Stephanie Harkin
@saharkin.bsky.social
Lecturer at RMIT researching feminine gaming | she/her
Author: Girlhood Games: Gender, Identity and Coming of Age in Videogames
Curator Feminine Play: feminineplay.org
Author: Girlhood Games: Gender, Identity and Coming of Age in Videogames
Curator Feminine Play: feminineplay.org
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 :)
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
October 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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-...
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...
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...
October 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
See you there!
🗓️ Tuesday Sept 16
🕛 3:30pm–4:30pm
📍 RMIT City Campus, Building 80, Level 6, Room 5
September 15, 2025 at 3:19 AM
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
See you there!
🗓️ Tuesday Sept 16
🕛 3:30pm–4:30pm
📍 RMIT City Campus, Building 80, Level 6, Room 5
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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...
We believe this is the first (and hopefully not last) mention of Keke Palmer in our collection
archive.gamehistory.org/folder/61871...
September 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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...
We believe this is the first (and hopefully not last) mention of Keke Palmer in our collection
archive.gamehistory.org/folder/61871...
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
I got Skitty
September 10, 2025 at 11:45 PM
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
I got Skitty
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
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
August 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
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
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
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
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
August 7, 2025 at 2:18 AM
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
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
The Games Industry Talk Series is back for 2025! 🎉
No registration required.
No registration required.
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.
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.
July 22, 2025 at 5:47 AM
The Games Industry Talk Series is back for 2025! 🎉
No registration required.
No registration required.
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
July 7, 2025 at 6:47 AM
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
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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!
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!
May 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
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!
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!
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
@rmitgames.bsky.social
March 20, 2025 at 12:25 AM
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
@rmitgames.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
February 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
A major update for dating simulation game Love and Deepspace has furrowed brows – it now includes a period tracker.
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
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
FEATURE https://www.sifter.com.au/post/australian-game-dev-jobs-rmit-student-perspective-graduates #gamedev
January 20, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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
FEATURE https://www.sifter.com.au/post/australian-game-dev-jobs-rmit-student-perspective-graduates #gamedev
My flea-ridden cat had to be showered and shampooed and my what a new experience that was
December 3, 2024 at 5:51 AM
My flea-ridden cat had to be showered and shampooed and my what a new experience that was
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
What have been some of your favourite pieces of writing/journalism on video games this year?
Feel free to post your own stuff. I'm keen to read.
Feel free to post your own stuff. I'm keen to read.
November 28, 2024 at 4:08 AM
What have been some of your favourite pieces of writing/journalism on video games this year?
Feel free to post your own stuff. I'm keen to read.
Feel free to post your own stuff. I'm keen to read.
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
Registration is now open for DiGRA Australia's 2025 National Conference, which will be held at University of South Australia on 5-7 February (and online). This is the first DiGRA Australia conference held off the east coast!! events.humanitix.com/digraaustral...
DiGRAAustralia 2025 National Conference
Get tickets on Humanitix - DiGRAAustralia 2025 National Conference . Hawke Building, Hawke Building, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia. Wednesday 5th February 2025. Find event information.
events.humanitix.com
November 18, 2024 at 4:12 AM
Registration is now open for DiGRA Australia's 2025 National Conference, which will be held at University of South Australia on 5-7 February (and online). This is the first DiGRA Australia conference held off the east coast!! events.humanitix.com/digraaustral...
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
🚨 FINAL CALL - Call for Papers: Special Issue on Digital Femininities – Journal of Femininities – ABSTRACT DUE NOVEMBER 20th 🚨 brill.com/fileasset/do...
November 15, 2024 at 8:07 PM
🚨 FINAL CALL - Call for Papers: Special Issue on Digital Femininities – Journal of Femininities – ABSTRACT DUE NOVEMBER 20th 🚨 brill.com/fileasset/do...
Gorgeous write up of the RMIT games grad show
Big thanks to the incredible students at the RMIT Design Grad Show 2024 for showcasing their amazing games and creativity! 🎮👏 Your hard work and passion were truly inspiring. Can’t wait to see where you all go next! #RMITGradShow #AussieDev #GameDesign
checkpointgaming.net/features/202...
checkpointgaming.net/features/202...
