Meet Roberta Williams, a gaming pioneer

This International Women’s Day, we highlight a pioneer in the games industry, Roberta Williams, lead creative director of Cygnus Entertainment.

Williams is one of most influential women game developers of all time. She developed the first graphic adventure game, Mystery House, in 1980 alongside her husband, Ken Williams, and helped pave the way for women in the games industry.

Since then, Williams and her husband have co-developed many other successful games, including the King’s Quest series and, most recently, a 3D remake of Colossal Cave Adventure released this year. We spoke with her about what it means to be a trailblazer.

Roberta Williams: I celebrate International Women’s Day every day of the year and feel thankful that I have been fortunate enough to be more successful than most men I know!

I hope to see women being more tenacious in the gaming world – whether as a gamer or working in the business. We need to stand up to sexists and not let them act like it’s “their” industry.

I’m really proud of my character Rosella from King’s Quest 4.

Go after what you want, and don’t give up until you get it. Go to college to learn game design or teach yourself a craft in the games industry, then don’t quit until you get that precious first job. The opportunities are out there for women, and if anyone tries to stop you, turn your back on them and go do what you want anyway. Don’t let gatekeepers have it all to themselves.

Hopefully soon. I’m starting to work on Colossal Cave Mobile for Cygnus Entertainment.