The only point about delaying gratification is if you get something better by waiting. It's the classic marshmallow experiment. The experiment wasn't, "I'll give you this marshmallow, and if you don't eat it for ten minutes you are a good person", it was, "I'll give you this marshmallow, and if you don't eat it for ten minutes I'll give you another one." It's a measure of short- versus long-term thinking. To put it another way, if I really want a brand new Ferrari the second it comes out, and I have the means to purchase this item with no negative effects (i.e. I have high disposable income), and there would be no substantial benefit to me if I waited six month, then I should buy my Ferrari. On the other hand, if I wanted a brand new Ferrari but purchasing it would mean I couldn't buy food for the next twelve years, then if I still bought it I'd be succumbing to instant gratification.
There are no popular fantasy games (pen-and-paper or computer-based) that I am aware of which deviate from the norm, to any measurable degree.
One word: Final. Since FFVII (and with only minor deviations), Square* has been pumping out its own genre of steampunk-and-Star-Wars style fantasy with only a smattering of Tolkienian/DnD influence. Similar Asian-produced RPG titles follow suit. I think that's the main point, though; they're Asian-produced. Elves and dwarves and grizzled rangers (oh my) are very much a product of the West; specifically Nordic-influenced Tolkien. Asia has a different stock of fantasy legends to draw from (Journey to the West anyone?), and thus pumps out different brands of fantasy.
To a certain degree, all fantasy is going to be the same simply because it's a genre. The Hero's Journey abounds no matter where you're from. Magic is probably going to be there (especially in steampunk/cyberpunk fantasy, to differentiate it from 'hard' sci-fi). Non-humans races are likely to be lurking about. If you're talking about a game, which requires mechanics, you're likely going to end up with some kind of class-based system, and it's a 99% bet that one of those classes will be a fighter, one will be a mage and one will be a healer.
On the other hand, if (disclaimer: like me) you're a fan of, say, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, you'll also know that something doesn't necessarily have to be thematically 'original' to be, well, original.
Meh, I'm also a female CompSci graduate. So, for that matter, are a lot of my friends. And I'm not ashamed to say it; I play a lot of the same games as my finance (and a lot of different ones), but often for different reasons.
A stereotype is a place to start, more than anything else, and yeah; they're generalized and won't apply to everyone. What I was trying to point out, I suppose, is that when most men discuss women gamers they discuss them from the point of "women like to play X types of games". What I'm saying here is that it's not the genre of game so much as the content. Yeah, there are girls who will like FPSes or RTSes or MMORPGs or puzzle-adventures, but what's more important than focusing on one type of game and saying "girls will play this" is trying to understand what appeals to women from an aesthetic, story and gameplay perspective. Not only that, but that making a game 'appealing' to the female market (notice here I'm not saying "you" or "me", rather I'm talking statistical averages and we can argue nature vs nurture until the Tauren come home but it's a bit moot right now) doesn't necessarily make it unappealing to the male market. Final Fantasy and World of Warcraft appeal to both genders; maybe for the same reasons, maybe not. I think it's shortsighted for game makers to solely focus on one market or the other (eg. Desperate Housewives, and you would not see me touching either the game or the show with an 11 foot pole). Sure, 'gender focus' games have their place -- in the same way chick lit or action films do -- but there's something deeper going on. Writers write books and directors make films that appeal to both genders; so why can't the gaming market?
And I'm all for stereotyping in the sense that it helps find an 'audience'... but we need to make sure we're starting from the right one. Which I'm not convinced is currently being done. Mostly because it seems the last person anyone actually asks are women themselves.
Almost every single girl I know plays some combination of Square-esque RPGs. Extrapolating out, I'd hazard that the following elements are required to make games 'appealing' to women:
Hot guys with fashionable outfits. Bye bye Generic Marine Shooter Man, hello Vincent Valentine/Arthas.
Character development, including but not limited to wangst, fluff, conflict, betrayal and romance. Does not include "revenge against demons who killed my wife/girlfriend/sister/dog".
Romantic plotlines that go beyond, "Boy meets girl. Girl gets kidnapped. Boy saves girl. Girl marries boy."
Interesting female characters. 'Interesting' does not include having large breasts, the ability to crush skulls with thighs or getting kidnapped.
Sensitive and/or vulnerable male characters. Sure, he can kick ass; but can he cook?
Asthetically appealing design and/or extensive character customizability. A gun is a gun, but a gun that shoots blasts of green plasma while glowing with the corona of ancient runes is cool. Bonus points if it's colour-co-ordinated with the rest of the character's outfit (no, "camo" doesn't count).
It's all very well to say "women play The Sims", but the question no-one asks is how women play The Sims. For example, guys I know who've played the game have a tendency to starve characters to death in single-cell inescapable rooms or have polyamorous relationships with the maid. Girls, on the other hand, tend to fill houses with models of their favourite musicians and movie characters and vicariously play out alternate relationships. It's not so much the game itself as the fact that women can use the free-form environment to create their own kind of gameplay/story.
Agreed (for the most part); I too am female, and my WoW-mains are also. I've always been somewhat bemused by the whole "girls get free stuff" line because, hell, I never have. Interestingly, when I'm grouping with people I don't know personally I usually find myself being referred to as 'he'; even after I correct people they often still don't believe me. I've got no idea what people think when I'm playing my male characters and I start talking about my boyfriend (or worse, partner).
Conversley, my boyfriend plays a female toon and flirts it up whenever he thinks he can get away with it. We had a few people in our raid almost in tears once because they were so confused as to his gender (people started refering to him as 's/he' and 'his/her'). He's also humilliated several of the resident server tools by playing the 'flirting bimbo' card (for loot, raid spots, gold, anything). Said tools have only later found out they've been had by talking to one of the people in our guild. Often it's me. I hear nothing breaks a gamer's spirt more than hearing, "Oh, 'her'? Yeah, 'she's' my IRL boyfriend."
