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The Economics Of Gender In Everquest

Posted by simoniker on from the girls-who-like-boys-who-like-girls dept.

Obscure Economist writes "The Social Science Research Network has just posted a new paper of mine that follows up on some issues from a previous paper I wrote about MMORPG Everquest's economy. The new paper asks: If two equivalent avatars were being offered for sale, and the only difference was that one was male and the other female, which one would have the higher price? As it turns out, female avatars sell for about 10 percent less than male avatars, holding all other characteristics equal. Most gamers are men, so this seems to suggest that men do not like being treated like women. Of course, just why that is, and what it might mean in a broader context, is open to debate."

8 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. highly valuable research by mikeburke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Could it be that most men prefer to role play male characters, therefore creating a higher demand, therefore resulting in a higher price ?

    Hell no! There are huge, huge ramifications on a broad socio-economic scale that will justify at least 2 dozen more essays written by a social science student with a closet EQ addiction.. which will all unfortunately be posted on slashdot.

    mike

  2. Or... by T-Bear · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Most gamers are men, so this seems to suggest that men do not like being treated like women."

    Maybe it simply suggests that most men who play everquest *prefer* to play a male character simply because they're male.

    --
    Brian
  3. Girl Characters by fuzzybunny · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am a straight guy with a girlfriend and a life and I like to play girl characters.


    Why?


    I mainly play games that involve blowing things up, and I think girls with guns are sexy. Same with girls who drive fast cars, girls who can swordfight (q.v. Emma Peel, Uma Thurman in 'Kill Bill', Charlie's Angels, yada yada yada.) And I know a lot of other guys who think the same.


    Also, look at how popular Tomb Raider was. So it doesn't make a lot of sense that sword-chicks on Everquest would sell for less. Maybe the magic and fantasy geeks have a stronger desire to be CONAN THE BIG UGLY MUSCULAR BARBARIAN than those of us who already look that way. :-)


    But I suppose what it all comes down to is that I wish I'd been able to spend my college years 'researching' this kind of paper.


    Or maybe I just like looking at girls' butts, offscreen or on...

    --
    Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
    1. Re:Girl Characters by asdkrht · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Well, should guys really be going around and hitting on what they presume (hope?) are sexy girls in game in the first place?

      I think there are some girl gamers that use male avatars to get away from this kind of thing.

    2. Re:Girl Characters by ChadN · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Maybe male characters are "worth" more because there is more demand for women wanting to have male characters, than men wanting to have female characters.

      --
      "It's overkill, of course. But you can never have too much overkill." - Anonymous Slashdot Coward
  4. Re:seems obvious by 6hill · · Score: 3, Insightful

    But if you bought a char to develop it further (which is what I'd assume, given that the primary function of a character is to be a playable object), wouldn't it be beneficial if people were more likely to give you free stuff? I.e. female characters would be more desirable and hence more pricey?

  5. Re:Actually... by will_die · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I usally just use female character if I am tring to test something or just want to look around.
    However I noticed that I do get treated better and just sitting around I will get more people offering to group or even standing around me.
    One other thing I get is a whole lot of sexual messages, suggestions of that nature, and lots of profanity sent to me.

  6. Re:seems obvious by MyRuger · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A do agree with this post. One day I decided to create a female Barbarian Beastlord and I ran her out into the world. Before I got to my newbie zone I had been given two items and high level shaman buffs. Unfortunatley I can't RP a female so I deleted her 10 levels in.

    The Flip side of this story is that according to several surverys about 25% of EQ players are female IRL. My Main character is a Half-elf Paladin and the Ladies just love him. I have been offered help and items from female characters many times.