it technically isn’t mechanical! It uses first-of-their-kind magnetic analog switches which are more durable and customizable than ordinary mechanical switches. Supposedly, they feel very similar to linear mechanical switches (more on these later). They are also silent. These switches are especially good for gaming because their analog input can be used like a joystick for precise inputs.

• Per-key configurable RGB

• Wired

Tenkeyless (TKL)

Tenkeyless keyboards are like fullsize ones except that they’re missing the number pad (AKA the numpad or ten key). This saves desk space and reduces travel distance from the keyboard to the mouse. As far as I know, most modern PC games don’t use the numpad, so you’ll probably be fine without it for gaming. If you plan to also use your keyboard for work, and that work involves entering lots of numbers, a TKL may not work for you.

Example: G.Skill KM360 ($49.99–55.99 on Amazon)

• Only white backlighting

• Cherry MX Red switches

• Wired

• Comes in black and white colors

Example: Keychron K2 Version 2 ($59.00–79.99 on Amazon)

• Technically a 75%, not a TKL

• Both Mac and Windows keycaps included

• Gateron G Pro switches (Red, Brown, and Blue)

• Wireless (Bluetooth) with wired capabilities (USB-C)

• RGB and white backlight options

• Battery lasts 7 days under normal use 60% This is where things start to get serious. 60% keyboards have no (dedicated) function keys, no (dedicated) Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, or Page Down keys, and often no (dedicated) arrow keys. I say “dedicated” because these seemingly removed keys are actually moved onto other keys and instead accessed using Fn keys or other modifier keys.

60% keyboards are incredibly compact, being roughly 11.8 inches wide on average1—compare that to the 17.3 inch-wide average full-size keyboard! This not only saves even more desk space than TKLs, but also reduces finger travel distance to those removed

Wooting Two HE ($194.99 at next.wooting.io)

G.Skill KM360 ($49.99–55.99 on Amazon)

Keychron K2 Version 2 ($59.00–79.99 on Amazon)

Logitech G915 ($229.99 on Amazon)

keys. This might save your fingers from some strain if you frequently use the function keys or navigation keys. (More on comfort and ergonomics in the next subsection!)

Example: KBParadise V60 Type R ($84–109 at mechanicalkeyboards.com)

• Takes any Cherry MX-style switch; many options available

• RGB underglow

• Programmable with QMK

• Wired

Example: Mountain Everest 60 ($139.99–209.99 at us-mountainggshop.com)

• Sold with Mountain Tactile 55, Linear 45, and Linear 45 Speed, hotswappable with any Cherry MX-style switch

• Per-key RGB

• Optional detachable numpad

• Several keycap color options

• Wired (USB-C)

In summary, keyboards are available in every size (and shape, but that’s for the next section) you could imagine. Which one you choose depends on several factors, including desk space, budget, and availability, but, at the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. If you have specific needs or tastes that none of the above keyboards satisfy, there are many, many other keyboard sizes beyond the ones we’ve discussed, including (to name only a few) 1800, 96%, 90%, 75%, 65%, 50%, and even 40%. Given how passionate and diverse the keyboard community is, I’m almost certain that someone has already designed exactly the keyboard you’re looking for.

Comfort & ergonomics

If you’re looking for a more comfortable setup, you’re concerned with unnecessary stress on your wrists, or you already have a repetitive stress injury (RSI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome, you should seriously consider an ergonomic

keyboard. These are explicitly designed with comfort and health in mind.

Staggering

The overwhelming majority of keyboards have a staggered layout in which each row of keys is offset from the others, meaning that your fingers have to move both vertically and horizontally as they move between rows. Contrast this with an ortholinear (or ortho or matrix) keyboard, in which the rows aren’t staggered, minimizing the movement your fingers have to do between keys across rows (see figure). Most ortho keyboard owners say it just feels more natural, but can take a few weeks to get used to.

