Why is there less women into mainstream video games?

[Sack of Cheese]

Most of the women I know are content with minigames and did not provide me with satisfying answers as to why they don't choose to play full-length video games.

Video games are no different than movies or tvshows, except that they're interactive.

They are fun and offer plenty of great action and challenges. Some of video games also have engaging storylines and exciting characters.

 

[krazykidd]

Because they don't want to. There no "reason" as to why women don't play games . There's nothing stopping them . They just rather do other things . Just like how not all guys play games , because they prefer to do something else .

 

[King Aragorn]

I like to think teh stigma of ''Women don't play video games, it's a boys thing!'' is still somewhat around.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

Perhaps you just don't know any other ladies into mainstream games?
There are quite a few on this very website.

I think the idea that ladies don't play "hardcore" games is fast becoming a myth.

 

[Girl With One Eye]

Because we're all far too busy doing our makeup ? Honestly I actually find it harder finding men who play games. I would actually love to have a boyfriend who shared this interest with me.

 

[Phasmal]

Because the community is a big pile of shit and seeks to drive new (and especially female) members out.
Duh.

Slightly more seriously now:

There are women about, we just don't tell you we are women.
I mean, when is the right time?
I remember carrying an entire dungeon group thanks to an incompetent tank, and just before I left the healer says to me: `Good job, son. Need more guys like you about!`. Going `actually I'm a woman` would have been pretty needless at that point. I'm always getting stuff like that.
You are assumed male unless you say otherwise, and if you do say otherwise, why did you? Attention whore.

EDIT: Also, in real life there is a certain stigma to playing games and I find it hard to recognize other lady geeks. I am hesitant to reveal my nerd to people I don't know well. All ladygamers should just wear gaming T-shirts, to identify to each other.

 

[Fappy]

I know a lot of women that play "hardcore" video games or whatever you want to call it. In fact, some of the girls I know play more RPGs than I do, and that's saying a lot!

 

[Stavros Dimou]

Because to play a game you have to spend time to learn its rules,its mechanics.
And most of them are bored enough and get overwhelmed,so they prefer simplistic games that they can just start playing without spending any time learning it.

 

[Pink Gregory]

There are likely more people that choose casual games and mini games than there are who don't (alright, that's probably an exaggeration, it's probably closer to 50/50).

And considering how many people who play vidyagames of any sort there are, any trend that you're noticing on a personal level could possibly be down to sheer chance.

 

[Weaver]

Because the community is a big pile of shit and seeks to drive new (and especially female) members out.
Duh.

Slightly more seriously now:

There are women about, we just don't tell you we are women.
I mean, when is the right time?
I remember carrying an entire dungeon group thanks to an incompetent tank, and just before I left the healer says to me: `Good job, son. Need more guys like you about!`. Going `actually I'm a woman` would have been pretty needless at that point. I'm always getting stuff like that.
You are assumed male unless you say otherwise, and if you do say otherwise, why did you? Attention whore.

EDIT: Also, in real life there is a certain stigma to playing games and I find it hard to recognize other lady geeks. I am hesitant to reveal my nerd to people I don't know well. All ladygamers should just wear gaming T-shirts, to identify to each other.

I think you've kind of summed it up in an anecdotal nutshell, Phasmal.
There are probably plenty of women playing games, but people are just assuming they're men. When they have an identifiably female tag, like "gamer girl" or whatever, they're more or less ostracized. So the females who enjoy the hobby basically do so quietly.

The "no women on the internet" statement might be meant as a joke, but I think a lot of people take it more to heart than they realize. I'm hoping it's a perception that can be broken, as I know a number of female gamers myself. One of which is a hardcore badass gamer. For example, she imported Demon's Souls from China before it released here and fucking platinumed the game. Then when it released here, she bought the NA version and did it again.

Tangent's aside, it's still seen as a male passtime and I feel the social attitudes about it aren't necessarily keeping females out, but it's keeping them less visible. Again, I think the attitude of many gamers (especially some of the younger ones) needs to change. Personally, when I meet a female in an MMO or whatever, I just go about my game per usual. However, I've seen first hand that not everyone does.

 

[Andy Shandy]

There are plenty of women playing video games. Most people (including myself, I admit), at least when it comes to multiplayer gaming, will assume they are male until they find out otherwise, one way or another.

