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

Re:Need the right game

[TyfStar]

Being the afore-mentioned wife, I think the reason I play MMORPG's without him, and other games only with friends, is the personal aspect. As the old adage goes: "a man may work from sun to sun but a womans work is never done". I have only really wanted to play games to waste time when I'm waiting in line or at work between tasks. When I get home, I have things that need to get done, and I don't have 5 hours to sit mindlessly at a computer just to finish a game. It seems senseless. if I'm going to play a game, something needs to come of it! however, if it becomes a sort of contact sport, such as an MMORPG, or ET where you kill your husband in the next room and his friends.. that is a lot more worth it. Playing Fatal Frame, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat with your mate is a form of "together" time that is actually interesting, cooperative, and productive -- definitely moreso than TV. However.. reading FP up there.. I suddenly have a distinct need to play Bloodrayne... alone... But, back on topic... I say that girls have the games out there ... there is a good range. Now you have to give them a REASON to play. It seems all the guys I know just enjoy the time to waste. But I need a reason to give up 3 hours to get my char one level instead of playing Mario Party with my daughter, oil painting, gardening, doing homework, reading, cleaning, giving daughter a bath, or doign ANYTHIGN with daughter while she's still young enough to like me... So, to answer the /. equation: 1) Create games 2) Advertise games so men like them 3) Advertise female aspect of already-bought game as: a) a way to talk to boyfriend that owns the game already and WILL be on it anyway. b) a way to get out frustration on boy that wouldn't go to family easter party by killing him repeatedly with knife in ET... and then taunt him to his friends that he's getting killed by a girl. Oh, and have a cheat code for girls that boys do NOT want. For example: Girls get pink skirted uniforms, but higher computer-controlled aiming. Because c'mon, it needs to be fair against these guys that HAVE played non-stop for 3 years. Pink frilly skirt can be modified depending on how much cheating you want to use. if you're going to cheat up to almost-god-mode, you have to wear a bikini. That seems fair. c) a way to find other friends that agree that the rumble packs & BloodRayne are heaven-sent, if only you could set the vibration on controller 2 to "constant" while using controller 1. 4) Offer 30day trial for solely "trying out" afore-mentioned game without having to borrow other friends computer. 5) End of 30 day: Profit!! ~*~

Re:Sources of info?

[dq5 studios]

>> It seemed to me that gamer culture was a bit more girl-friendly in Japan than in the States

I guess you could say that