Editorial - October 6, 2022

Women in Gaming at TwitchCon 2022

Nick Matthies

Nick Matthies is an editorial freelancer for StockX.

We chatted with Twitch streamers Chica, Sydeon, Anne Munition, and Storymodebae ahead of TwitchCon in San Diego this weekend.

We chatted with Twitch streamers Chica, Sydeon, Anne Munition, and Storymodebae ahead of TwitchCon in San Diego this weekend.

Earlier this year, StockX showed up to TwitchCon in Amsterdam for an activation celebrating the gaming community’s contributions to current culture. Now, just a few months later, StockX is doing the same at TwitchCon in San Diego. As a part of that activation, StockX is sponsoring the Kappa Cabana Lounge and bringing together four of the streaming world’s most prominent women for a panel discussion. 

Featured as a part of the panel are two of StockX’s superstar esports brand ambassadors, Sydeon and Chica. Sydeon’s StockX partnership was officially announced last year and Chica’s partnership was announced only a few days ago. Additionally, the panel will feature two other prominent voices in the streaming community: Anne Munition and Storymodebae. We linked up with all four of the StockX x Twitch Panel participants ahead of time to get an exclusive preview of what might be discussed at TwitchCon.

Chica

Recently announced StockX ambassador Chica is one of the most popular personalities on Twitch. Hailing from Toronto, she boasts a massive following of more than 2.3 million on Twitch.  She kicked her career off streaming games like Overwatch and Rainbow Six Siege. Since then,  she has risen to a rare level of popularity thanks to Fortnite, even receiving her own skin as a part of the game’s coveted Icon Series. Additionally, Chica is one of just a few streamers to broadcast her streams in two different languages. Her Youtube channel states that she has 6000+ Wins, 100,000 Elims, and 1,000,000 Fails.

What’s your favorite game of all time?

Black ops 2 is my favorite game of all time. It was the first game I played competitively. The ranked playlists were just awesome andI was completely addicted. It also helped me keep my mind off of stressful parts of my life.

You’re a trailblazer in gaming’s mostly male-dominated culture. Did you feel the pull to be a role model for women that was not as prevalent when you first broke into gaming?

It’s always been important for me to be the representation that I never had. So, I hope that every person who connects with me through my passion will feel inspired to pursue their own.

How do you hope to serve as an inspiration to the next generation of women in gaming?

I know the next generation is watching and I hope that I show them that there is space and opportunity here for them, regardless of their gender.

You’ve created a highly engaged community around your streaming content. What does it mean to you to have created this space?

I’ve put a lot of time and effort toward creating a space where everyone feels welcome. My community definitely reflects that. They are diverse and unique in every way possible and I’m so proud of them.

How do you ensure that you’re being as authentic as possible through your streaming platform and in your community?

Being authentic comes naturally because I’m comfortable in my own skin.

Sydeon

Sydeon is a Twitch streamer based in LA who kicked off her streaming career in early 2019. Well known for her Minecraft streams and cosplay talent, Sydeon’s Twitch following now sits at over 300,000. In 2021, she announced that she’d be joining OfflineTV, a group of digital content creators and streamers that includes Pokimane and Scarra. Additionally, Sydeon became StockX’s first partner in the gaming community late last year as well. As a variety streamer, Sydeon is known for creating more than one kind of content.

What’s your favorite game of all time?

My favorite game of all time is Halo. It was one of my first shooting games, and the first time I felt like I got to play an “adult” game. I used to play co-op with my dad and it was definitely a bonding experience.

You’re a trailblazer in gaming’s mostly male-dominated culture. Did you feel the pull to be a role model for women that was not as prevalent when you first broke into gaming?

I’ve always felt a desire to be a role model for women, especially young black girls. I remember before I started streaming on Twitch I felt like I wasn’t represented on the platform. I finally came across a streamer who looked like me and inspired me to start. I want to be able to inspire people the way Lemynaid (Tiana) inspires me.

How do you hope to serve as an inspiration to the next generation of women in gaming?

I hope to show women that they have a place in this industry and to keep chasing their passion. I hope that my story can inspire other women to keep going in male dominated spaces.

You’ve created a highly engaged community around your streaming content. What does it mean to you to have created this space?

I feel incredibly proud to have such a highly engaged, tight knit, and kind community. I feel like we are a reflection of each other, and I’m thankful that we have such a safe and mature space.

How do you ensure that you’re being as authentic as possible through your streaming platform and in your community?

I think I have self checks to keep myself accountable and authentic. It also helps to have friends to keep me accountable.

Anne Munition

Anne Munition is a well-established and well-known variety streamer who boasts an official partnership with Twitch and partnerships with brands like Amazon Studios, Intel, NVIDIA, and Red Bull. She got her start with Rainbow 6: Siege and has since established herself as one of the gaming world’s most compelling personalities, now steaming everything from Overwatch to Minecraft. She in an ambassador for inclusivity in the gaming community and has been cited as an inspiration for many up-and-coming and established gamers including Pokimane. In 2016 she was invited to the White House to discuss gaming with Michelle Obama and she’s well-known for being an advocate for underrepresented populations in the gaming community.