However, basically every female I know regularly plays games in some shape or form. Whether it's my mother playing all these Facebook games to my sister and various friends playing a variety of more hardcore games.

So yeah, plenty females do play games. You just don't 'see' them.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

EDIT: Also, in real life there is a certain stigma to playing games and I find it hard to recognize other lady geeks. I am hesitant to reveal my nerd to people I don't know well. All ladygamers should just wear gaming T-shirts, to identify to each other.

I actually don't have any problem showing off my geekiness in public, but than again, I'm also "artsy" so people usually pass off my wardrobe choices as that, but you're right about just being assumed to be male. I've been mistaken for a guy quite a few times on this website. I don't even try to correct them, but I do make a point to look at a user's profile before assuming gender.

I know a lot of women that play "hardcore" video games or whatever you want to call it. In fact, some of the girls I know play more RPGs than I do, and that's saying a lot!

What's this idea about RPGs being considered more "hardcore"? I don't see how they're any different than a shooter or a platformer. Is it the numbers and stats thing? Cause most of them you can just kind of ignore the numbers, pick a class you like and button mash your way through.

 

[Fappy]

EDIT: Also, in real life there is a certain stigma to playing games and I find it hard to recognize other lady geeks. I am hesitant to reveal my nerd to people I don't know well. All ladygamers should just wear gaming T-shirts, to identify to each other.

I actually don't have any problem showing off my geekiness in public, but than again, I'm also "artsy" so people usually pass off my wardrobe choices as that, but you're right about just being assumed to be male. I've been mistaken for a guy quite a few times on this website. I don't even try to correct them, but I do make a point to look at a user's profile before assuming gender.

I know a lot of women that play "hardcore" video games or whatever you want to call it. In fact, some of the girls I know play more RPGs than I do, and that's saying a lot!

What's this idea about RPGs being considered more "hardcore"? I don't see how they're any different than a shooter or a platformer. Is it the numbers and stats thing? Cause most of them you can just kind of ignore the numbers, pick a class you like and button mash your way through.

It's more a time commitment thing. The girls in question prefer JRPGs which tend be the longest games out there.

 

[CrystalShadow]

I read somewhere, that statistically, 42% of gamers are women.

Also, the majority are over 30.

Both facts fly in the face of conventional wisdom on the subject. But... These statistics do include a lot of things which aren't considered part of mainstream gaming. (Solitaire being the world's most-played game, for instance)

Still, have a look at mainstream games and you might find a few answers;
Have you noticed the articles mentioning that "Games with female protagonists" don't sell?

Are you aware of how many games assume the player is a white male between the age of 15 and 25?

Mainstream gaming is, in terms of how most games are marketed, aimed at that audience.
Asking why these games aren't played that much by people who aren't officially part of the target audience is a bit like asking why more adults don't watch Sesame Street.

Sure, you might like something that isn't officially aimed at you (My little Pony is the most prominent example of such a thing right now). But on the whole you shouldn't be surprised that people aren't playing games that don't even make a token effort to acknowledge their existence as gamers.

What was the last 'mainstream' game that you can think of that even made a small effort to make women feel included? To acknowledge that they might want to play such a game too?

I can think of a handful, but mostly it's treated as though it were something that doesn't happen, and as a result you'll find the women that do play them play them in spite of being constantly bombarded with the message (both directly and indirectly) that they're doing something they're not supposed to be doing.

 

[LetalisK]

I did my part by recruiting my wife into video gaming. Now just to make sure I don't lose her to Borderlands...

Although truth be told I am morbidly curious as to what type of game would sell to the bubble-gum pop bimbo crowd.

Ever played Farmville?

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

Honestly I actually find it harder finding men who play games. I would actually love to have a boyfriend who shared this interest with me.

This. Wholeheartedly.

More on topic, though, there are plenty of women into mainstream video games. Myself and my closest three female friends, for instance.

Thing is, though, not all women are into mainstream video games. Just like not all men are. Plenty of guys are content with nothing but casual games as well. Not everyone likes more "hardcore" video games - it's a sad fact of life. Different people like different things.

 

[Ryotknife]

considering how mainstream gaming has shifted in focus to more casual games to the point where nearly everyone can be considered a gamer...

Have I ever known any female in real life that was into AAA games? no. But nearly every single female ive ever known is into gaming on SOME level.