Now boarding: Jessica X Engadget

Ding.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for flying Joystiq X Engadget. My name is Jessica and I'll be your host for the duration of this flight. We are preparing for takeoff and, as you can see, the captain has turned on the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign. Please ensure your desk chairs are in their full, upright and locked positions, and your keyboards are stowed appropriately.

All settled? Lovely.

Now, as we pull away from the gate, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

Ding.

The first feature article I wrote for Joystiq was a short piece on Australia's independent development scene. It tackled issues of censorship, economics and the encroaching prevalence of smaller studios in the gaming industry. It was 2011, when the world was still riding the waves of financial collapse, dreaming of recovery, but largely unable to grasp it just yet. It was a story not being told anywhere else and a discussion that not many people were having: the rise of smaller studios, the risks inherent in game development, the innovative and sometimes terrified people working on every game.

Since then, I've written features about the independent development bubble, race issues in game development, the risks of Kickstarter, editorials about Valve's next big move, plus thousands of news posts and reviews. I enjoy starting conversations that drive the industry toward a stronger, more inclusive and more creative future. I adore independent development and the burgeoning AA industry, and I respect the multimillion-dollar madhouses of the AAA industry.

Jessica Conditt (Senior Reporter, stewardess) interviews Ryan Green at E3 2013.

For decades, gaming enthusiasts, critics and developers have been telling the world that video games are amazing pieces of entertainment that should be taken seriously as an artistic medium and appreciated for their technological feats -- and mainstream society is finally listening. Digital game hub Steam has 100 million active users; 59 percent of Americans play video games; ESPN airs eSports tournaments; and the gaming industry is valued at nearly $100 billion worldwide. As gaming connoisseurs and veterans, we get to be the trendsetters this time around, the techno prophets. This could be our moment. I want to present the industry as the bastion of innovation and modern entertainment that it is. But this may be a bit of a challenge.

See, a lot of people think we're assholes.

An oddly large number of gaming narratives on mainstream news sites revolve around death threats and violent massacres. To many, gaming is synonymous with scandal and trolling. It makes sense -- these stories are relevant, and they make for compelling headlines, oozing drama while appearing connected to the trendy tech world. These headlines and articles don't tell the whole story of this brilliant industry. Video games are not yet widely treated with the same inquisitive, acquainted approach as the one afforded movies, books, fine arts or sports. Gaming is still viewed as a fringe -- yet highly lucrative -- industry.

Not heard in GIF: The tiniest squeak of terror while playing Alien: Isolation on Oculus Rift.

Gaming deserves better. Players who have played, created and loved video games for decades deserve better. The industry is rich with stories of struggle and success, silly ideas and serious subjects; stories that deserve to be told.

At Joystiq X Engadget, I want to expose the roots of the gaming industry's ongoing evolution. I want to tell stories of the developers behind the game code and dive into the impressive technologies at our fingertips. As gaming technology merges with familiar film-like experiences -- look no further than Oculus VR's Hollywood play at Sundance -- and game-development tools become more accessible with programs like Twine and RPG Maker, our once walled-off industry is seeping ever more quickly into the lives of people who've never before held a controller.

Joystiq established a precedent of professionalism and respectability -- truth on equal footing as speed; news first, drama second -- and this carries over into Joystiq X Engadget. The gaming industry is serious business, but it also needs to remain a fun one to cover.

That's why I'm here.

Ding.

Prepare for takeoff.