SweetieGames

Just before the PlayStation 4 released, Katie Robinson found out about Twitch through a friend on Twitter. After watching streams from Maximilian Dood, she had a realisation: “Hey, I could do this! I’m pretty good at video games, and I’m funny and entertaining.” And from the moment the PS4 hit shelves, Katie had streamed for the first time, and had begun to establish her identity on Twitch as PikaChulita.

Today, Katie’s Twitch channel has over 15,000 followers. She prides herself on creating a safe, inclusive environment for women and marginalised people to enjoy and talk about gaming. In an exclusive interview, she talks about her Twitch career, how she created a safe space for her fans online, and why it’s still vital in 2022.

Katie, known online as Pika or PikaChulita, has been streaming on Twitch for over 7 years; as a Twitch partner, streaming is now the main source of her income. She’s loved the experience of meeting new people online: “My favourite part about streaming has been the people I’ve met and the community I’ve built from the ground up.”

“I met such amazing people, people I’ve considered lifelong friends, and are grateful to be acquainted with; and my community is filled with marginalized folks, namely those [who are] Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+. They are my crowning achievement. I’ve managed to cultivate a safe and secure space that is simultaneously fun and free for them, and they give me so much love and support in return.”

How did Katie create a safe space for marginalised people online, and what does that mean? She explains: “All of my content and my identity, as both a brand name and an individual outside of this space, is centred around creating a safe space for marginalized identities. On top of the fact that the majority of my audience is of a marginalized identity, I take every measure possible to ensure that my spaces are curated specifically for them.”

“My Discord server is invite-only, and I have VERY clear and strict rules against racism, homophobia, colourism, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, xenophobia, etc-plus a no-tolerance policy for these transgressions. My moderators hold the same values [and] ideals as I do, so we are almost always on the same page about decisions regarding the community and/or violators of the rules. We very openly discuss these sorts of topics as well, so that everyone who interacts with me or my content know what I’m about.”

The gaming industry has not been as welcoming for minorities as many other industries, and that is why Katie wanted to make marginalised people like herself feel included in online gaming communities. She commented on why it’s important: “…Historically, marginalized persons have not felt safe, wanted, or celebrated in gaming. Gaming can often times be very hostile towards people like us, and I want people to know that they are safe with me.”

But streaming on Twitch can’t be all fun and games. Being an online personality also has its downsides, especially for those who are outspoken on political topics. And for Katie, her biggest dislike of her job is one that many creatives are very familiar with: “The worst part of streaming has been the burnout. I put a lot of effort and passion into what I do, so dealing with all of it can be very exhausting. Talking about the things I talk about can be exhausting some days. Existing as a queer Black woman can be exhausting.”

According to Statista in 2021, 75% of game developers worldwide are white, and only 38% of game developers are women or non-binary people. When asked about the current inclusivity of the games industry, Katie says there still needs to be change from the ground up. “The gaming space has definitely seen progress these last few years. Women and folks of colour are more often welcomed than they were 10-20 years ago, but there is still so much more work to be done. There are still many spaces with little to no presence of people of colour, or where hateful, harmful, and violent ideas are shared against them.”

“I feel that it is a multi-layered issue. It starts with games and the folks who create them. We need more representation in the games we consume and we need people like us making these games… We need gaming spaces to become intolerant of intolerance… We also need for the people with privilege and platforms in these spaces to be more vocal and unapologetic about fighting for the marginalized.”

There is starting to be a sprinkling of games which feature identities outside the norm. Katie talked about some of her favourites: “One of my favourite games of all time is Later Daters. It’s an indie visual novel dating sim that takes place in a retirement community. You can choose your pronouns, as well as the identity of your late spouse… You move into a retirement community that is full of diversity. There’s main characters who are Ashkenazi Jewish, Indigenous, bisexual Afro-Dominican, trans, etc… The game explores these identities, along with the struggles of old age, in a very kind, funny, and appropriate way.”

“I also think Apex Legends has a very diverse cast of characters, which is nice to see from a AAA battle royale game.”

Now more than ever, there are people from all walks of life striving to have a career in the gaming industry, and many want to be Twitch streamers. It’s an accessible, free platform that doesn’t require much equipment in order to stream on it. Katie gave some advice for those who want to create a platform as she has done: “Be unapologetically you. Do not try to be someone you’re not or tone yourself down to appeal to others-especially if you’re marginalized and your identity makes the world at large uncomfortable… Also, have a backbone-put effort into cultivating your community. Stand up for what’s right, even at the expense of viewership. Impact matters more than numbers.”