Video Games: Not Just for Boys

Originally Posted by CrunchyNachos

I would have to disagree on a certain level, Overkill. Most guys play videogames cause violence is cool. I don't see many girls playing videogames, because as as far as I know, many girls arn't as testosterone laden as guys (thank god). In my experience, even the few girls I know who play videogames don't even like to talk about the more squeamish aspects of the games. It seems that girls want to indulge in the same fantasies guys do (ie. killing stuff, winning the championship, etc), but they don't want everyone else to know, while guys don't care who knows.

Very much an over-generalisation, there. In a couple of ways.

For one thing, I don't know where you're getting this idea that video games are an inherantly violent medium. Despite what the news media and people like Jack Thompson want you to believe, they're not. Saying that girls don't play games because they're not big on violence is just silly, for the simple fact that the vast majority of games aren't any more or less violent than any given movie, book, comic, etc. G.T.A. is no more representative of the "average video game" than Sin City is representative of the "average movie".

As for girls not wanting to talk about violence... Well, all I can say is that you must not know very many gaming girls. Maybe some of them are shy about talking about violence. But most of the female games I know like a mix of everything, and are perfectly happy to chat about violent aspects of games in addition to everything else. Most of them can squee over a cute RPG bishounen in one breath and discuss bloody, gory Silent Hill deaths in the next. Heck, my fifteen-year-old cousin is just as comfortable chatting about Harvest Moon as she is talking about her latest playthrough of Resident Evil 4.

Maybe female gamers are just more well-rounded in their tastes than all those testosterone-enslaved male gamers you mentioned. As long as we're over-generalising and stereotyping, it might as well go both ways.

Wow, and to think I was just going to post a topic nearly identical to this. It was quite well-written too, if I do say so myself (har-de-har-har). Thank *insert preferred deity here* for the "forum search" option; I may have just saved myself from a flame attack and/or a quip from one of the mods. n___n;;

A recent article from The Inquirer and joystiq mention that women play more games than men (ages 25-24). It mentions that the female species prefer more the so-called "casual" games as the men prefer the "hardcore" games. It all makes sense, but again, it's up for discussion.

As for me:¯\(o_O)/¯ "snapping turtle in my pants" ~ Tritoch

Women play more games than men

65% of women, 35% of men aged 25-34 play games

Originally Posted by nazpyro

A recent article from The Inquirer and joystiq mention that women play more games than men (ages 25-24). It mentions that the female species prefer more the so-called "casual" games as the men prefer the "hardcore" games. It all makes sense, but again, it's up for discussion.

As for me:¯\(o_O)/¯ "snapping turtle in my pants" ~ Tritoch

Women play more games than men

65% of women, 35% of men aged 25-34 play games

eh, still the same for me. I'm a FPS gamer a and I know that the market is still heavily male-dominated, but it doesn't bother me.

Quote:

I see this mentioned a lot in message boards. I am thinking it's strictly a US thing, for I've NEVER once been given strange looks or remarks from any males when I've played or purchased a game. Perhaps there are more girl gamers in Canada?

me neither. I always walk into my local EB games and never get looks from anyone. I've even seen quite a bit of other females there (Although I don't know if they're getting games for themselves or thier kids/boyfriends) At one point, even, there were two female cashiers who knew quite a bit about games from what I gathered. I also have a lot of male friends around the 13-15 year range, and I play competitively with them without any remarks. All cool up here in Canada

Quote:

There's little difference between a person with a vagina and a person with a penis playing games. Why wouldn't girls play games? It's just another form of media. Girls watch TV, girls read books, girls listen to music, as do males. I fail to see what the big excitement about women playing games is. If you like to play games, regardless of age, gender or nationality, good for you. I can't say I care.

I'd have to agree with this. If there's one thing I hate, it's a girl in a gaming lobby that openly states she's a girl for attention. I guess I just don't view videogaming as a place for the feminist movement--just as another medium for entertainment.

