Cari makes the news

"I'm not really a girly girl, but I created a Barbie race because the irony was so hilarious," she said. The race is complete with pink and white spaceships emblazoned with the Mattel logo, a social-influence racial bonus and a magenta user interface. "They look kind of plastic, too. It was really cute."

Why isn't it in the final release as a special feature

Well, as an aspiring game developer engaged to a staunch female rights activist, my fiance and I send you our biggest congrats, Cari! Your work is remarkable, not because you're a woman, but because you're a damned fine programmer who wasn't afraid to go into what is sometimes an unwelcoming industry.

Keep up the good work

Heh. I had a quick double take when I misread this:

I don't think like a lot of other programmers

As this:

I don't like a lot of other programmers

Congrats on the article Cari, your work itself shows how a traditionally male role can be done just as well(better) by a female.

Why isn't it in the final release as a special feature

Because I'm reall sure that StarDock doesn't need Mattel suing the life out of them...

I wish physicians got as much fan mail and appreciation about the job they do as game developers get, male, female or alien. Game developers seem to have aquired some sort of quasi-celebrity status in the eyes of adoring fans because they provided a product that keeps them entertained for long periods of time, not becasue they make a significant difference to society. There a splash of cold water to put things in perspective.

Congrats on being successful in a male dominated profession, not because your female, that would be too superficial, but because your good at what you do (and its someone else revelling in success apart from Brad for once). We are too concerned with percieved difference, the sooner we stop drawing attention to the first female here, to the first so and so there equality will be easier to achieve. Its not a milestone unless you think its unlikely, unachievable, etc whereby the only basis is sex.

Congratulations for... for what? Being female and a game designer? One should be newsworthy for their skills and accomplishments, not their gender. The article was purely about being a woman in the game industry, which honestly isn't that remarkable. Guys are rarely nurses, does that make them worthy of being interviewed? No. People should be praised solely for their success as an individual, not for defying traditional gender roles.

Whilst I agree with the above post saying that people should be praised for their skill not gender, I do believe that Cari has succeeded on the skill front because well I like the AI in this and it keeps on getting better... So two thumbs up to Cari and the rest of Stardock ; without you I would be doing far more productive things in my spare time lol.

It was a congratulations on Cari getting some recognition.  When Brad was in Time Magazine people weren't congratulating him on being a software developer but for the recognition.

I think it's a great accomplishment

I think that Cari's creative role is great, although what she brought to the game is not explained in full details
the few points that were talked about here, are part of why I finally bought the game

although I'm a male

edit: I also think that the fact that she is a "she" is part of why she is more creative than logical in her work
and why she really can bring something to a world of logic (male)

Congrats, and keep up the good work.

Because I'm reall sure that StarDock doesn't need Mattel suing the life out of them...

You do understand the concept of humor ?

Nice article, but where are the pictures?!

I don't know, congrat on getting reconition. But the way the artical panned out was sort of vapid. I blame house chronicals though.

I blame house chronicals though.

Read the by-line. This story ran in the Detroit Free Press and was picked up by the Chronicle (which sucks on it's own merits).

The article could have gone in many different directions, Why being a woman in the industry is harder? Why Cari took this path (other than a boyfriend hooked her up)? Why women should be represented more in games? Why Cari's fanclub hasn't had a rally yet?

In the end, the article wa kinda fluffy. But I have an idea how much effort she's put in to GalCiv and she deserves more praise in doing a good job than any paper is going to give. But she does stand out amongst many other developers. I'll take this story as a down payment on much larger features in the future.

Great job Cari! Thanks for the hard work.

A female developer? That's graet, absolutely great. Women have broader view than men usually do. There should be a lot more. The games would probably have a more human feel. Not to mention of course that GalCiv2 itself is awesome.

hey come on !
give us a full featured interview of Cari

It was a congratulations on Cari getting some recognition. When Brad was in Time Magazine people weren't congratulating him on being a software developer but for the recognition.

Even though its some sort of recognition based on what you do its recognition for the wrong reason, highlighted by the fact that your different, your a female, being female whilst being a software developer. Applauding recognition which spurrs from a basis that is primarily about your what you are rather than who you are shouldnt be encouraged. Conjuring up ideas based around sexism and racism, othering and difference.

I googled myself and I'm surprised at the amount of places that picked up this article. 

I agree that most people don't get the recognition that they deserve. I also admit that I probably wouldn't necessarily have gotten an article written about me if I hadn't been a woman.  I'm probably no more deserving of the media's attention than any other lead developer in the game industry, apart from the fact that I'm a woman, but I would hope that I am no less deserving than my male counterparts.

I try to use the attention I get for good and not evil, as it were.  I'm often invited to speak at Career Days and similar events for high school students, which I accept as often as I can.  Most of Michigan's kids need to improve their math and science skills, and if I can help inspire them to do better in those subjects, great. 

congrats cari, and thanks for all the support on the forums, and with the game.... awesome work all of you, there already aren't a lot of female gamers out there, and im sure there are even less developers, so great work and great job getting recognized like that.

The Barbie Aliens would make for a great Evil race!

so great work and great job getting recognized like that.

I second that. I commend not only Cari, but all the folks at Stardock and the GC2 development team. You guys have really done a heck of a job with this game, and deserve all the recognition you can get!

Applauding recognition which spurrs from a basis that is primarily about your what you are rather than who you are shouldnt be encouraged

I don't agree with that one.
this news article may show to other females around the world that being a game lead developper is at least possible
and females really have something to bring in an industry dominated by male

although I agree with you on the discrimination part, I think the benefits outweigh this by an immense amount

furthermore I don't know if companies in general are really open about recruiting females developper
all females "developper" (they were not game related) I have ever known were really really not as good as most male counterparts. I'm not saying anything bad against female, it's just a statistical situation of my own life which means nothing....
yeah it really means nothing

the only thing it might mean is that I'm wondering if the gaming industry is really open with females developper in general

and this news might just show that everything is possible in this world and that is great

lastly many interviews with stardock people were made for galciv2 but none involved a female as far as I know
and I feel that was not really bringing them justice, as obviously they were an important part of the project

I had no idea, I thought Brad was the lead developer. Just proof that a female can indeed make an excellent game. Certainly not the only one though, there is another female over at MadDoc that worked on most of the programming for Empire Earth II, good looking girl too.

the only thing it might mean is that I'm wondering if the gaming industry is really open with females developper in general

Right now, the game industry needs all the good programmers it can get, so I doubt the problem is there.

I had no idea, I thought Brad was the lead developer.

That's because people are being sloppy with their terminology. And because StarDock doesn't exactly have a cleanly deliniated hierarchy.

As I understand it, Brad is the AI programmer for the game, but he is also the lead game designer. He also happens to own the company, so he can do whatever he wants

Cari is the lead programmer (or, as SD calls it, lead developer. Others would say "technical director" or "lead software engineer"). Technically, as lead programmer, Brad-the-AI-programmer works for her. But she works for Brad-the-game-designer (and, of course, Brad-the-owner-of-StarDock). So, like I said, the hierarchy is definately non-standard.

More women in programming: good. I guess.