So-called columnar keyboards, on the other hand, are column-staggered, with columns offset by distances corresponding to the average differences between finger lengths. Just like ortholinear layouts, some say it just feels more natural. Some say that these layouts can prevent or relieve RSIs, but not everyone agrees. Unfortunately, ortholinear layouts have not yet undergone much published scientific research, if any. In the end, keyboard stagger may reduce wrist or finger strain, but I think it comes down to comfort and personal preference.

Example: Planck EZ ($230 at zsa. io)

• Ortholinear

• Extremely compact (40%!)

• Programmable

• Per-key RGB

• Cherry MX-style switches (13 options)

• Wired

• Two status LEDs

• Buzzer for audio output

Example: Keyboardio Atreus ($149–169 at keyboard.io)

• 40%

• Columnar

• Fixed split

• Hotswappable, takes Cherry MX-style switches

• No lighting

• Wired

Wrist rests

Wrist rests provide a cushion for your wrists and are meant to set them at a more comfortable angle. Wrist rests can either be directly attached to your keyboard or stand alone. Standalone wrist rests give you more freedom in their placement, but are easy to move out of place. On the other hand, fixed wrist rests take up additional space and tend to make your keyboard less portable. While many find them more comfortable and ergonomic, some say that wrist rests can actually cause injuries and should therefore not be used. Like with just about everything in this article, your decision will probably come down to personal preference in the end.

Tenting

Keyboard tenting changes the angle of the keyboard, letting your wrists and forearms assume a more natural and comfortable position. Most standalone keyboards have tilting stands allowing for two or three different keyboard angles, but many ergonomic keyboards now offer the ability to fine-tune tenting, either with built-in tenting or a separate tenting kit accessory.

Example: ErgoDox EZ ($270–354 at ergodox-ez.com)

• Adjustable split

• Three adjustable legs on each half (optional)

• Columnar

• Per-key RGB backlighting, rear lighting, or no lighting

• Hotswappable with several Cherry MX-style switch options

• Wired

• Optional wrist rests

Split keyboards

Split keyboards are split into two separate halves which usually communicate through either Bluetooth or a wired connection. The two halves can then be separately placed wherever is

most comfortable for each hand, which can open up your chest and straighten your wrists, potentially relieving strain on your wrists and shoulders. As an added bonus, you can conveniently place items in between the two keyboard halves on your desk. Also, if you don’t need the right half when gaming, then you can set it aside and free up some desk space.

Example: Glove80 ($395 at moergo.com)

• Extremely ergonomic, fits all hand sizes

• Columnar

• Curved keywell

• Built-in wrist rests

• 6-key thumb cluster

• Low-profile Kailh Choc key switches

• Per-key RGB backlighting

• Wireless with wired option

• Lightweight

Example: ZSA Moonlander ($365 at zsa.io)

• Columnar

• 4-key thumb cluster

• Slim and portable

• Adjustable tenting

• Detachable wrist rests

• Fully customizable

• Hotswappable, takes any Cherry MXstyle switches

• Per-key RGB

• Status LEDs

• Buzzer for audio output

• Wired

Fixed split keyboards

Some keyboards achieve a similar effect without completely splitting into two separate halves. Instead, they simply space the two halves apart on a single continuous board. This is sometimes done by pointing the key columns inward. Since the two halves cannot move independently, these keyboards are often called “fixed split.” This doesn’t allow for the same freedom as the aforementioned “true split” or “adjustable split” keyboards, but fixed split keyboards are a significant improvement over traditional keyboards.

Adjustable leg for tenting on the ErgoDox EZ ErgoDox EZ ($270–354 at ergodox-ez.com) and checkout this tenting!

