Adam
Balkin reports for NY1
that on September 18, 2013, Girl Scouts of the USA and Dell convened a think
tank on innovation in today’s gaming industry as it pertains to girls, and the
key skills girls need exposure to in order to succeed. The event centered on
the release of Be the Video Game Developer, an interactive experience that puts girls in
the driver’s seat of video game development.
"We
realize although we're over 100 years old, we have to stay relevant for girls
and families, and so, of course, girls are using technology on a daily basis,
and we want to ensure them that we're here to support them in that activity.
For girls and boys, game applications are something they use every day. But for
girls, we want them to understand that there's a whole science behind it,
technology, and even some engineering and some math," said Girl Scouts of
the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez.
Be
the Video Game Developer has netted some pretty impressive reviews in the
gaming scene. Check out write-ups of it in Polygon,
Games
for Change, Escapist
Magazine and Forbes.
Be
the Video Game Developer is part of GSUSA’s Journey and Connect Through
Technology program, and plays an essential role in introducing girls to ICT
concepts and helping them gain skills that promote critical thinking.
Dell
has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than 10 years and has worked
extensively with the five Girl Scout councils that will receive the game upon
launch. Dell team members have provided valuable mentorship, volunteering their
time and expertise to these councils, which include Girl Scouts of Central
Texas, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital,
Girl Scouts of Northern California, and Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.