I got into games when the NES was out and I had played Metal Gear, Super Mario Bros (1 & 3), Duck Hunt and Tetris. I went on a hiatus from console gaming cause of some family problems and then I got back into console gaming from a relative of a person that my mom was taking care of. Then that's when my gaming habits came back. I now own a GC, GBA SP (Black color), GBC, & an Xbox. The old PS2 that's in my room is technically mine because I'm the one who uses it the most. The old PS2 is the big chunky one. I like any kind of game if it appeals to me. If it gets to the point where a game is really ridiculous in my view, then I won't ever play it. I'd probably only play DOA 4 just for the Female Spartan.

Ha, sadly, I know more female gamers than males now. XD But, oh man, I got into gaming with DOS and Atari and those old games. I remember playing one of the first Wing Commanders for computer and I remember playing some shooter game on the Atari. And Zoids or ... whatever, where you controlled this pizza dude and had to watch out for the weirdo alien trying to kill you or take your pizza OR SOMETHING. God, that was an odd game. Oh oh and Hugo's House of Horrors! Those were fun games. Weird, but fun.

As for which games I like to play, sign me up for anything. I'll play MMO's, Racing games, Skater games, Fighting games (I kick butt with Sophitia in Soul Calibur II), RPG's, Puzzlers, Action, Adventures, you name it, I'll probably sit down once or twice and play it. The only ones I can't really stand are FPS and Shooter games and War games. They just don't appeal to me.

My grandmother is still trying to convert me over to sundresses and tea. (Ok, well, I took the tea part. )

Of all the female gamers I know, most of them play the same things guys play.

Like many other females, I don't quite understand why it's so strange for girls to be playing videogames. I was actually confronted by a guy who found it really strange that I could be fashionable and hack up enemies. Since when did female gamers need to neglect their appearance?


I'm guessing that much of this "surprise" comes from numerous stereotypes. Girls--clothes, guys, makeup, mall. Guys--swords, guns, blood. Of course, this isn't true. I was rather offended when I heard a little girl on TV go on and on about how Medieval Times was a HORRIBLE restaurant for girls because there were swords, and well, girls hate swords! I actually threw a pillow at the TV at that point. I love swords.


However, I do feel a bit uncomfortable staring at thongs and cleavage all day, but I generally don't let this stop me from playing a game.

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But then again, who are those Barbie games made for?

My next-door neighbor, 8 years in age.

Originally Posted by elwe

Like many other females, I don't quite understand why it's so strange for girls to be playing videogames. I was actually confronted by a guy who found it really strange that I could be fashionable and hack up enemies. Since when did female gamers need to neglect their appearance?

I tend to visit game stores whenever I happen to make a trip to any of the malls in my city, and I can't recall ever seeing a female customer in the store who seemed to be there because she wanted to. There were always the occasional girlfriends looking bored as their significant others looked around, but I've always felt somewhat out of place whenever I go into a game store.

Common occurrences are drawing attention from most of the males, and the clerks asking if games I pre-order or pay for are for my "boyfriend."

Originally Posted by Rydia

I tend to visit game stores whenever I happen to make a trip to any of the malls in my city, and I can't recall ever seeing a female customer in the store who seemed to be there because she wanted to. There were always the occasional girlfriends looking bored as their significant others looked around, but I've always felt somewhat out of place whenever I go into a game store.

I would feel out of place in my GameCrazy if it wasn't for the fact that one of the clerks is a female. But I do know what you mean, as I always feel awkward going into a game store most of the time, not because I don't want to be there, but because alot of the guys end up staring and probably thinking "is she lost?" or come over and ask "can I help you?" in that tone of voice that's supposed to make you feel stupid. I take great pleasure in going "You wouldn't happen to have a copy of "insert game here" would you?" The look on their faces is always along the lines of "you PLAY GAMES?"

my girlfriend and I play games together regularly.

I'm a regular at gaming tournaments and have won my share of them... yet she can still hold her own against me in my multiplayer games of choice.


come to think of it, most of the girls I've dated were pretty into gaming.

I've never seen female gamers as this totally alien idea. This is because my sister and I are both avid gamers, so the idea of a female gamer has always been with me from the get go.

My best friend isn't too much a gamer, but she enjoys the Mario series and the Zelda series (A LOT). Another one of my female friends was at one point an avid Everquest player and a couple of my neighbours are alos in the same game programmes at the school we attend.

