Girls Got Game

Via Joystiq, a story on the ABC News site discussing the (gasp) rising interest in games within the fairer sex. From the article: "I think it's easy to kind of stereotype that women don't want to shoot or that women don't want to do sports or that women don't want fast-paced action...I don't think that's true. I think that was part of the reason the industry wasn't speaking to women before." As Mr. Zackheim comments, I believe it more to be a lack of interest/effort on the gaming publisher's part that has resulted in the current player demographic profile.

Comments

accessories

[davez0r]

my girlfriend was COMPLETELY uninterested in playing world of warcraft until i told her that you could accessorize. she could be a cute elf with a really tasteful cloak and matching gloves!

then she was just uninterested. not COMPLETELY uninterested, but pretty uninterested.

Re:accessories

[davez0r]

omg how is this redundant? it's a true story and COMPLETELY RELEVANT!

let me add another piece of anectodal evidence to the argument that accessories increase girls' enjoyment of games.

so a female friend at work asks me what game she should get. of course, i tell her the sims. she asks me what's so great about the sims.

me: you can control when they eat and pee!
her: meh
me: you can build their house! it's neat.
her: meh
me: you can have them make out with each other
her: meh
me: you can dress them up in different outfits
her: HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP I MUST HAVE IT!!!

her wording was a little different, but that was the way it went down.

Gaming is good for girls too!

[kniLnamiJ-neB]

My wife loves the Delta Force series and Call of Duty. She's getting better, too... I'm trying to convince her to come to the next LAN party with me.

1. Realize you're leaving out 50% of the market.
2. Ask this "left-out" segment if they like your product.
3. ...?
4. Profit!