Meagan Marie
{{Short description|American creative professional}}
{{For|the American operatic soprano|Megan Marie Hart}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Meagan Marie
| image = Meagan Marie Los Angeles Convention Center.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date =
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| nationality = American
| other_names =
| education = University of Minnesota College of Design
| occupation = Online community manager
Video game journalist (former)
| years_active = 2006–present
| employer = Game Informer (2008-2011)
Riot Games (2014)
Crystal Dynamics (2011–present)
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| height =
| awards =
| website = {{URL|www.meaganmarie.com}}
}}
Meagan Marie is an American creative professional who is employed by video game developer Crystal Dynamics as an online community manager.
As a former video game journalist, Marie reported on various video games for Game Informer. Marie briefly worked for Riot Games in 2014. Marie has authored a number of publications, including Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play which was published in December 2018. She is an active and well-known member of video game fandom who participates in cosplay subculture, wearing costumes and fashion accessories at various conventions and events to represent specific fictional characters.
Career
From January 2006 to January 2009, Marie was an editor and event coordinator at Girls Entertainment Network.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/107756/ascendant-the-fall-of-tomb-raider-and-the-rise-of-lara-croft?page=7|title=Ascendant: The Fall of Tomb Raider and the Rise of Lara Croft|website=Shacknews|date=30 November 2018 }} She initially applied for a position at Game Informer prior to her graduation, but her application was declined by then-editor-in-chief, Andy McNamara, who implored her to complete her college education prior to embarking on a full-time career in the video game industry. Her subsequent application which she made after her graduation was accepted, and she joined Game Informer as an editor in March 2008. During her time at Game Informer, she was responsible for the magazine's cover stories of several major video games, including Portal 2 and the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot.
By 2011, she left Game Informer for a position at Crystal Dynamics as an online community manager. She was offered the position by Crystal Dynamics management, who were impressed with her passion and knowledge of the Tomb Raider intellectual property. Her responsibilities include managing the brand presence of Crystal Dynamics' intellectual property on social media, engaging with players on online platforms and at events worldwide, and assuming the role of a studio spokesperson.{{Cite web|url=https://segmentnext.com/lara-canon-next-tomb-raider-game/|title="Lara Is Canon" In The Next Tomb Raider Game|first=Saqib|last=Mansoor|date=March 10, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Meagan-Marie/189072764|title=Meagan Marie|website=Simon & Schuster}} Marie is also a contributor for the creative direction of the Tomb Raider brand and its protagonist, Lara Croft. From April 2014 to September 2014, Marie worked at the Dublin branch of Riot Games after accepting a job offer from a recruiter, where she was responsible for promoting and developing programs to build the League of Legends fan community in Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://meagan-marie.tumblr.com/|title=Things I Like.|website=Tumblr}} As of 2022, Marie is employed at Crystal Dynamics with the position of Director of Community.
Marie has made writing contributions to a number of promotional publications, including 2016's 20 Years of Tomb Raider and 2017's Playing With Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics, both published by Prima Games. A notable work by Marie is the 2018 publication Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play, which features 100 profiles covering women from various professional backgrounds in the video game industry, such as designers, entrepreneurs marketers and retailers. Marie intended for the book to be used as a resource as well as a source of inspiration for women interested in a career in the games industry.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/12/05/women-in-gaming-100-professionals-of-play-herstory-book-debuts/|title=Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play herstory book debuts|date=December 5, 2018}} Women in Gaming was published by Prima Games on December 4, 2018, though the company shut down soon after the book's launch. Marie later approached her employer Crystal Dynamics about the rights to the book, who agreed to acquire it. It was released it as a free download on the studio's website in March 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-05-07-how-women-in-gaming-survived-its-publishers-demise|title=How Women in Gaming survived its publisher's demise|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=7 May 2021 }} In recognition of her work to highlight the roles of women professionals in the video game industry, Marie is regarded by some media outlets as an authority with regards to the issue of female representation in the industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastwestbank.com/ReachFurther/en/News/Article/Women-in-Video-Games-Leveling-Up|title=Chinese Women in Video Games Leveling Up|date=April 12, 2019|website=Jing Daily}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/aug/26/how-australias-gaming-industry-is-leading-the-way-in-fighting-sexism|title=How Australia's gaming industry is leading the way in fighting sexism|date=August 25, 2017|website=the Guardian}}
Cosplay
File:Big Wow 2013 - Zatanna (8845872216).jpg character Zatanna.]]
