Why aren't girls into gaming?

[Avatar Roku]

Lots of times we choose not to speak in game, When we do we get told we are adolescent boys or hackers. Because really we can't be that good. haha

THe worst part is that I have a voice that sounds like an adolescent boy. -.-

I admit, the one time in recent memory I came across a female gamer (it'd happened before, but rarely), I heard her making a lot of sexual innuendos. Now, she sounded a lot like a little kid, and that's what I assumed she was, so I came down on her. I was pretty condescending, I'm not proud of it. She then told me she was a girl. I apologized, explained that you run into more kids than girls, just as a rule of thumb. She said it was cool. That was the entire encounter.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

I know they're around, and I've stumbled upon a few of them (apologizing afterwards for clumsily stepping on their feet), but they are a rare occurrence from what I've seen. Most of it does have to do with the fact that most games are designed to appeal to men (Dead Or Alive is a huge example, don't get me started on Tomb Raider). There's that, and the fact that most male gamers are so socially deprived that the very mention of the opposite gender drives them to a lust-filled and shocked daze that usually results in misogyny, awkwardness, denial, or any combination of the three. Hm... Misogynistically awkward denial.

As for what I'd like to see, I'd like it if a girl actually played Zoey on Left 4 Dead for once. It throws me off each time, having a cute college girl speak like a middle-aged man. *shudder* Then again, I saw a girl playing as Francis once, which was a good laugh.

 

[MsDevin92]

HAY I TAK OFENZ 2 THT

butnotreally.

Eh, where I live, it's mostly because gaming is a 'guy' thing and...shopping for skinny jeans is a 'girl' thing. Gosh I hate my peer group.

But worldwide, to wager a guess...No, wait, it still might be considered a guy thing. Technically, when games started out, they were geared towards...not to be rude, but the nerds/people who liked weird niche entertainment, and...Have you noticed that a lot of nerds tend to be guys?
I mean, even in media, nerds are mostly the guy with the high-up pants and the Velma Dinkley glasses, and you rarely see a girl presented that way...With guys, you're either supposed to be jock/gangster or nerdy, and girls are either pretty or...uh...not.
I don't actually think any of that, but I kind of know too well what goes through the minds of the slavering masses at some times.

But yeah, girls don't really get hyped up about the majority of games, which are usually shooters. Now, if you made a version of Left 4 Dead where you took on zombies in catfights or with other forms of assault favored by girls hunting down their husband's latest booty-call...

 

[MsDevin92]

But yeah, girls don't really get hyped up about the majority of games, which are usually shooters. Now, if you made a version of Left 4 Dead where you took on zombies in catfights or with other forms of assault favored by girls hunting down their husband's latest booty-call...

That would make the fights against Hunters more interesting.

And the players could make a killing selling the fight footage to Maury and Jerry Springer or whoever feeds the masses all this stuff about cheating and badly-staged fights.

 

[MsDevin92]

But yeah, girls don't really get hyped up about the majority of games, which are usually shooters. Now, if you made a version of Left 4 Dead where you took on zombies in catfights or with other forms of assault favored by girls hunting down their husband's latest booty-call...

That would make the fights against Hunters more interesting.

And the players could make a killing selling the fight footage to Maury and Jerry Springer or whoever feeds the masses all this stuff about cheating and badly-staged fights.

I get the feeling you've thought about this a little too much...

No, I just know about the workings of those shows because my brothers constantly watch them to see the catfights. -_-

 

[ShogunGino]

To be honest, I've never in my life met a girl who was any good at gaming (I'm 19, so that's how long). I unfortunately went to schools where girls either taunted me or acted with complete indifference(like, going out of their way to ignore me and stuff).

Even now, I go to a college where game making is one of the three main focuses, and I've only met exactly two girls that play games (regardless, there are hardly any girls here anyway). And I never played with any girls online because I don't play any online games. However, having a brain, I never let myself slip into the stupid state of mind that female gamers don't exist and various dainty reasons why not.

