Gender Games Thought

[Ritter315]

So, after watching Movie Bobs, The Big Picture video Gender Games there was a thought that popped into my mind about why maybe many gamers don't exactly understand female issue with certain trops of video games, and vice-versa on non-gaming female audiences. This isnt really about Movie Bob's video as much as its content.

Ok, NOT trying to offend anyone but...maybe gamers wouldnt have such a problem with female reaction to certain games and maybe they'd understand female attitude towards these types of games (Or any games for that matter) if females would simply be more open to the idea of having shared interests with the the guys (Or even other girls for that matter) who ENJOY them. I'm not saying that no girls or guys do that but...lets be honest, the majority of people are not game enthusists, although it must be said that the majority of guys probably do play some video games (Even if its just Madden or COD) and the majority of girls really dont(although thats changing more very rapidly and thank God for it)
There's already a disconnect there, the majority of girls just simply (for the most part) dont respect video games at this current moment let alone are into them.

This is partially based on an old Extra Credits video but you get the idea, women (And some men) simply arent that into video games or even the people who play them. Again that goes for both genders but more so with women.
I know this might partially read as a nudge for girls to be more inclined to give the nerdy guy a chance over more convential men but I'm being sincere that its partially the disconnect in gender interaction that causes this kind of disparity and gender politics.
Does anyone else agree?

 

[Dags90]

I disagree. Women play a lot of video games. On Facebook, on cell phones, and on other devices. And it's not just young women. My aunt, who is pretty much computer illiterate, plays FarmVille and CityVille and Mob Wars. She probably plays those more than I play my games.

It's not about "playing video games" it's about market segmentation. Console gaming is heavily targeted at the "males 16-34" demographic. There's focus among major studios on trying to steal your competitor's 16-34 year old male's rather than trying to entice new customers. That's the problem, and it's a big part of why the industry has stagnated so badly.

 

[Radeonx]

I disagree. Women play a lot of video games. On Facebook, on cell phones, and on other devices. And it's not just young women. My aunt, who is pretty much computer illiterate, plays FarmVille and CityVille and Mob Wars. She probably plays those more than I play my games.

It's not about "playing video games" it's about market segmentation. Console gaming is heavily targeted at the "males 16-34" demographic. There's focus among major studios on trying to steal your competitor's 16-34 year old male's rather than trying to entice new customers. That's the problem, and it's a big part of why the industry has stagnated so badly.

Essentially this.
There is a huge portion of women playing games, they just aren't adequately marketed to.
And while you reference many women playing casual games on iPods or phones or what have you, there are still plenty of women playing the "hardcore" games (Fallout, Gears of War, Super Meat Boy, whatever else there possibly could be).
They simply aren't marketing to a huge portion of the market, which is just stupid.

 

[Mischa87]

Just wanted to throw in the old "The gender distribution of gamers is reaching equilibrium, according to a 2011 study showing that 58% of gamers are male and 42% female" http://www.theesa.com/facts/pdfs/ESA_EF_2011.pdf

So it is not even close to the biased ratio most people think it is.