Why aren't girls into gaming?

[seamusotorain]

Because for the longest time, and even nowadays, most of the games available were geared towards men. Nowadays that seems to be changing, with games like Mirror's Edge featuring strong female heroines that aren't incredibly unrealistic.

I don't think it has much to do with the lack of a female character to inspire women (Beyond Good and Evil didn't sell too well...). Personally, I'm not inspired by Master Chief or Marcus Fenix. The main issue, I think, is that (in a gaming context) girls like to create (The Sims, Rollercoaster Tycoon etc.) and guys like to destroy (any shooting game EVAR). This is a generalisation, but from my experience in a game shop, it's a very good generalisation. The DS in particular has created a legion of tween female gamers. Sure they're only playing "Imagine Fashion", but some day...

 

[Iampringles]

It's mainly due to the market being alot more suited to males.

However, the Wii and it's library of gimmicks are just as aimed at women as they are at men. Wii Sports and Wii Fit, for example.

 

[Galletea]

I noticed the other day that women tend to be looked down on by society when they admit to playing games. I'm not sure why, it's the same as the promiscuity thing, it's looked on as bad if a woman does it but normal or even good if a man does.

 

[shadow skill]

I noticed the other day that women tend to be looked down on by society when they admit to playing games. I'm not sure why, it's the same as the promiscuity thing, it's looked on as bad if a woman does it but normal or even good if a man does.

Really? I don't really see why women should be looked down upon for gaming. But then again what do I know?

 

[Zig13]

There was a PC Gamer article about this. They concluded that it's about rods and cones in the eye and stuff. Can't remember which issue...

 

[Galletea]

Really? I don't really see why women should be looked down upon for gaming. But then again what do I know?

I'm not sure, I think it's a kind of sexism. Men are expected to be immature to an extent. Us ladies are expected to be all mature and sensible so if I say I'm going out to buy a game they look at me like I'm still playing with Barbie dolls.

 

[shadow skill]

Really? I don't really see why women should be looked down upon for gaming. But then again what do I know?

I'm not sure, I think it's a kind of sexism. Men are expected to be immature to an extent. Us ladies are expected to be all mature and sensible so if I say I'm going out to buy a game they look at me like I'm still playing with Barbie dolls.

Just threaten to eat them, works every time I swear.

 

[scotth266]

I saw someone make the point already that matters the most: games are mostly written by men for men, and as such fewer women are interested. It doesn't mean that a girl won't enjoy Gears of War 2 (I know one that does), but the percentage will be lower due to the target audience. If ladies want to up the ratio, they have to get more of them in the industry and introduce their own point of veiw on games.

 

[scotth266]

Really? I don't really see why women should be looked down upon for gaming. But then again what do I know?

I'm not sure, I think it's a kind of sexism. Men are expected to be immature to an extent. Us ladies are expected to be all mature and sensible so if I say I'm going out to buy a game they look at me like I'm still playing with Barbie dolls.

I don't know about that... Would I be a little disconcerted if I saw a girl grab Dead Space? Yeah, but it would be a happy sort of feeling, knowing that games are crossing the gender line more and more each day.

It's mainly due to the market being alot more suited to males.

However, the Wii and it's library of gimmicks are just as aimed at women as they are at men. Wii Sports and Wii Fit, for example.

True that, although those examples prove how multi-audience the Wii is. It's a system that aims to attract anyone interested, and I applaud it for doing so.

Generally speaking, that is. I realize that there are some girls on here; but it seems that y'all are the exception to the rule. I'm just curious: Why is the female-to-male ratio amongst gamers so low?

because girls are on a constant mission to make themselves seem more sophisticated and intelligent than boys, and they think that video games are a time-killing waste of money (apparently forgetting that they themselves shop for make-up lol). Generally speaking, that is.

...Okay, that's a odd point of veiw. You need to present it better though, as I had a hard time deciphering. The way you put it sounds sexist. Once again, it all comes down to the fact that the target audience for games reflects how the game is slanted. If more women express interest in games, more games aimed for them will be made.