I guess it's just my rotten luck or something.

That said, I understand that everyone has their reasons as to why they game, but its just difficult for me to add anything since I've lived in the world that has no female gamers.

 

[LewsTherin]

Oh, they're out there , of that I have no doubt.

They're all just somewhere that I am not.

 

[MsDevin92]

But yeah, girls don't really get hyped up about the majority of games, which are usually shooters. Now, if you made a version of Left 4 Dead where you took on zombies in catfights or with other forms of assault favored by girls hunting down their husband's latest booty-call...

That would make the fights against Hunters more interesting.

And the players could make a killing selling the fight footage to Maury and Jerry Springer or whoever feeds the masses all this stuff about cheating and badly-staged fights.

I get the feeling you've thought about this a little too much...

No, I just know about the workings of those shows because my brothers constantly watch them to see the catfights. -_-

Let me guess, he's around the ages of 13-16 and has never had a girlfriend?

Nope, he's older and has had a myriad of girl friends and about three times as many admirers.
... *looks at empty planner for the week*
HOW ARE WE RELATED?!

Sorry for the derail, BTW.

 

[Danglybits]

They are but for the most part...

GIRLS DON'T LIKE SHOOTERS OR COMPETATIVE GAMES!

Girl Gamers like RPG's, Sims and Platformers.

They also like Legend of Zelda... A lot.

YES WE DO! We just don't say we're female because of hatred and come ons and stupid shit like "Girls only play the sims" The sims isn't a game its a doll house and most female gamers are competitive because if you're in ANY minority you have to be 2x's as good as the major demographic to be considered "good" Don't tell me what women are like because like men we aren't all the same.

 

[Joeshie]

There aren't as many girl gamers because they just aren't as interested in gaming as guys are.

Anyone remember that study that showed that when they compared the brain activity of males to females when playing a video game, they found that the men had a more "rewarding" experience based on the brain patterns?

Plus, there are tons of games that cater directly to guys, while it's hard to pinpoint games that directly cater to girls. It seems that the games most popular with girls don't have any catering to either gender, such as Sims or Nintendogs. It always seems like the games that are most popular with girls don't really have any true objective, like traditional games generally have.

There are probably a ton of both biological and social factors that filter into the trend that games aren't as popular with girls as with boys.

 

[Clemenstation]

My old roommate's sister is absolutely dominant at Gears of War... she took the day off work when Gears 2 came out, and beat the whole thing on Hardcore in a single sitting. Good looking girl too. She plays online and has a headset, but will only use it VERY occasionally. The usual pattern is:

Erin:

RandomDouche69: YOU HAVE A LITTLE FAG VOICE, KID

Erin: I'm a girl.

RandomDouche69: Hot.

And then either a) awed deferral, which is uncomfortable or b) crude sexual come-ons, worse than what you might find in a freshman pick-up bar.

If I were her I wouldn't be talking either, especially not when you just want to get down to business sawing some folk in half. Too much hassle.

 

[Galletea]

Ouch, guys, really there are some shocking things being said here.
I'll just pick one I can answer without getting in a rage.

They are but for the most part...

GIRLS DON'T LIKE SHOOTERS OR COMPETATIVE GAMES!

Girl Gamers like RPG's, Sims and Platformers.

They also like Legend of Zelda... A lot.

A) Yes I do
B) I like RPG's on occasion
C) Hell no.
I might just be an exception. I don't spend much time discussing games with people so I wouldn't know.
I think women tend to talk and socialise more, leaving less time for gaming.

 

[Bagaloo]

OMG BEWBS! LETS CYBER?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That is exactly why female gamers don't speak up much during online play. If I were subjected to that much bullshit, I wouldn't either.

 

[Jharry5]

Could be because the majority of games out at the moment seem to be aimed more specifically at males (of course, this seems to be changing with the Wii and DS). Who knows, it may change soon... surely we can hope?