GDC Awards to honor Feminist Frequency, League of Legends

The 2014 Game Developer Choice Awards will honor Feminist Frequency creator Anita Sarkeesian and League of Legends developer Riot Games co-founders Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill, organizers announced today.

Sarkeesian will receive the Ambassador Award for her work, which has "explored the representation of women in pop culture, with a particular focus on representation within the medium of video games." You can watch her Kickstarter-funded videos on Polygon, which examine damsels in distress in two parts, dudes in distress and what she calls the Ms. Male Character.

"I'm both surprised and deeply honored to receive this nomination," Sarkeesian told Polygon. "The gaming industry (and gaming cultures more broadly) are slowly transforming, and I'm encouraged by the developers and studios out there who are making it a priority to create healthier, more inclusive environments for people of all genders."

Beck and Merrill will receive the Pioneer Award for their work on League of Legends, with a focus on player engagement.

"Ultimately, that level of player engagement has earned League of Legends a remarkable level of commitment from players, who regularly spend more than a billion hours a month in the game as of March 2013," the organizers explain. "As President of Riot Games, Merrill has led development, publishing, people and live operations on League of Legends, while Beck drives Riot's strategy and creative vision as CEO."

The 14th annual Game Developers Choice awards will take place March 19 during the Game Developers Conference (GDC). Polygon will be on hand to bring you all the news.