BioWare writer: Industry not made up only of straight white men

The perception that the gaming industry is made up solely of straight white men is false, longtime BioWare writer David Gaider told Gamasutra in a new interview.

"There's a perception that the gaming industry is only made up of straight white men," Gaider said. "And while they're certainly the majority, that's not to say there aren't many other people comprising the industry as well."

Gaider said it's important for more developers to get "broader viewpoints" from within their own teams, and that process begins with those people applying for the positions.

"Perhaps it's a sign of the times that it's even a question, or one where the answer might be, 'yes, but it's important to speak up even so,'" Gaider said. "Someone who doesn't conform to the perceived norm might think they don't have a chance of getting into the industry--a gay person might think, 'oh, there's no point in applying. I don't want to work in a frat house.'"

Gaider pointed out that his team of writers for the Dragon Age series is made up predominantly of women. Dragon Age: Inquisition launches in 2014 for Xbox 720, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. Morrigan will not be featured as a party member, though she will play a "significant" role in the game.