Play the future of Aussie games from the RMIT Design Grad Show 2024
A must-visit event brining together a fantastic line-up of games developed by the latest graduates.
checkpointgaming.net
November 15, 2024 at 12:53 AM
Gorgeous write up of the RMIT games grad show
Today!
That time of year again for the RMIT Games Grad show!
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
It's a super strong cohort this year so be sure to come down and play some games!
Opening Night: Nov 14, 4:30 - 9:30
Industry Day: Nov 15th 10am - 2:30pm
RMIT City Campus, Building 12, Level 2
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
It's a super strong cohort this year so be sure to come down and play some games!
Opening Night: Nov 14, 4:30 - 9:30
Industry Day: Nov 15th 10am - 2:30pm
RMIT City Campus, Building 12, Level 2
RMIT Games | Grad Show 2024
Celebrating the outstanding achievements of RMIT Bachelor of Design (Games) graduates. Come to the show Thursday 14th November 2024, and play the games here!
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
November 13, 2024 at 11:29 PM
Today!
Reposted by Stephanie Harkin
Wanna write gaming news and reviews?
We’re looking at bolstering our team of journos at @checkpointau.bsky.social
Open to everybody, but bonus points if:
🌈 You identify as queer in some way
🇦🇺 You’re in Australia (Melb for 📻)
🎮 You love indies
Newcomers welcome! DM or email me. 😘
We’re looking at bolstering our team of journos at @checkpointau.bsky.social
Open to everybody, but bonus points if:
🌈 You identify as queer in some way
🇦🇺 You’re in Australia (Melb for 📻)
🎮 You love indies
Newcomers welcome! DM or email me. 😘
November 13, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Wanna write gaming news and reviews?
We’re looking at bolstering our team of journos at @checkpointau.bsky.social
Open to everybody, but bonus points if:
🌈 You identify as queer in some way
🇦🇺 You’re in Australia (Melb for 📻)
🎮 You love indies
Newcomers welcome! DM or email me. 😘
We’re looking at bolstering our team of journos at @checkpointau.bsky.social
Open to everybody, but bonus points if:
🌈 You identify as queer in some way
🇦🇺 You’re in Australia (Melb for 📻)
🎮 You love indies
Newcomers welcome! DM or email me. 😘
Still floored by the enthusiasm of visitors and the wisdom of panelists at Feminine Play's Opening Night.
Thanks to everyone who made the evening so special.
And to Matto Lucas for the beautiful photographs!
These were commissioned by Creative Vic as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2024.
Thanks to everyone who made the evening so special.
And to Matto Lucas for the beautiful photographs!
These were commissioned by Creative Vic as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2024.
November 12, 2024 at 6:34 AM
Still floored by the enthusiasm of visitors and the wisdom of panelists at Feminine Play's Opening Night.
Thanks to everyone who made the evening so special.
And to Matto Lucas for the beautiful photographs!
These were commissioned by Creative Vic as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2024.
Thanks to everyone who made the evening so special.
And to Matto Lucas for the beautiful photographs!
These were commissioned by Creative Vic as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2024.
That time of year again for the RMIT Games Grad show!
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
It's a super strong cohort this year so be sure to come down and play some games!
Opening Night: Nov 14, 4:30 - 9:30
Industry Day: Nov 15th 10am - 2:30pm
RMIT City Campus, Building 12, Level 2
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
It's a super strong cohort this year so be sure to come down and play some games!
Opening Night: Nov 14, 4:30 - 9:30
Industry Day: Nov 15th 10am - 2:30pm
RMIT City Campus, Building 12, Level 2
RMIT Games | Grad Show 2024
Celebrating the outstanding achievements of RMIT Bachelor of Design (Games) graduates. Come to the show Thursday 14th November 2024, and play the games here!
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
November 8, 2024 at 3:06 AM
That time of year again for the RMIT Games Grad show!
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
It's a super strong cohort this year so be sure to come down and play some games!
Opening Night: Nov 14, 4:30 - 9:30
Industry Day: Nov 15th 10am - 2:30pm
RMIT City Campus, Building 12, Level 2
www.rmitgamedesignshowcase.com
It's a super strong cohort this year so be sure to come down and play some games!
Opening Night: Nov 14, 4:30 - 9:30
Industry Day: Nov 15th 10am - 2:30pm
RMIT City Campus, Building 12, Level 2
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 :)
October 18, 2024 at 11:41 PM
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 :)