 

[Jimmyjames]

I wish more females would talk in gaming because the constant bombardment of frat boys and little chaps can really get on my nerves. As much as I enjoy hearing some drunk Aussie yell about how Obama's name is Obama or some American swear at me, I would really enjoy to hear a females voice on an online game. What a nice change that would be. Maybe it could even happen on Xbox live?

It doesn't happen because 90% of the "girls" on XBox live are guys, and the other 10% don't let it be known they're girls because of the harassment. Even a lot of the girls I work with (at a game company) don't have obvious names because when they kick a dude's ass in CoD they would get shit for it or be unfairly ganged up on.

 

[Celd]

This. THIS THIS THIS.
Seriously. Give me a strong female character who's wearing something PRACTICAL and I'd be one happy gamer. Look at it this way, guys. Would you want to play a video game if you had to watch your MALE main character running around in a string bikini and a thong?

*thinks on that final statement*
If anything seeing any of the GOW characters in a man-thong would make me wanna laugh so hard I couldn't shoot and I would choose that character on Live just to freak people out.(After that post I feel the need to say I'm a straight guy with a twisted sense of humor)

 

[ZP---Fanatic]

I Think now alot of games tend to have uhhh...Blood? And for some reason men like that while females dont,but now its kinda changin',instead of men with guns,swords,elemental-bending-powers etc,there girls In Alot of games as the main char (Ie. Mirrors Edge)

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

(my parents would hate to know if I threw 50 measly bucks a year to get XBL)

why would your parents hate you spending 50 dollars a year...

Because they are horribly cheap, don't like video games much, and are under the impression that I am an insanely obsessive gamer. I might have been before, but not now. Before now, I was kinda secluded due to their extreme paranoia (guy goes out, guy gets drunk and makes someone pregnant). So I played video games. A LOT. Now I'm in college and they pretty much can't stop me from going out and staying out late (and I still have yet to become drunk) Also, I doubt they realize that 50 bucks a year isn't much at all in any circumstance.

 

[jadestarboo]

Oh, I'm not sure if someone mentioned this but I think it also depends on the parents.
My dad isn't into gaming, and doesn't like me buying things related to video games.
He wanted to buy a Wii instead of the 360 because it's more friendly and has less violent games.
I think parents will most likely be more protective of their daughters when it comes to what they enjoy doing.

Also for me, personally, I get really self-conscience when it comes to what people think of me. So anything like online gaming would really make me shy.

 

[ForrestDixon]

I think that it all depends on the way girls are raised in relation to videogames. I think if a young girl sees her dad playing videogames at a very young age she would be more inclined to play video games. The same thing with smoking, drinking, mowing the grass, what ever. We as a gaming community has less gaming community have a duty to welcome ladies into gaming and gaming websites. I think thats another reason that there are less women into gaming. Even though nine out of ten people would say they wont vioce chat over Halo says another thing.


Point is we need to welcome girls into this community whether they are here or not. We (everyone) needs to take an active role into welcoming every group (Female, Gay, Lesbian, Black, White, Chinese, Canadian ext.) into gaming whether we like it or not.

 

[MackB]

(my parents would hate to know if I threw 50 measly bucks a year to get XBL)

why would your parents hate you spending 50 dollars a year...

Also, I doubt they realize that 50 bucks a year isn't much at all in any circumstance.

You should borrow a friends credit card or something and pay them back in cash, XBL is awesome

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

(my parents would hate to know if I threw 50 measly bucks a year to get XBL)

why would your parents hate you spending 50 dollars a year...

Also, I doubt they realize that 50 bucks a year isn't much at all in any circumstance.

You should borrow a friends credit card or something and pay them back in cash, XBL is awesome

I bet it is. My brother and I are planning to just get it regardless. We just need to find a longer ethernet cable first. The alternative is to drill a hole in the wall so the one we have now can reach, and I highly doubt our dad will like that -_- First we need a battery pack because we have no rechargables and our dad's stock is made of almost-dead batteries (for some odd reason). The pile of truly dead ones is growing, further perpetuating his image of us as obsessives (and it's not even our fault). Our discussion of my lack of XBL is getting really off topic, isn't it?

 

[BLOONINJA 503]

well thinking about it now.. woman outnumber men roughly 3 to 1... it is weird that chicks dont play as much as we do...