Are video game companies missing the mark on diversity?

Twofivesix: Gaming and Marketing

Danielle aka EbonixSims makes custom designs for other black gamers who don't always see themselves (or “simselves”) represented. She’s bringing more change, representation, and diversity into games through her custom content. In fact, T-Pain has actually used her content to find dreads for his Sim. But that wasn’t her most memorable moment as a content creator for Simmers of color.

Like what you see? Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast.

Here are highlights from the conversation, lightly edited for clarity.

The interaction that moved EbonixSims the most

“The one interaction that moved me the most was when a lady messaged me and said that her niece absolutely hated how she looked. She didn't like her hair and her skin tone, and she played The Sims but never would ever make a character that looks like her. So she asked me if I could make this particular hair that they'd seen on Tumblr. And I said, ‘Okay, that's doable.’ It was a cute little girl's hair with the bubbles, which a lot of black girls have had. So it was the perfect hair to recreate and push back into the community.

“After I made that, she messaged me and said, ‘Ebonix, I don't think you know how much you've changed my niece's life.’ She saw and made the hair [in The Sims], which was her hair at the time and absolutely fell in love with her ‘Simself.’ And since then, her self confidence and how she's seen herself has changed for the better. It hit home because there was no content for me to make a Sim of myself, and it did have an effect on how I saw myself. Other things in society also didn’t make little black girls feel loved and appreciated and feel self-conscious about how they looked. For me to be able to change how that little girl saw herself just through the Sims, that is something that will always stick with me and always keep me motivated to keep going.”

EbonixSims’s advice to gaming companies

“Think ‘everyone, everywhere.’ Because everyone, everywhere, plays a game. When they create a character, people are looking to make themselves, not just trying to make a character that fits in with your game and aesthetic. If it's a game that has just a main character, you're perfectly fine to make whatever character you want. But if you're giving us the option to edit and make the character look as different as possible, then you're going to need some outside input. I'm your girl but there are also so many people that would love to get involved in those early stages of what they'd like to see within the game, especially when it comes to character creation. It's about reaching out.”

Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast for more compelling insights.

This episode was hosted by Jamin Warren. Music was provided by Lusine.
Twofivesix is a strategic consultancy that helps brands engage with gamers. Founder and CEO Jamin Warren speaks to experts at the intersection of games and marketing about how video games and other forms of interactive entertainment are more relevant than ever—in culture but also in business. We cover how marketers, agencies, and brands can dive into the world of games.