Glove80 with blank white keycaps ($395 at moergo.com)

Glove80 with RGB backlighting on

Tenting on the Glove80

Razer Tartarus V2 ($74.99 on Amazon)

X-Bows Knight Plus Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard ($310 at x-bows.com)

Kinesis Advantage2 ($369 at kinesis-ergo.com)

Kinesis Freestyle Pro ($179 at kinesis-ergo.com)

YMDK Split 64 (DIY kit without switches or keycaps $153.90 at ymdkey.com)

Example: X-Bows Knight Plus Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard ($310 at x-bows.com)

• Fixed split

• Columns tilted inward

• Detachable numpad

• Per-key RGB

• Wired

Example: Kinesis Advantage2 ($369 at kinesis-ergo.com)

• Fixed split

• Concave keywell

• 6-key thumb clusters

• Cherry MX Brown key switches

• Wired

Split/detachable keyboards

If, for any reason, you game or type on the go, a split keyboard may not be best for you, as most split models are meant to be securely stationed on a desk. However, some split keyboards are “split/detachable,” meaning that the two halves can be reconnected to form a normal-looking keyboard.

Example: YMDK Split 64 (DIY kit without switches or keycaps $153.90 at ymdkey.com)

• Split/detachable

• Not (currently) sold pre-built

Example: Kinesis Freestyle Pro ($179 at kinesis-ergo.com)

• Adjustable split

• Tenting

• Standard staggered layout

• Low-profile, compact

• Either Cherry MX Brown or Cherry MX Red key switches

• Wired Half keyboards

Split keyboards are close cousins of half keyboards made exclusively for gaming. These are often like split keyboards without a right half. Since they lack a full set of keys, they’re

pretty useless for almost everything but gaming, including in-game text chat or Discord texting. However, they are extremely compact and sometimes have extra features like special thumb buttons. I’m personally not a fan, but I can see why some people use them.

Example: Razer Tartarus V2 ($74.99 at Amazon)

• Tactile-feeling hybrid mechanical-membrane key switches

• Per-key RGB

• Scroll wheel, 8-directional D-pad, and buttons for thumb

• Built-in sculpted wrist rest

Wired vs. Wireless

In most cases, I would recommend a wired keyboard over a wireless one. I especially recommend them for competitive gamers who can’t afford to lose inputs. However, there are many good reasons to buy a wireless keyboard.

Wired Wireless

• Reliable connection

• No messy cords

P r o s

• No extra cost

• No battery, no charging

• Connect at a distance

• Easier to use on the go

• Cords can be messy and clutter desk

• Usually requires a USB port, which portable devices often have none or few of

• Connection less reliable, especially at increased distance

• Bluetooth devices can connect to cell phones, tablets C o n s

• Usually costs more

• Needs to be charged

Lighting

Ah, the quintessential feature of modern gaming keyboards.

When most people think of keyboard lighting, they’re probably either thinking of plain old white backlighting like many laptop keyboards have or per-key RGB backlighting like many gaming keyboards have. However, you should be aware that several other lighting styles exist. Let’s break down the terminology.

RGB vs. single-color

This may seem fairly obvious, but there are two types of lights: single-color and multi-color. Many multi-color lights don’t simply have two or three color options, but rather thousands or even millions. These nearly universally use the RGB color space, whose name comes from the fact that it specifies color with Red, Green, and Blue color strengths. For this reason, these lights are generally called RGB lights.

RGB lights, of course, look very flashy and pretty, but they cost more than single-color lights, making RGB-equipped keyboards more expensive than their monochrome and unlit counterparts.

Per-key vs. zone lighting

Per-key lighting is, of course, giving a keyboard one light per key. Zone lighting, on the other hand, lights up a group of several keys—possibly the entire keyboard—with a single color. As you might expect, keyboards with per-key lighting tend to be more expensive than those without. Not only do they have higher parts and labor costs, they also usually require smart hardware and precise software for rapidly changing light patterns.

Backlighting vs. underglow/rear lighting

They aren’t very common, but some keyboards have rear lights placed underneath the keyboard rather than backlights placed between the keys and the board. This gives more of an “ambient glow” effect which illuminates your entire desk rather than mostly shining through your keycaps.

Key switches

Key switches (by which I really mean mechanical key switches) are what make mechanical keyboards, well, mechanical. The key switches lie under the keycaps (see the next section) and give mechanical keyboards their characteristic feel and sound.

