Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Stephanie Harkin

@saharkin.bsky.social

550 followers 290 following 27 posts

Lecturer at RMIT researching feminine gaming | she/her Author: Girlhood Games: Gender, Identity and Coming of Age in Videogames Curator Feminine Play: feminineplay.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Oct 18

Big thank you to everyone who visited Feminine Play! You can now view/download an online version of the catalogue at feminineplay.org with beautiful art from all the exhibited works and an essay by @jtg.design @mahliann.bsky.social and I about femininity and games :)

Catalogue cover that reads Feminine Play

Preview of the first page of the catalogue essay titled ‘Feminine Play’

2 2 11

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 19h

Public libraries may be able to order it too! otherwise please feel welcome to DM me and I can share more options :)

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 1d

!!!

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 6d

The latest Video Game History Hour podcast talks to Dr. Stephanie Harkin, lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, about her research on video games in girls’ lifestyle magazines like Girl Gamer & Total Girl: gamehistory.org/episode-141-...

Episode 141: Hidden Advertising of Feminine Games | Video Game History Foundation

Phil Salvador interviews Dr. Stephanie Harkin, lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) School of Design Games Program in Australia, about her research on femininity in gaming, p...

gamehistory.org

2 12 63

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 7d

My book is out! 💗
Girlhood Games: Gender, Identity and Coming of Age in Videogames is a 6-year-long labour of love for young adult stories, teen heroines in videogames and unnoticed girly game histories.
Thank you @livvy.itch.io for the beautiful cover!

www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...

Book cover for "Girlhood Game: Gender, Identity, and Coming of Age in Video Games." A youthful feminine bedroom is depicted, centring on a computer desk setup with game accessories.

4 19 53

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · 23d

Super lucky to have Katie Roots for the next RMIT Games Talk! Katie is Marketing Manager at Hipster Whale and has 10+ years in game dev, user acqisition + more

See you there!

🗓️ Tuesday Sept 16
🕛 3:30pm–4:30pm
📍 RMIT City Campus, Building 80, Level 6, Room 5

A flyer for the 'RMIT Games Industry Talk Series' with featured guest 'Katie Roots' in large font.
Details include:
Date: Tuesday Sept 16
Time: 3:30pm–4:30pm
Location: Building 80, Level 6, Room 5

1 2

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 26d

We also talked about the Bowser Big Brother house continuous comic - which I found again! It ran from issue 60 of NGC magazine.

1 2

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

Video Game History Foundation @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social · 26d

New addition to our digital library... the complete run of Imagine Town Magazine, a promo publication from Ubisoft to promote their line of games for girls

We believe this is the first (and hopefully not last) mention of Keke Palmer in our collection

archive.gamehistory.org/folder/61871...

The cover of Imagine Town Magazine from Fall 2009, featuring a Q&A with Keke Palmer. "The style-savvy star shares her fashion secrets!"

3 21 120

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 26d

Aw yay you did it! Can’t wait to flick through it!

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

Phil Salvador @philsalv.bsky.social · 28d

Just recorded an episode of the Video Game History Hour where we did a vintage "What Pokemon are you?" quiz from an Australian girl's magazine

I got Skitty

5 3 63

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · 28d

Dolly magazine’s Sims Fest! (Not Girlfriend magazine, whoops!)

1 3

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · Aug 21

Come along to the next Industry Talk with @osaurusstudios.bsky.social Maddy Clute!
Maddy will share insights on going for grants, leading a small studio, and working on Aus gothic/ true crime-inspired Call of the Golden of Valley!

TUE Aug 26, 3:30–4:30pm
City Campus, Building 80, Lvl 6, Room 5

Information poster for the RMIT Games Industry Talk Series. Information reads:

Maddy Clute, Game Designer, Founder, O'Saurus Studios, 'Call of the Golden Valley.

Tue Aug 26, 3:30–4:30pm. Building 80, Level 6, Room 5.

3 2

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · Aug 7

The next RMIT Games Industry Talk is this Tuesday August 12!

Excited to hear from Alayna Cole's experience across game design, academia and as DEI Manager at Sledgehammer Games!

🗓️ Tuesday August 12
⏰ 3:30–4:30pm
📍 RMIT City Campus, Building 80, Level 6, Room 5

Free & open event, no registration

Event poster for 'RMIT Games Industry Talk Series'
Text reads: "Tue Aug 12, 3:30–4:30pm. Building 80, Level 6, Room 5.'
The guest featured is 'Alayna Cole: Game designer, academic, journalist, former DEI at Sledgehammer (Call of Duty)"

1 2

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Jul 22

The Games Industry Talk Series is back for 2025! 🎉
No registration required.

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · Jul 22

The RMIT Games Industry Talk Series is BACK!
These are free public events held at RMIT City Campus fortnightly across Semester 2.
Stoked to welcome Maize Wallin next Tuesday July 29.
Come along to the Talk Series to chat about audio, public gardens, and solidarity in creative industries.

A flyer for the RMIT Games Industry Talk Series presenting the following details:
Date: Tuesday July 29th, 3:30pm–4:30pm
Location: Building 80, Level 6, Room 5
Guest: Maize Wallin

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

Dr. José Zagal @jzagal.bsky.social · Jul 7

Also at #DiGRA25, Stephanie Harkin gave a great talk on representations of gaming in lifestyle magazines for girls. With a great shout out to the Video Game History Foundation! @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social

1 11

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · May 29

annswwr.itch.io/deadlines

Deadlines by Annswwr, bloxxoms, D4M0, JOYCO, hsla

A fixed-camera horror adventure of self-confrontation.

annswwr.itch.io

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · May 29

BIG congratulations to Andy Eng for winning the 2024–25 ACMI + RMIT Games Prize for Directing and Programming the group project DEADLINES.

Now in its 6th year, the Games prize is awarded to a graduating student from RMIT's Games Program for exploring the medium's artistic potential. Congrats!

A young figure stands with their back to the viewer in a darkened and shadowy indoor basketball court.

1 3 5

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

RMIT Games @rmitgames.bsky.social · May 20

ACMI + RMIT Audience Lab is back Saturday June 7 ✨

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu4Y...

ACMI + RMIT Audience Lab

YouTube video by ACMI – The Australian Centre for the Moving Image

www.youtube.com

2 5

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Mar 20

ie. received some questions last year about where to find info on our public industry talk series - so here's where! (and yes they will be running again second half of 2025).

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Mar 20

RMIT Games now has a bluesky account — for students, alumni, industry folk and any wanting to see updates, news, events, accolades, media and more from our students and staff 🧚‍♀️
@rmitgames.bsky.social

1 5 12

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · Feb 26

A major update for dating simulation game Love and Deepspace has furrowed brows – it now includes a period tracker.

Chinese dating simulator Love and Deepspace now has a period tracker – it signals a shift in mobile gaming

theconversation.com

3 3

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Jan 26

OHH heck yeah!!

Reposted by Stephanie Harkin

SIFTER @sifterhq.bsky.social · Jan 20

Carving Out Your Space In The Melbourne Games Industry. We spoke to recent game dev graduates about job prospects, their thoughts on the industry and hopes for the future.

FEATURE https://www.sifter.com.au/post/australian-game-dev-jobs-rmit-student-perspective-graduates #gamedev

Wattle Creek a game set in an regional Australia town

1 6 29

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Dec 18

YES! pre-teen me was obsessed with the console version which had the black eyed peas in it and their music translated into simlish. didn't realise the two were such different games!

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Dec 17

Oh this looks excellent!

Stephanie Harkin @saharkin.bsky.social · Dec 3

My flea-ridden cat had to be showered and shampooed and my what a new experience that was