This thread:

"Please notice that I'm a girl playing videogames! I'm trendy! And out of the norm, and hip! I understand boys and what they like to do! I'm so much cooler than those girls who get mad when their boyfriends play Halo!"

Come on.

It's insulting to everyone to be totally surprised that a girl could enjoy videogames and feel like it's some kind of recognition you have to fight for. I've never expected (or experienced) a guy being shocked and aroused that I owned Soul Calibur, so just play your games and be happy with it. It's not some sort of women's liberation movement.

Originally Posted by pisscart deluxe

This thread:

"Please notice that I'm a girl playing videogames! I'm trendy! And out of the norm, and hip! I understand boys and what they like to do! I'm so much cooler than those girls who get mad when their boyfriends play Halo!"

Come on.

It's insulting to everyone to be totally surprised that a girl could enjoy videogames and feel like it's some kind of recognition you have to fight for. I've never expected (or experienced) a guy being shocked and aroused that I owned Soul Calibur, so just play your games and be happy with it. It's not some sort of women's liberation movement.

Unfortunately it has become a movement in online play since the discrimination faced there is just disgusting.

Originally Posted by pisscart deluxe

This thread:

"Please notice that I'm a girl playing videogames! I'm trendy! And out of the norm, and hip! I understand boys and what they like to do! I'm so much cooler than those girls who get mad when their boyfriends play Halo!"

Come on.

It's insulting to everyone to be totally surprised that a girl could enjoy videogames and feel like it's some kind of recognition you have to fight for. I've never expected (or experienced) a guy being shocked and aroused that I owned Soul Calibur, so just play your games and be happy with it. It's not some sort of women's liberation movement.

...

Well I made this thread in response to Nintendo's speech about reaching "other consumers" and they (to my memory) included "girls" as "other customers". Not to do what you wrote above.

By now, it shouldn't have to be like, "Holy crap you play games?" when girls are buying their games over the counter. But yet for some reason no matter how much people think the industry has changed, girls are still seen as "another group" altogether.

This thread's intention is to discuss on many aspects of being an "other gamer".

And I guess to add a bit more flavour into this thread, are there any gamers out there who are not "boys" (boys: kid, teen, young adult)? Like, for example, a parent? A priest?

Discuss discuss.

-EDIT-

Originally Posted by Technophile

Wow the news just keeps on coming and E3 hasn't even started yet!

Ok so Kojima has stated that he's working on a brand new IP just for Wii! Here's the questionable part: It's geared towards girls. Eh? How girly are we talking? Cause I can take Animal Crossing/Nintendogs "girly" but if it's more like Barbie's Horse Adventures, then I'm a bit worried.

Discuss. (sorry technophile ^_^)

Pardon me for bumping this up from the abyss, but I ran across it while doing a search and this is a topic i'm very interested in. Also, I'm lacking sleep and have only read a few bits of the topic, for whatever that disclaimer is worth.

To be brief, as a male gamer, I find one thing endlessly frustrating. I know there are girl gamers out there, in fact I can name one (though only one) that I know in person (and I use the term girl gamer as in the equivalent to the male who plays xbox, cube, ps2, and/or pc etc, not the "minute" games found all over the web). I don't want to overstep my bounds and make an unfair assessment, but it just seems that a lot of girl gamers are not open about the fact that they game. As to why, that could be a book/debate/thread in itself i'm sure.

I think about this all the time. Guys are really open about gaming--it doesnt need to be said that being in a majority among brothers is comforting. If girls who gamed were, generally speaking, really open as well, ... well! I could have a conversation all day with a girl that was as into games as I am. As opposed to the trite crap that my fellow men talk about just to make conversation and work toward a [superficial] relationship.

