Accountability, College Esports, Alto’s Odyssey, Gaming Culture, Winding Paths, Changing Behaviors, Bad Apples, and an Iceberg-Shaped Problem with Jae Lin of the Games and Online Harassment Hotline

Game Dev Advice: The Game Developer's Podcast

I welcome Jae Lin, the Hotline Director of the ‘Games and Online Harassment Hotline’ who shares about their current role running the hotline, along with the new Culture Shift project. Learn about when they’re available, who it’s helping, and how you can text “support” to 23368 within the U.S. for help. Hear about the new Culture Shift program launched with Take this that goes into game studios and works with top leadership to create custom programs for companies.

We then discuss gender-based harm, why it keeps happening, and the culture around it. Hear ideas around accountability, changing behaviors, and how the program just launched in March of this year. Learn about Jae’s experience being pushed out of esports, doing volunteer work in Austin, and getting involved with the hotline, along with how they define gender-based harm.

Towards the end we discuss Signs of the Sojourner, Alto’s Odyssey, where to find these services online, and advice about practicing accountability, even in the smallest ways.

Bio:

My guest is Jae Lin, the Hotline Director of the ‘Games and Online Harassment Hotline’ and a mental health advocate for video game spaces. They have a background in queer community health and suicide prevention, with roots in collegiate esports. Jae is also a Community Organizer around trans liberation, queer arts, and racial justice based in Austin, TX.

Show Links:

* GameIndustry.biz article

* Take this. website

* Signs of the Sojourner Steam

* Alto’s Odyssey website

* Text “support” to 23368

Connect Links:

* Gameshotline website

* Gameshotline on Twitter

* Gameshotline YouTube

* FemFreq website

* FemFreq Twitter

* FemFreq YouTube

Game Dev Advice Links:

* Game Dev Advice Patreon - please help support the show if you find it useful

* Game Dev Advice Twitter

* Game Dev Advice email: [e-mail]

* Game Dev Advice website

* Level Ex Careers page - we’re hiring for engineers and other roles

* Game Dev Advice Hotline: [phone]

* Subscribe and go to the website for full show notes with links

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