Stats on console and portable gaming device ownsership

[Something Amyss]

I could easily see that being answered as yes as our household has a shitload of consoles in it.

That sounds more like a rationalisation than an expectation.

 

[aba1]

I don't get why feministy types get so upset about the fact that gaming is a primarily male dominated activity. I don't see anybody throwing a temper tantrum over the demographics around the books industry. Fact is women dominate when it comes to reading and writing and it is easily observable. Just look at fanfiction and the culture around that it is almost ENTIRELY women. This doesn't mean men are being discriminated against just that men and women tend to have things that more or less commonly appeal to them and that is ok. Not everything needs a 50/50 parody in participants people should be able to just enjoy what ever they like without people getting upset when some groups like things more often than other groups.

When it comes to gaming most people consider someone to be a gamer if they play a variety of AAA games. That doesn't make women who play their candy crush on their phone not valid. It is just they aren't the same demographics as the people who line up for the latest fallout game and it is just moronic to act like they are the same people.

Nobody is saying women aren't valid gamers it is just a easy observation to see that they on average game far less and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[aba1]

I like how quickly this thread went right to the whole "fake gamer girl" thing without actually calling that. Is there anything that guys get called "fake" for?

I'm not seeing it. But if you want the more universal concept outside of gaming, try "Poseur". You'll find lots of examples.

It's pretty easy to see with most posters doubting the data or suggesting that just because one owns a console, doesn't mean they use it for gaming. It's just another way of saying "fake gamer girls."

XD god forbid people actually question what they are told. I don't get it either man they really need to just shut up, listen and believe

 

[Worgen]

I like how quickly this thread went right to the whole "fake gamer girl" thing without actually calling that. Is there anything that guys get called "fake" for?

I'm not seeing it. But if you want the more universal concept outside of gaming, try "Poseur". You'll find lots of examples.

It's pretty easy to see with most posters doubting the data or suggesting that just because one owns a console, doesn't mean they use it for gaming. It's just another way of saying "fake gamer girls."

XD god forbid people actually question what they are told. I don't get it either man they really need to just shut up, listen and believe

Its not about questioning, it about assumptions. Everyone assumes women don't play games so they assume any study that shows they do is bs.

 

[aba1]

I like how quickly this thread went right to the whole "fake gamer girl" thing without actually calling that. Is there anything that guys get called "fake" for?

I'm not seeing it. But if you want the more universal concept outside of gaming, try "Poseur". You'll find lots of examples.

It's pretty easy to see with most posters doubting the data or suggesting that just because one owns a console, doesn't mean they use it for gaming. It's just another way of saying "fake gamer girls."

XD god forbid people actually question what they are told. I don't get it either man they really need to just shut up, listen and believe

Its not about questioning, it about assumptions. Everyone assumes women don't play games so they assume any study that shows they do is bs.

Doesn't seem like many people are assuming a lot of people here went through the data to confirm the validity of the results. Besides it doesn't take a genius to notice that men just do play far more games. Go to any game release, convention, or game related event and it will be dominated by men. Which doesn't invalidate the women who are there but that is the the demographics that games appeal to. Like I mentioned above women love books and literature far more often than men do and so most books are written to appeal to women and that's ok they are the primary audience. Why do you think fan fiction features so much guy on guy or romance and that pairing is so popular. It is because women simply enjoy fanfiction more than men do. So should be complain that nobody is trying to get more men into fanfiction? No, people like what they like and while its ok to introduce people to new things you can't make people like things either when it doesn't appeal to them.

If more women want to get into gaming that is awesome I don't think anyone would complain in fact I think most people would be happy if for no other reason than it would increase the odds of finding a partner with more in common. You just can't force or trick people into liking things.

 

[Bad Jim]

Apparently this study cited psp and sega genesis as examples of portables. It doesn't look like they know what they're saying all that much.

The portable Genesis is actually a thing, though it was called the Nomad. Not many people bought it, and it is a rare collectors item these days that you wouldn't want to leave on the bus, but Sega did make a portable Genesis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Nomad

Also, you can get things like this these days:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/301756251235?

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Even if I were to grant you all this (which sounds kinda persecution-complexy to me)it STILL doesn't make the points wrong though. Worst case scenario we need to call out more false statistics about men. It still doesn't change the fact about these statistics here being wrong, not one tiny little bit.

Also, who even makes such topics about men, like, ever. Nobody tries to use equally applied studies to show this or that about JUST men or make a point that is only about men doing whatever, thus there's never really any methodology to question in the first place. We just don't even broach the subject when it's specifically only about men, cause we don't care how many men play games.

Really? Because I remember a Christina Hoff Sommers video that made the rounds a while back...lemme see if I can find it.

Heeere we go. Oh fuck just finding it I ended up giving it another click. Oh well. Time to remove more Hoff Sommers from my "recommended" list. I'm a slow learner apparently.


Her argument, basically, is "video games aren't sexist because 99% of gamers are men, LOL @ HIPPY LIBERALS".

This video made the rounds a while back, presented by some parties who shall remain nameless as a nuanced and sensible representation of the demographic split in gaming, and a good example of why we should ignore all these mewling cries for better representation of women. Notably, Hoff Sommers also bills herself as "factual", while stuffing the video with sweeping generalizations, unsubstantiated authoritative statements, and ridiculously overt occasions of poisoning the well.