What’s your favorite game of all time?

Much like choosing your favorite music album or movie, it’s impossible to choose just one. Minecraft is a timeless classic with infinite replay-ability thanks to mods. Rainbow Six Siege and Escape From Tarkov are my most played games of all time. The Witcher 3 is my favorite RPG. And I’d be remiss not to mention The Last of Us.

You’re a trailblazer in gaming’s mostly male-dominated culture. Did you feel the pull to be a role model for women that was not as prevalent when you first broke into gaming?

I can’t speak for others but I don’t think most women in streaming or gaming got into this hobby or job with the specific intent of being a role model. I think most of us got into it just because we truly love video games. I started playing online FPS games when I was 11 years old – I wasn’t thinking about being a role model and, honestly, I still struggle to see myself that way now. Occasionally, I have viewers tell me that they or their children look up to me and it reminds me of the weight of responsibility that rests on me and people in my position.

How do you hope to serve as an inspiration to the next generation of women in gaming?

Over my decades of time in online gaming, I’ve seen major progress for women in gaming. While there’s still a lot of the mountain left to climb, I feel that women in gaming communities have gone from needing to tailor themselves to fit in as “one of the boys” to being able to be their true, unique selves without compromise or apology. I hope that the next generation of women in gaming not only take my example but the examples of the many other women in gaming today who are exceptional and special in their own ways. I hope they see that they can be themselves without having to compromise in order to pursue their interests.

You’ve created a highly engaged community around your streaming content. What does it mean to you to have created this space?

These days, it feels like the world is just a constant barrage of bad news and bad vibes. I’m grateful to have a corner of the internet carved out where I can interact with people who are like-minded and kind-hearted. I spend hours every day with this community and it’d be super tough for my mental health if I had to deal with constant toxicity every day.

How do you ensure that you’re being as authentic as possible through your streaming platform and in your community?

I honestly don’t put too much thought into it; I just try to do what I think I’ll honestly enjoy and what I want to put my name on. I just hope that, when my time as a content creator in the public eye is done, I can look back on my career without regrets – to feel that I was true to myself and my beliefs, that I used my platform for good, and that I did my best.

Storymodebae

Storymodebae is a full-time variety streamer who, as her moniker suggests, traditionally delivers story-based game content. Known also by her real name Briana, or ‘Bri,’ Storymodebae is from Southern California and also enjoys streaming about food, music, popular culture, and nostalgia. She received her first console in 1996 – a Playstation -spending hours and hours playing classics like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. Additionally, she works as a host and moderator for brands like Live Nation, GameStop, Twitch, and more.

What’s your favorite game of all time?

This is always such a hard question for me because I can never pick just one. It’s almost like asking a parent which child is their favorite. My favorite game really depends on what kind of mood I’m in. If I want to be pulled into a story and my emotions, then it’s Telltale’s The Walking Dead. If I’m feeling cozy and want to relax, it’s Animal Crossing. When I’m feeling a little chaotic, I play LA Noire or Grand Theft Auto. It really just depends on the day.

You’re a trailblazer in gaming’s mostly male-dominated culture. Did you feel the pull to be a role model for women that was not as prevalent when you first broke into gaming?

When I first started streaming, I had no idea it would ever take me this far, let alone becoming a role model for others. I’ve always been a gamer, and I really started streaming as a hobby to help get me through being stressed out with college and my restaurant job. Now, it’s allowed me to experience so many opportunities I never thought were possible for me, which I’m extremely grateful for. Starting my streaming journey, I remember being so inspired by the work of CupAhNoodle, Jay-Ann Lopez, XMiraMira, and Tanya DePass, just to name a few, and the fact that I’m able to call them my peers in this space is gratifying and still really surreal. For me to inspire others the way that they’ve inspired me makes me feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

How do you hope to serve as an inspiration to the next generation of women in gaming?

I want to inspire others that not only is it possible to exist in this space, but that they also belong here, despite what other people may say. This journey hasn’t been easy, and I’ve definitely dealt with sexism, racism, and just negativity for doing what I enjoy, but I love proving people wrong. It drives me to keep pushing forward and kicking doors down, and I want to inspire others to do the same.

You’ve created a highly engaged community around your streaming content. What does it mean to you to have created this space?

My community, the Bae Brigade, means the absolute world to me. I couldn’t be half the creator I am without their support. I don’t refer to them as “fans,” but instead respect them as people, and treat them like an extended part of my family. Having like-minded people supporting my journey, and engaging with my content, even when it’s not the best, gives me the confidence to keep going. Everything I do is with them in mind, so for me, it’s more than just owning this space by myself. We own this space.

How do you ensure that you’re being as authentic as possible through your streaming platform and in your community?

Throughout my life, I’ve always felt like I’ve had to code switch, or dim myself down to fit in. With content creation, I finally found the sense of feeling like I could 100% be myself, and either you love it or you don’t. Being myself always felt easier than trying to be something I wasn’t, and so when people started gravitating towards me and my content, even with me randomly busting out into a song on stream or professing my love of pineapple pizza, I never wanted to go back to not being my fully authentic self.