Signing autographs at EB Games Expo
|
CAREER
Stephanie Bendixsen is an Australian video game critic and television presenter – writing and presenting for ABCTV’s Good Game and its companion show for younger gamers, Good Game: Spawn Point. She is known by her gamer tag ‘Hex’.
Bendixsen began her career in 2009 when she joined Good Game as its first full-time female presenter, after submitting her own written game reviews and screen testing for the role. It was, truly, a dream come true - as she’d been a long-time fan of the show and had longed to take her place in the reviewer’s chair. |
|
Stephanie has since become a well known presence in the gaming industry, championing the positive representation of women in video games, as well as their place within the industry itself. Good Game has grown larger and more influential every year – expanding its presence within the gaming community to public events and live stage shows: Good Game: Live. Bendixsen also regularly attends the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, providing Australian broadcast coverage of the event.
A public profile has provided Bendixsen with a platform through which she can act as a strong and confident voice for women in the gaming community. She has spoken on a number of panels at various gaming events, discussing everything from opportunities for women in the industry – to the necessity of having strong, compelling female characters in games. She has also participated in writers’ festivals across the country with video game story writers and developers to discuss the process of building narrative in games. |
Good Game: Live
|
Bendixsen is an ambassador for ACMI’s yearly Screen It competition – designed to ‘educate, encourage and foster the next generation of moving image makers’. Stephanie will be on the judging panel and hosting the Screen It awards this year, alongside her co-host, Steven ‘Bajo’ O’Donnell. This is an event which she is extremely proud to be involved in.
Stephanie says, “The kids that watch Spawn Point have never heard of the term ‘girl gamer’ – they all consider themselves ‘gamers’. We need to do everything we can to encourage that way of thinking, and make sure the next generation of women in tech have every opportunity to see that there is a place within the industry for them to succeed. That’s where change needs to happen.” She is always on the lookout for more opportunities like this one to use her public profile to encourage young people to code and create, so that the culture of tech and gaming doesn’t continue to present the view that women may be excluded.
In 2015 Stephanie co-hosted season two of ABC3's My Great Big Adventure - a show for young people that tackles youth issues. In this series, Stephanie discussed topics such as self-esteem, mental health, prejudice and divorce with her co-hosts - as well as young people - in an effort to find the best ways to deal with these issues.
This year, Stephanie is also presenting the program How To Be A Fan With Hex for ABC iView and ABCTV. This seven-episode series explores different cultures of fandom from sport to 'cosplay', placing her in some unusual situations. The aim of this program is to gain insight and understanding into what makes someone a fanatic of their chosen sub-culture or hobby, and how it enriches their life - meeting a whole host of colourful characters along the way.
In addition to her passionate love of gaming, Stephanie has always been heavily immersed in all aspects of geek culture. She enjoys science fiction, fantasy, collecting swords and figurines and occasionally slinging arrows at her local archery club. She is also a dedicated servant to her two feline overlords, Gandalf and Merlin.
Stephanie says, “The kids that watch Spawn Point have never heard of the term ‘girl gamer’ – they all consider themselves ‘gamers’. We need to do everything we can to encourage that way of thinking, and make sure the next generation of women in tech have every opportunity to see that there is a place within the industry for them to succeed. That’s where change needs to happen.” She is always on the lookout for more opportunities like this one to use her public profile to encourage young people to code and create, so that the culture of tech and gaming doesn’t continue to present the view that women may be excluded.
In 2015 Stephanie co-hosted season two of ABC3's My Great Big Adventure - a show for young people that tackles youth issues. In this series, Stephanie discussed topics such as self-esteem, mental health, prejudice and divorce with her co-hosts - as well as young people - in an effort to find the best ways to deal with these issues.
This year, Stephanie is also presenting the program How To Be A Fan With Hex for ABC iView and ABCTV. This seven-episode series explores different cultures of fandom from sport to 'cosplay', placing her in some unusual situations. The aim of this program is to gain insight and understanding into what makes someone a fanatic of their chosen sub-culture or hobby, and how it enriches their life - meeting a whole host of colourful characters along the way.
In addition to her passionate love of gaming, Stephanie has always been heavily immersed in all aspects of geek culture. She enjoys science fiction, fantasy, collecting swords and figurines and occasionally slinging arrows at her local archery club. She is also a dedicated servant to her two feline overlords, Gandalf and Merlin.