So...yeah, we make topics about men all the time. In fact, there's a great many users on this forum who make topics about gaming with the DEFAULT ASSUMPTION that the prototypical gamer is male. It's why we had the raging (and idiotic) "Fake Geek Girls" nontroversy not a year or two past. And certain other contentious subjects, which I won't get into here, most definitely dipped their toes into those same frothing waters.

Barbas's assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, there is most definitely a sentiment held by a statistically significant and very vocal population on these boards that gaming is still very much Guy Territory. The argument that default male protagonists and heavily objectified/sexualized female eye candy is "catering to the market" is made with rigorous regularity.

So while I think applying critical thinking to the survey in the OP is very much called for, and ALWAYS called for, I will note that some of the people dismissing it as misleading are among the first to praise strident ideologues like Hoff Sommers for her "impartiality" while she sings them a tune that is more to their liking.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Just because someone owns a gaming console doesn't mean they use it for gaming.

what the fuck would you use a gaming console for other than gaming?

I mean, I know some consoles run hot enough to cook an egg on but just because girls own consoles doesnt mean theyre cooking on them exactly.

This is just more pointless goal post shifting.

Netflix! Maybe single mothers buy consoles for their kids and they don't personally use them. That you thought the poster you responded too meant that women used it for cooking says more about you than anyone else.

My GF uses the PS3 daily, but only for DVD/Blu Ray and Netflix. Our son has his own PS3, 360, PS4 and Nexus 7 but she'll never use those and if she did it would be for Netflix and DVD/Blu Ray playback. Nevertheless, if asked she would admit that she does own those devices since my son didn't pay for them.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Gamer to me means playing games.

then you are wrong.

Yeah, Rebel_Raven, what are you thinking?
Gamers don't play games. Jeez...

Ah, these discussions. So predictable. So silly.

Gamers are game enthusiasts. Simply playing a game does not make you a game enthusiasts like simply watching a movie does not turn you into a movie buff or driving a car does not turn you into a petrolhead.

Yes, pretty predictable here, since, you know, the position hasnt changed despite outside influence trying to pervert the concept.

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

 

[Strazdas]

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

Number of games does not matter. the mindset of the person does.

 

[Bad Jim]

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

Number of games does not matter. the mindset of the person does.

Usually the question of whether girls play games is asked alongside the question of why there aren't more female focused games. In this case, the money they spend on games is a lot more important than the amount of time they spend playing, whether they are any good at them, or what genres they prefer. The real question isn't "are they real gamers?" but "are they real customers?"

 

[Strazdas]

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

Number of games does not matter. the mindset of the person does.

Usually the question of whether girls play games is asked alongside the question of why there aren't more female focused games. In this case, the money they spend on games is a lot more important than the amount of time they spend playing, whether they are any good at them, or what genres they prefer. The real question isn't "are they real gamers?" but "are they real customers?"

Yes, which is why this survey is not a measure of number of gamers, but rather a number of people whose household has a console in it.

What do you consider a "femnale focused game"? Somehow i dont think its what is stereo-typically seen as such.

 

[Bad Jim]

What do you consider a "female focused game"? Somehow i don't think it's what is stereo-typically seen as such.

Anything that a large corporation that collects terabytes of marketing data can make with the expectation that the female audience will turn them a profit, without relying on the male audience. Sometimes it's obvious, like Twilight, sometimes it isn't.

 

[1981]

[...]

Games shouldn't change to accommodate anyone, they should simply aim higher. Gaming wouldn't be an art form if games only depicted certain subjects in a certain way. Just like photography wouldn't be an art form if all photos were of buildings.

 

[Strazdas]

What do you consider a "female focused game"? Somehow i don't think it's what is stereo-typically seen as such.

Anything that a large corporation that collects terabytes of marketing data can make with the expectation that the female audience will turn them a profit, without relying on the male audience. Sometimes it's obvious, like Twilight, sometimes it isn't.

so female focused game is anything that sells to females?

 

[Bad Jim]

so female focused game is anything that sells to females?

Why not?

 

[WeepingAngels]

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

Number of games does not matter. the mindset of the person does.

Ok, so if a person has played only one game (or no games), what mindset would make them a gamer?

 

[Strazdas]

so female focused game is anything that sells to females?

Why not?

I didnt said it shouldnt be, just wanted to clarify your position. I admit that position is different than what i thought it would be, so im glad i asked first.

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

Number of games does not matter. the mindset of the person does.

Ok, so if a person has played only one game (or no games), what mindset would make them a gamer?

Being enthusiastic about videogames. Gamer is a gaming enthusiast. You dont have to play a game to be enthusiastic, but in most cases it goes hand in hand.

 

[Bad Jim]

Rebel Raven said "games", that's plural and then you counter with "a game", that's singular. Yes, to be considered a gamer, one must play games. You can't call me a runner if I buy a treadmill for my kid and I never use it.

Number of games does not matter. the mindset of the person does.

Ok, so if a person has played only one game (or no games), what mindset would make them a gamer?

What if that one game was World of Warcraft, and they had done every quest and every raid and ruled PvP? What if he/she only played League of Legends, but happened to be a professional player? My brother doesn't have many games, but he is pretty much always playing either XCOM or Civ 5. You don't need a lot of games to be a gamer, you just need to play them.