Most keyboards use rubber membranes as key switches, which are less durable and reliable than mechanical switches. Most mechanical keyboard owners also find the tactile and aural sensations of mechanical switches to be much more satisfying, not to mention their customizability.

By far the most popular mechanical key switch manufacturer is Cherry with their Cherry MX product line. Behind them are Kailh, Gateron, and several other manufacturers.

There are essentially three types of mechanical key switches: linear, tactile, and clicky.

Linear switches

Linear switches are called “linear” because they provide a constant resistance throughout the keypress, with no “bump” or “click” indicating when the switch has been activated.

Example: Cherry MX Red

• Linear

• Rated for 100 million keystrokes

• RGB version available

Keyboard with underglow

Kailh

Cream switches

Kailh

White switches

ZealPC Blue Zilent V2 switches

BOX

Gateron Ink Blue

Kailh BOX Silent Pink

BOX

Cherry MX Red

Cherry MX Red RGB Glorious Panda

Cherry MX Brown

Cherry MX Brown RGB

Example: Kailh BOX Cream

• Linear

• Rated for 50 million keystrokes

• Cherry MX mount-compatible

• Waterproof and dustproof stem

• Self-lubricating

• Tactile switches

• Tactile switches have a noticeable tactile “bump” as they are pressed down.

Example: Glorious Panda

• Tactile

• “Snappy” feel and sound

• Can be purchased pre-lubricated

• Cherry MX mount-compatible

Example: Cherry MX Brown

• Tactile

• Popular and ubiquitous

• Rated for 100 million keystrokes

• RGB version available

Clicky switches

Clicky switches are tactile switches that have an additional “clicking” element (usually some kind of “bar” or “jacket” inside the switch) which gives them their characteristic “clicky” sound when pressed. These are usually quite noisy, which tends to make them both extra satisfying to the user and extra annoying to everyone else in earshot. If you’re going to use this keyboard a lot in public, in the office, or on voice calls, you should probably go with linear or tactile switches.

Example: Kailh BOX White

• Clicky

• Low-force

• Rated for 80 million keystrokes

• Uses a click bar instead of a click jacket

• Waterproof and dustproof stem

• Cherry MX mount-compatible

Example: Gateron Ink Blue

• Clicky

• Cherry MX mount-compatible

• Rated for 50 million keystrokes

• Heavy feel

Silent switches

Some companies now offer silent versions of their existing linear and tactile switches (not clicky ones, for obvious reasons), as even non-clicky mechanical switches can be quite noisy. This noise reduction is often accomplished via rubber dampers which can affect the feeling of the switches.

Example: Kailh BOX Silent Pink

• Linear

• Short activation distance

• Waterproof and dustproof stem

• Cherry MX mount-compatible

Example: ZealPC Blue Zilent V2

• Tactile

• Several force options

• Rated for 50 million keystrokes

Switch resistance/ activation force

This should be fairly self-explanatory. Every key switch must be pressed with a certain force to be activated. These forces are usually measured in grams of force or centi-Newtons, which are approximately equal. The lightest switches, such as Gateron Clears and Akko CS switches, require as little as 35 grams of force to press. The heaviest switches, such Cherry MX Blacks and Greens, require anywhere from 60 to 80 grams of force to press.

The main advantage of light switches is that keys are easy to press. However, this can be a disadvantage when switches are too sensitive, leading to accidental presses. Conversely, the main advantage of heavy switches is that they are hard to accidentally press, but their main disadvantage is that typing on them for a long time can fatigue and strain your fingers.

Low-profile switches

Low-profile switches are less tall than most mechanical key switches, making them suitable for slim, minimal, portable keyboard designs. Whether a switch is low-profile or not is independent of whether it is linear, tactile, or clicky; low-profile switches are made in all of these styles.