A cosplay enthusiast, Marie is a frequent participant at conventions and events like San Diego Comic-Con and Supanova Expo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.supanova.com.au/meagan-marie-talks-inspiration-connecting-with-fans-more-at-supanova/|title=Meagan Marie Talks Inspiration, Connecting With Fans & More At Supanova|first=Daniel|last=Cribb|date=November 29, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://moviesgamesandtech.com/2013/01/13/we-talk-cosplay-with-meagan-marie/|title=We talk Cosplay with Meagan Marie|date=January 13, 2013|website=Movies Games and Tech}} Her activities as a cosplayer has been covered by news media outlets such as Kotaku,{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/pushing-cosplay-to-its-absolute-limits-1707120834|title=Pushing Cosplay To Its Absolute Limits|website=Kotaku|date=27 May 2015 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/01/the-very-best-in-cosplay-meagan-marie/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726221456/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/01/the-very-best-in-cosplay-meagan-marie/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2012|title=The Very Best In Cosplay: Meagan Marie|date=January 16, 2012|website=Kotaku Australia}} IGN,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/05/31/32-gorgeous-awesome-warrior-wonder-woman-cosplay-shots|title=32 Gorgeous, Awesome Warrior Wonder Woman Cosplay Shots|first=Alanah|last=Pearce|date=May 31, 2017|website=IGN}} The Mary Sue,{{Cite web|url=https://www.themarysue.com/pax-tomb-raider-cosplay/|title=PAX East Tomb Raider Video Game Cosplay Harassment Story|date=March 28, 2013}} Marie Claire,{{Cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/welcome-to-the-world-of-cosplay-42105|title=Cosplay: Costume Inspiration You Need To See|first=Marie|last=Claire|date=November 24, 2015|website=Marie Claire}} and CNN.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/07/21/former-gi-editor-meagan-marie-featured-in-cnn-cosplay-story.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724155253/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/07/21/former-gi-editor-meagan-marie-featured-in-cnn-cosplay-story.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=July 24, 2011|title=Former GI Editor Meagan Marie Featured In CNN Cosplay Story|first=Dan|last=Ryckert|magazine=Game Informer}} Marie is a founder of The Causeplay Shop, a philanthropic organization for members of cosplay community to contribute through online auctions to raise money for various charities.{{Cite web|url=http://causeplayshop.com/about-us.html|title=Causeplay Shop|website=Causeplay Shop}}
Personal life
Marie is a longtime fan of video games and video game characters such as Lara Croft since her childhood years, which inspired her to pursue a career in the video game industry as an adult.{{Cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/why-do-i-cosplay-let-me-count-the-ways-473057620|title=Why Do I Cosplay? Let Me Count The Ways.|website=Kotaku|date=16 April 2013 }} Marie noted in an interview that her interests in technology and video games intersect with those of her two brothers, and her father's profession as an engineer.{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2012 |title=Women and Video Games: An Interview With Meagan Marie |url=https://www.thehairpin.com/2012/04/women-and-video-games-an-interview-with-meagan-marie/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417071637/https://www.thehairpin.com/2012/04/women-and-video-games-an-interview-with-meagan-marie/ |archive-date=April 17, 2023 |website=The Hairpin}} During her teenage years, she developed a keen interest to work for Game Informer magazine after discovering that they are based in the same city as her, and advertised her intent on her Myspace profile.
Marie attended the University of Minnesota College of Design, where she studied journalism, mass communication, and graphic design. Marie is bisexual.{{Cite web|url=https://crystald.com/celebrating-pride-with-our-community/|title=Celebrating PRIDE with our Community – Crystal Dynamics}}{{Better source needed|reason=Source only shows that Marie is a member of the LGBT community, not specifically bisexual|date=June 2025}} She married her longtime boyfriend Bastian in 2018. She is currently based in Redwood City, California.
Marie is outspoken about her experiences with incidents of gender discrimination and sexual harassment, and has documented anecdotes from her professional life on social media platforms like her personal Tumblr blog.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/03/27/ex-game-informer-writer-meagan-marie-exposes-ugly-side-of-game-industry.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330054933/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/03/27/ex-game-informer-writer-meagan-marie-exposes-ugly-side-of-game-industry.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=March 30, 2013|title=Ex-Game Informer Writer Meagan Marie Exposes The Ugly Side Of The Game Industry|first=Matt|last=Helgeson|magazine=Game Informer}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-08-29-riot-games-outlines-plan-for-culture-change-in-wake-of-workplace-sexism|title=Riot Games outlines plan for culture change in wake of workplace sexism allegations|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=29 August 2018 }} Her public disclosure about her negative experiences at Riot Games' Dublin branch, including being subjected to inappropriate inquiries and comments concerning her gender, contributed towards drawing media attention to the controversy surrounding the company's workplace culture issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/4/17810676/pax-west-panel-league-of-legends-riot-games-controversy|title=A PAX West panel adds to the current Riot Games controversy|first=Cass|last=Marshall|website=Polygon |date=September 4, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/416381-riot-games-spokesperson-takes-to-reddit-following-sexual-harassment-claims|title=Riot Games Spokesperson Takes to Reddit Following Sexual Harassment Claims|date=August 9, 2018|website=GameRevolution}} She was initially reluctant to go public with a detailed account of her experiences due to a fear of backlash and harassment, but felt encouraged to proceed after she witnessed the reticence to believe the women who came forward.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.instagram.com/meaganmarie/?hl=en Instagram account]
- [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meagan-marie-a804a829 LinkedIn account]
- [https://meagan-marie.tumblr.com/ Tumblr blog]
- [https://twitter.com/MeaganMarie Twitter account]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marie, Meagan}}
Category:21st-century American women journalists
Category:21st-century American journalists
Category:American LGBTQ journalists
Category:American bisexual writers
Category:LGBTQ people from Minnesota
Category:University of Minnesota College of Design alumni
Category:Women in the video game industry
Category:Bisexual women writers
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people