Girls and Gaming

[spodette]

As a girl who has recently begun to spend more and more time gaming and in the gaming community, I have noticed several things that I am interested in getting some opinions on. First, there is little to no effort given by companies to market 'non girly' games to girls. By this I mean that if the game can't be related to losing weight or puppies, women are left out of the marketing scheme. There are a few games that escape this by being gender neutral (namely the Mario franchise) but most succumb to marketing focused around busty women and/or 'male power' images. I believe that this is a big reason for other girls not being interested in some of the better games out there, because the image presented by the gaming community is that it is a boys only club.For the large majority, the only images of women in relation to gaming are either of 'ugly' nerds and/or sluts (aka. playing guitar hero wearing nothing but the guitar and thigh highs). Do male gamers prefer it this way? Also, do male gamers prefer it being male dominated? Why/Why not? My last question is about recommended games. I have played Halo, Counterstrike, Resident Evil 5 and various Mario related games and tend to enjoy the community aspect the most (ala online gaming with Halo). My computer system isn't the best so I don't forsee getting into WoW or similar games, but I am considering LFD2. I would love some good recommendations of multi-player games on any system as well as games that just rock ( maybe Bio-Shock?). Thanks for any insight or suggestions you might have.

 

[Urgh76]

my girlfriend loves the zelda series and so do i so i think that women are also active in a lot of gaming even though it doesn't seem like there is much that they'll enjoy for a stereotype. i think though that they should do away with the girly games though

 

[Aptspire]

I think Portal may have had a feminine insight, since it is actually about a mother's love for her child, and jealousy (though expressed in unrevealed imagery and monologues)

 

[El Poncho]

Well they are selling the game to the largest market I guess. If marketing it to girls earned them more money then i'm sure they would turn their attention to that.

 

[Remember_the_name]

Eh one reason why women in general don't like traditional "male" games is they don't like the gameplay, their brains process things differently. Women like to be rewarded or to figure something out, which is why something like spyro or the sims is much more appealing than halo. I doubt it has much to do with marketing to males.

 

[Ammadessi]

Pretty much everything, except for explicitly "girl" things like make-up and feminine hygiene products are marketed to men first. The gaming industry is no different.

 

[Ammadessi]

Eh one reason why women in general don't like traditional "male" games is they don't like the gameplay, their brains process things differently. Women like to be rewarded or to figure something out, which is why something like spyro or the sims is much more appealing than halo. I doubt it has much to do with marketing to males.

I'm going to have to call your bluff on this one. I've played and enjoyed Bioshock, Fallout 3, Half-Life 2 and other "male" games and found them fun, rewarding experiences.

Women who like playing video games aren't just playing The Sims and platformers. That's a silly generalization.

 

[The Jono]

What was it? "While yes, there are girl gamers, they probably won't like you,"

To be perfectly honest, yes, it's hard not to notice that most gamers are lads (just a local lad round here), but don't really notice inherent sexism in games. Oh, I don't think it's not somewhere in them, just I can't see it (much).

 

[Timotei]

Look out! There's a wall of text in the middle of the road!

 

[Remember_the_name]

Eh one reason why women in general don't like traditional "male" games is they don't like the gameplay, their brains process things differently. Women like to be rewarded or to figure something out, which is why something like spyro or the sims is much more appealing than halo. I doubt it has much to do with marketing to males.

I'm going to have to call your bluff on this one. I've played and enjoyed Bioshock, Fallout 3, Half-Life 2 and other "male" games and found them fun, rewarding experiences.

Women who like playing video games aren't just playing The Sims and platformers. That's a silly generalization.

Eh, but majority of them do not generally enjoy FPS type experiences. Yes there are exceptions (as in everything). But I can assure you if I had most any girl over and it was rock band, the sims, or COD4 online. The first two would be played. Just saying.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

You play games that you want to play, if something such as a "male-power figure" bothers you, there isn't much you can do about that. Gotta play through it. I personally don't see much of a problem, or why women get so offended all the time, but thats because I'm not a woman. Its great that you are a girl and playing games, there are alot more then you think. Game developers are, for the majority, guys. So this is why you see so many big macho man guys running around in games. I really don't care for it myself either, but, gotta play with the cards you're dealt.

