Wanted: Female Game Testers

BaronVonDuvet writes "The BBC is covering this story regarding the lack of female testers for the new Tomb Raider game. Given that there are a number of female gamers (admittedly far fewer than male gamers) why are they having so many problems finding women? Is this a sign that the female gaming market has never really taken off? Is the way men and women approach a game really that different? Are they really interested in finding women testers or is the whole thing a publicity stunt? If you're an interested woman maybe you should get in touch."

Comments

Girl Gamers Unite (at my house)

[thenovacrisis]

It makes you wonder why there aren't more female gamers. Why do they look so derogatory towards video games. The only games that really get girls are Tetris (Dr. Mario) or Sonic the Hedgehog. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't girl gamers that play other games than those, but when you look at the average girl that plays any kind of video game, those two usually come up. Oh, by the way, girl gamers, please show your support. If more girl gamers were honest with this kind of thing, than others wouldn't be reluctant to start. I think all girl gamers should unite (at my house)! We can do stuff... er- play games.

Reverse it and feel your dinner come back up

[portege00]

Seriously, most women aren't going to line up to beta test a game which features a chick with boobs so big that you'd swear her implants came with anti-gravity devices.

Let me put it this way: most guys would not jump at the chance to beta test a video game in which the main character was an incredibly ripped half-naked man with thong underwear and an incredibly unrealistic buldge in his crotch clearly outlining every detail of his oversized genitals as they freely bounced around in ancient tombs.

Bad thought huh?

The Fallacy of the Woman Gamer

[schlach]

Haha. Read this yesterday, from "Chet and Erik" at Old Man Murray, on the "top one hundred game-related fallacies and the crimes we feel they encourage." (they could only think of three.)

The Fallacy of the Woman Gamer

There are no women gamers, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. They don't exist. In the '80s there was one, but she died. The women that you see competing in Quake tournaments are paid employees of id. If you meet a "woman" in an online game such as EverQuest or Tribes, there's a pretty good chance it's either one of us or a 40-year-old man. And if you're sure it's neither of those things, then maybe it's the government testing a robot or a poltergeist because it's not a human female. Some of you may complain that you're positive you've met a woman on one of the various MUDS. Perhaps, which brings up a point that didn't make the list: MUDS are not games.

Crime Encouraged:

Since impersonating a woman isn't a crime unless she's also a police officer, we're going to have to fall back on Chet punching Lord British.

For context, go read the real column, and remember all the good times with oldmanmurray. Anyone have any idea what happened to them?

Re:The Fallacy of the Woman Gamer

[schlach]

schlach quoted (from Gamespot):

There are no women gamers, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. They don't exist. In the '80s there was one, but she died.

Sorry, but I'm still alive.

Oh thank God!! Do you have any idea how worried we were?? Why didn't you ever tell us you were all right?!

Hey everyone! I found her! =p

weapons?

[bomb_number_20]

favorite quote:
"A women's mind would bring a different angle to the game."

Maybe women could offer a new perspective on weapons. Things like guilt grenades, verbal tripwires, performance increasing sports bras (those things are huge- any woman will tell you it would hurt to jump around like that), crotch kicks, and keyring stabs would add a new dimension to the game.

Finally, female players would be able to work out their aggressions and live out their fantasies on a level equal to their male counterparts.

Chat Rooms

[smoondog]

They should solicit at chat rooms. We all know there are lots of women there.

-Sean

MY GOD!

[Inoshiro]

I NEVER noticed how all the guys in the fighting games I play are MUSCLE BOUND!

I am as shocked as you are to find this blanant sexism in Street Fighter, Soulcalibur, Dead or Alive, and others!

Since I, for one, am not a Ninja Master with HUGE MUSCLES, I know I must be as shamed playing these games as the women who do not have huge DDD chests are when playing Tomb Raider! Because video games are meant to remind us of our own painful realities, right?

Guys?

Re:MY GOD!

[Anonvmous Coward]

"I am as shocked as you are to find this blanant sexism in Street Fighter, Soulcalibur, Dead or Alive, and others!"

Ever notice how ... uh.. elongated Dhalsim can get? You just know that guy can.. well.. uh.. you know... from across the room...

Female Game Testers?

[Black Parrot]

What kind of "female games" do you have in mind, and what is involved in testing them?

This could be a lot of fun!

Re:Perhaps it's because Tomb Raider sucks?

[leviramsey]

I am a bisexual female gamer...

You do realize how many Slashdot readers have been waiting their whole lives to hear those six magic words?

Do the women who read Cosmo look like those IN it?

[raehl]

Of course not.

Women arn't offended by thin big-chested women in the magainzes they read, I can't see how they'd be offended by thin, big-chested women in the games they play either. (And come to think of it, arn't most of the women in chick-geared comics asthetically well above par as well?)

Re:Cluelessness in action

[Dr. Spork]

"oversexed immature teenage boys"

OK, who here remembers being an oversexed immature teenage boy?