1. What does G.I.R.L. stand for?

Gamers in Real Life

2. What's the purpose of G.I.R.L.?

The purpose of G.I.R.L is to positively impact the way females are depicted in video games and create and influence content to be appealing to women. Another purpose is to help raise awareness of the serious female gaming audience to the media in an effort to encourage the gaming industry to positively promote women throughout all facets of games, game production and into game management.

3. What is the G.I.R.L. Scholarship?

The G.I.R.L --Gamers in Real Life—Scholarship is a scholarship program designed to educate and recruit more women into the field of video game production and design. The program is sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC. (SOE) a global leader in online gaming, and administered by Scholarship America®, a leading non-profit educational support program.

SOE's second annual G.I.R.L Scholarship will give a student a unique opportunity-to get their foot in the door with an optional paid internship at SOE in San Diego for the upcoming online video game, Free Realms™, plus $10,000 towards tuition.

4. Who can apply for the G.I.R.L. Scholarship?

The G.I.R.L. Scholarship is for any individual who is currently enrolled at an accredited school in an undergraduate program related to video games, including programs related to video game art, design, animation, production, programming or visual effects, has an average GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and will not graduate before the end of the 2010 spring term.

5. What does the SOE internship include?

The SOE internship is an optional ten (10)-week paid position at SOE's headquarters (located in San Diego, California; room, board, transportation and living expenses not included). The internship will provide invaluable real-work experience & offer the student an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, as well as make tremendous networks for their future in gaming.

6. What is it like being an intern at an SOE studio?

The intern will work as part of the Free Realms™ team with people from many professional backgrounds while testing the intern's skills. A mentor will be assigned to the intern, who will provide continual guidance and feedback until completion of the internship.