As for what games you would want...if you plan on playing L4D2 on your computer...you'd be able to play WoW. I play TF2 and Counter Strike Source, but thats about it as far as my computer games go right now. Sorry I can't be of more help with that.

 

[Ammadessi]

Eh one reason why women in general don't like traditional "male" games is they don't like the gameplay, their brains process things differently. Women like to be rewarded or to figure something out, which is why something like spyro or the sims is much more appealing than halo. I doubt it has much to do with marketing to males.

I'm going to have to call your bluff on this one. I've played and enjoyed Bioshock, Fallout 3, Half-Life 2 and other "male" games and found them fun, rewarding experiences.

Women who like playing video games aren't just playing The Sims and platformers. That's a silly generalization.

Eh, but majority of them do not generally enjoy FPS type experiences. Yes there are exceptions (as in everything). But I can assure you if I had most any girl over and it was rock band, the sims, or COD4 online. The first two would be played. Just saying.

All I was trying to get across is that you're making a generalization. The girls that YOU know perhaps aren't into FPS games, but there are plenty of us who enjoy them. They're not my favorite genre, but games with good atmosphere and storyline will draw me in. So it's just silly to say that ALL women don't like "guy" games.

People like what they like, whether they're male or female. I'm sure I could point out plenty of guys who don't like FPS games.

 

[Remember_the_name]

All I was trying to get across is that you're making a generalization. The girls that YOU know perhaps aren't into FPS games, but there are plenty of us who enjoy them. They're not my favorite genre, but games with good atmosphere and storyline will draw me in. So it's just silly to say that ALL women don't like "guy" games.

People like what they like, whether they're male or female. I'm sure I could point out plenty of guys who don't like FPS games.

Yes of course its a generalization, everything someone says is usually one. If I said everyone prefers to live that would be one cause I'm sure someone out there is committing suicide. I guess I shall start putting Most/Many/usually/and such before everything I say. lol, no offense I just figured most people understand what was implied.

 

[spodette]

Just to clear a few things up...I have nothing wrong with most of the actual game play itself, although some of the female characterization can be a bit grating. My interest is in the way the games are marketed. Also, by "male power" I don't mean strong male leads, I mean advertising that screams "THIS IS FOR BOYS!!!" the same way that pink and flowery advertising does for girls. I think that the ideas that girls don't play games because their 'brains' are different is a really unfortunate stereotype that just isn't true. Also, it is incorrect to say that most things are marketed to men first, especially in America. Companies know that women end up spending a significant amount of a household income, but they tend to make purchases such as clothing for the family or grocceries, more 'essential' spending than things like electronics or games. Basically, I think that marketers are missing out on profits with gaming. My question is, do men prefer that it stay a boys club? Also, by 'any system' I meant console...that was a brain lapse on my part.

 

[Space Spoons]

There are more male gamers than there are female gamers. It's as simple as that. It's like that extra-fancy, "volume and body" shampoo: There are probably men out there that use Herbal Essences hair care products, but they're the minority, so the product is still marketed toward women.

 

[Valate_v1legacy]

This is a perception issue. Don't worry about it, change will come... shortly. Unless your perception of 'shortly' is different than mine. In which case, this is a mess noone will sort out. Except for... OH NO!!!

 

[RanD00M]

the only images of women in relation to gaming are either of ugly.

What are you talking about.Most of the female gamers i know are fucking gorgeous.

 

[randomrob]

ummm... I dunno why. Perhaps the average gamer is portrayed to developers as being made up of fat middle-aged men? perhaps the world is crazy like that? perhaps i'm getting bored of this discussion? perhaps i'll stop talking now? I'll leave it up to you.