If I could name the biggest two or three passions that constitute who I am, video games are definitely one. Not just as 'dude i'm gaming', but as an art form in its own right (I can say that on this board and not get gasps! that is to say, many people would scoff at video games as an art form, be those people knowledgeable of anything beyond the 'GTA' media whoring or not). Music (composition/playing/technical sides all) would be another. And you guessed it.. one is a subset of the other! Games, music, art in general. Yet while I have several male friends who are as passionate about games and VGM as I, there are no evident females (emphasis on evident). So where is this digression going? Well, I said that this is a primary passion of mine. That means that it is one of a few things that I am thinking about all day. To the point where, even if I'm talking to my similar-minded friends, I feel I tire them out from talking about a single subject or the intricacies of how [album] mesmerizes me. I could discuss games, music, vgm, literally all day, hydration permitting. It is not a side thing of mine, it's a vital part of me. Can any girls enlighten me as to how many of you are the same? That means not just plays on the side, but has a passion for it and thinks about it all the time. I've heard girls bring up how fun [game] is, but only for a moment.

As I said, it's a major frustration when I'm thinking (remember what i said i'm thinking about) and dont make conversation because nobody shows any noticeable interest. So i guess it's more of a psychology question. I know there are lots of girl gamers, so.. I dunno. Pick something out of my essay above and answer/discuss it. I'm too tired to continue forming a coherent string of thoughts ><

Someone clear up a confused chap. Excellent work chaofan, by the way, for starting up a good discussion.

At my feet are sitting 8 everquest boxes. Within an arm's reach 360º are several vgm albums, House of Flying Daggers OST, and out of reach are the Silent Hills. These arent no-brainer things.. I often try to derive literary application of Silent Hill games (and the film, which in my opinion did not ruin the series) while in class or zoning out otherwise.

Originally Posted by Flughafen

Pardon me for bumping this up from the abyss, but I ran across it while doing a search and this is a topic i'm very interested in. Also, I'm lacking sleep and have only read a few bits of the topic, for whatever that disclaimer is worth.

To be brief, as a male gamer, I find one thing endlessly frustrating. I know there are girl gamers out there, in fact I can name one (though only one) that I know in person (and I use the term girl gamer as in the equivalent to the male who plays xbox, cube, ps2, and/or pc etc, not the "minute" games found all over the web). I don't want to overstep my bounds and make an unfair assessment, but it just seems that a lot of girl gamers are not open about the fact that they game. As to why, that could be a book/debate/thread in itself i'm sure.

I think about this all the time. Guys are really open about gaming--it doesnt need to be said that being in a majority among brothers is comforting. If girls who gamed were, generally speaking, really open as well, ... well! I could have a conversation all day with a girl that was as into games as I am. As opposed to the trite crap that my fellow men talk about just to make conversation and work toward a [superficial] relationship.

If I could name the biggest two or three passions that constitute who I am, video games are definitely one. Not just as 'dude i'm gaming', but as an art form in its own right (I can say that on this board and not get gasps! that is to say, many people would scoff at video games as an art form, be those people knowledgeable of anything beyond the 'GTA' media whoring or not). Music (composition/playing/technical sides all) would be another. And you guessed it.. one is a subset of the other! Games, music, art in general. Yet while I have several male friends who are as passionate about games and VGM as I, there are no evident females (emphasis on evident). So where is this digression going? Well, I said that this is a primary passion of mine. That means that it is one of a few things that I am thinking about all day. To the point where, even if I'm talking to my similar-minded friends, I feel I tire them out from talking about a single subject or the intricacies of how [album] mesmerizes me. I could discuss games, music, vgm, literally all day, hydration permitting. It is not a side thing of mine, it's a vital part of me. Can any girls enlighten me as to how many of you are the same? That means not just plays on the side, but has a passion for it and thinks about it all the time. I've heard girls bring up how fun [game] is, but only for a moment.

As I said, it's a major frustration when I'm thinking (remember what i said i'm thinking about) and dont make conversation because nobody shows any noticeable interest. So i guess it's more of a psychology question. I know there are lots of girl gamers, so.. I dunno. Pick something out of my essay above and answer/discuss it. I'm too tired to continue forming a coherent string of thoughts ><

Someone clear up a confused chap. Excellent work chaofan, by the way, for starting up a good discussion.

At my feet are sitting 8 everquest boxes. Within an arm's reach 360º are several vgm albums, House of Flying Daggers OST, and out of reach are the Silent Hills. These arent no-brainer things.. I often try to derive literary application of Silent Hill games (and the film, which in my opinion did not ruin the series) while in class or zoning out otherwise.

Not trying to troll but holy shit what the hell did you just say?