Example: Kailh Choc Series

• Low-profile

• Extremely compact

• Several linear, tactile, and clicky models

• Short travel distance

Keycaps

Once you buy a set of custom keycaps, there’s no going back. Keycap style can really tie a whole keyboard together, not just in its visuals, but in its physical feeling as well. Whereas the feeling of pressing down a mechanical keyboard key mostly comes from its switches, the feeling of resting your fingers on the keyboard has more to do with the keycaps. Keycaps come in many different styles, varying in shape, texture, color, and font.

Some keyboard retailers will give you some freedom to choose which keycaps come installed with your board (or even sell you boards without keycaps), but most do not. Luckily, there are extremely many custom keycap sets to choose from and keycaps can be easily removed and installed. You can find keycaps at Etsy, kbdfans.com, Amazon, and many other retailers.

Keycap profiles

Keycaps come in many different shapes and sizes, known as “profiles.” The most common keycap profiles are SA, MT3, OEM, Cherry, XDA, and DSA, with OEM and Cherry being most common.

Sculpting and blank keycaps

All of the above profiles have different profiles for different keyboard rows, with most having completely different shapes for each row. This is known as keycap “sculpting.” These give the keyboard a nice look and feel, but if you use an alternative keyboard layout such as Dvorak, Colemak, or Workman and you want to rearrange your keycaps, the sculpting will be all wrong. This is one of the main reasons that unsculpted keycaps are used. An alternative solution to this problem is to use blank keycaps, which do not ever need to be rearranged, no matter what changes you make to your keymap. These are primarily made with alternative layouts in mind, but blank keycaps have a very cool look by themselves, and some people use them for the aesthetics alone. Of course, you’ll need to be a proficient touch typist to use one of these.

Keycap material

Most keycaps are made of either ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), two types of plastic. PBT is more expensive than ABS and most people consider PBT keycaps to have better quality than ABS keycaps. Whereas ABS is smooth, shiny, quieter, flexible, and wears down over time, PBT is textured, matte, loud, brittle, and very durable. That said, you may personally prefer the feel of ABS to PBT. I would recommend trying different keycaps before buying any when possible.

With so many great keyboards for sale, it can be hard to choose the right one for you. In the end, keyboard size, layout, portability, comfort, wireless capabilities, lighting, key switches, and keycaps determine most differences between keyboards. Hopefully, this guide has provided you with the tools you need to make an informed decision.

If you found this article useful, we’d love to hear it! Send us an email at mthum@hmc.edu!

Blank keycaps!

Assorted Kailh Choc switches.

Kailh Choc switch tester with switch labels and translucent keycaps.

Cherry MX standard and low-profile switches with keycaps.

setups

Check out these jaw-dropping desktop setups that will take your gaming experience to the next level!

Above Left: This cute PC is decked out with Hello Kitty plushies and Sanrio stickers-- sooo cute! Thank you for the submission, L! Above Right: Shade’s setup is minimalist and clean, incorporating neon lights that bring in a city-like vibe.

Above: Reanna gets creative and stays productive with this playful setup featuring a colorful desk, fun accessories, and a comfy chair.

Left: Lexy’s setup is decked out in pastel pink, complete with a plushie hammock and a comfy gaming chair.

Upper Right: Taybone’s desk features an awesome pinboard on the wall, a Snowball microphone, and Wilbur Soot fanart on her laptop.

Lower Right: Complete with amusing decor and a bright ringlight, this minimalist setup is perfect for those who value clean aesthetics and clutter-free workspace. Submitted by DragonKog.

Left: NightFqll shares their minimal setup with an Overwatch mouse and a matching mechanical keyboard.

Right: Ash’s cozy desk is complete with a light-up keyboard, an adorable mousepad, and warm lighting.

Upper Left: Chokolove shares their vertical dual-monitor setup, perfect for multitasking or for displaying game art in all its glory.

Lower Left: This setup brings an awesome desk space, along with a Nintendo Switch and Wii console on the side.

Submitted by Wammy.

Right: Maxwell’s setup is the ultimate immersion. With his triple monitor setup, the cardboard box stand, and the stunning Keyboardio Atrus, he’s set to edit the next issue of gg Magazine.