Nothing like a tirade from one "EA spouse" to kick-start an approach to gaming wherein the contribution and perspective of women is more overtly (and intelligently) recognized. Regardless of the inspiration, the Electronic Arts campus at Redwood Shores, California, will be the site of Women in Games International debut conference.

　　Helming the event, titled From Production to Profit: Creating and Marketing Games for Women, is the accomplished game designer Lucy Bradshaw, longtime member of the team at Maxis, the studio founded by Will Wright and brought into the EA fold in 1997 via an acquisition. Currently, Bradshaw is Spore project lead (and holds the title vice president and head of production and development at Maxis).

　　Bradshaw's presentation, The Secrets of The Sims Success, will delve into that franchise's DNA and explore the hold it has on gamers and its ongoing success at retail.

　　Others participating in the conference are Sheri Graner Ray and Ernest Adams, with additional speakers to be announced in the coming weeks. The event will be held at the Electronic Arts facility on March 6 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.