I find it difficult to believe any of us are "prewired" for anything. It's environmental. This is a perfect example of society projecting an image on gender. The only reason so many women are better at "socializing, nurturing and gathering skills" is because it is shoved down their throats from the time they can hold a doll. Boys also are forced to believe that they must play the "hunting and defense" rolls because they are teased if they show "feminine" attributes. I was lucky enough to have an open environment where I enjoyed much of both "roles". I find a variety of games entertaining. I think that experiencing something new is what makes gaming interesting. If women are forced to fit in a mould, then everything will be the same and we will quickly lose interest. I say, make the games interesting, beautiful, and fun, and guys and gals will both play. The wonderful thing about games is each game has the potential to be a work of art. Like many art forms there are an array of facets to consider: story, environment, characters, play style, rewards, and so on. Every aspect of a game takes time and effort from many individuals pouring their lives into this art. I know I can appreciate both a great new weapon, and the way the water reflects in a game. Appreciation of art can be done by both men and women, and has been since the beginning of time. Treat the games like art and you will succeed, treat them like marketing tools and you will eventually fail. Just make them good!
Slashdot Mirror
I find it difficult to believe any of us are "prewired" for anything. It's environmental. This is a perfect example of society projecting an image on gender. The only reason so many women are better at "socializing, nurturing and gathering skills" is because it is shoved down their throats from the time they can hold a doll. Boys also are forced to believe that they must play the "hunting and defense" rolls because they are teased if they show "feminine" attributes. I was lucky enough to have an open environment where I enjoyed much of both "roles". I find a variety of games entertaining. I think that experiencing something new is what makes gaming interesting. If women are forced to fit in a mould, then everything will be the same and we will quickly lose interest. I say, make the games interesting, beautiful, and fun, and guys and gals will both play. The wonderful thing about games is each game has the potential to be a work of art. Like many art forms there are an array of facets to consider: story, environment, characters, play style, rewards, and so on. Every aspect of a game takes time and effort from many individuals pouring their lives into this art. I know I can appreciate both a great new weapon, and the way the water reflects in a game. Appreciation of art can be done by both men and women, and has been since the beginning of time. Treat the games like art and you will succeed, treat them like marketing tools and you will eventually fail. Just make them good!