Perhaps this should be a warning for all you, er, 'hopeful' male gamers out there.
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Agreed.
The only point about delaying gratification is if you get something better by waiting. It's the classic marshmallow experiment. The experiment wasn't, "I'll give you this marshmallow, and if you don't eat it for ten minutes you are a good person", it was, "I'll give you this marshmallow, and if you don't eat it for ten minutes I'll give you another one." It's a measure of short- versus long-term thinking. To put it another way, if I really want a brand new Ferrari the second it comes out, and I have the means to purchase this item with no negative effects (i.e. I have high disposable income), and there would be no substantial benefit to me if I waited six month, then I should buy my Ferrari. On the other hand, if I wanted a brand new Ferrari but purchasing it would mean I couldn't buy food for the next twelve years, then if I still bought it I'd be succumbing to instant gratification.
One word: Final. Since FFVII (and with only minor deviations), Square* has been pumping out its own genre of steampunk-and-Star-Wars style fantasy with only a smattering of Tolkienian/DnD influence. Similar Asian-produced RPG titles follow suit. I think that's the main point, though; they're Asian-produced. Elves and dwarves and grizzled rangers (oh my) are very much a product of the West; specifically Nordic-influenced Tolkien. Asia has a different stock of fantasy legends to draw from (Journey to the West anyone?), and thus pumps out different brands of fantasy.
To a certain degree, all fantasy is going to be the same simply because it's a genre. The Hero's Journey abounds no matter where you're from. Magic is probably going to be there (especially in steampunk/cyberpunk fantasy, to differentiate it from 'hard' sci-fi). Non-humans races are likely to be lurking about. If you're talking about a game, which requires mechanics, you're likely going to end up with some kind of class-based system, and it's a 99% bet that one of those classes will be a fighter, one will be a mage and one will be a healer.
On the other hand, if (disclaimer: like me) you're a fan of, say, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, you'll also know that something doesn't necessarily have to be thematically 'original' to be, well, original.
I was in the Scouts and I was -- and still am -- a girl, making me a girl Scout (as opposed to a Girl Scout).
The Girl Guides were a different organization again. They did a lot more baking and a lot less caving, if I remember correctly.
Meh, I'm also a female CompSci graduate. So, for that matter, are a lot of my friends. And I'm not ashamed to say it; I play a lot of the same games as my finance (and a lot of different ones), but often for different reasons.
A stereotype is a place to start, more than anything else, and yeah; they're generalized and won't apply to everyone. What I was trying to point out, I suppose, is that when most men discuss women gamers they discuss them from the point of "women like to play X types of games". What I'm saying here is that it's not the genre of game so much as the content. Yeah, there are girls who will like FPSes or RTSes or MMORPGs or puzzle-adventures, but what's more important than focusing on one type of game and saying "girls will play this" is trying to understand what appeals to women from an aesthetic, story and gameplay perspective. Not only that, but that making a game 'appealing' to the female market (notice here I'm not saying "you" or "me", rather I'm talking statistical averages and we can argue nature vs nurture until the Tauren come home but it's a bit moot right now) doesn't necessarily make it unappealing to the male market. Final Fantasy and World of Warcraft appeal to both genders; maybe for the same reasons, maybe not. I think it's shortsighted for game makers to solely focus on one market or the other (eg. Desperate Housewives, and you would not see me touching either the game or the show with an 11 foot pole). Sure, 'gender focus' games have their place -- in the same way chick lit or action films do -- but there's something deeper going on. Writers write books and directors make films that appeal to both genders; so why can't the gaming market?
And I'm all for stereotyping in the sense that it helps find an 'audience'... but we need to make sure we're starting from the right one. Which I'm not convinced is currently being done. Mostly because it seems the last person anyone actually asks are women themselves.
- Hot guys with fashionable outfits. Bye bye Generic Marine Shooter Man, hello Vincent Valentine/Arthas.
- Character development, including but not limited to wangst, fluff, conflict, betrayal and romance. Does not include "revenge against demons who killed my wife/girlfriend/sister/dog".
- Romantic plotlines that go beyond, "Boy meets girl. Girl gets kidnapped. Boy saves girl. Girl marries boy."
- Interesting female characters. 'Interesting' does not include having large breasts, the ability to crush skulls with thighs or getting kidnapped.
- Sensitive and/or vulnerable male characters. Sure, he can kick ass; but can he cook?
- Asthetically appealing design and/or extensive character customizability. A gun is a gun, but a gun that shoots blasts of green plasma while glowing with the corona of ancient runes is cool. Bonus points if it's colour-co-ordinated with the rest of the character's outfit (no, "camo" doesn't count).
It's all very well to say "women play The Sims", but the question no-one asks is how women play The Sims. For example, guys I know who've played the game have a tendency to starve characters to death in single-cell inescapable rooms or have polyamorous relationships with the maid. Girls, on the other hand, tend to fill houses with models of their favourite musicians and movie characters and vicariously play out alternate relationships. It's not so much the game itself as the fact that women can use the free-form environment to create their own kind of gameplay/story.Agreed (for the most part); I too am female, and my WoW-mains are also. I've always been somewhat bemused by the whole "girls get free stuff" line because, hell, I never have. Interestingly, when I'm grouping with people I don't know personally I usually find myself being referred to as 'he'; even after I correct people they often still don't believe me. I've got no idea what people think when I'm playing my male characters and I start talking about my boyfriend (or worse, partner).
Conversley, my boyfriend plays a female toon and flirts it up whenever he thinks he can get away with it. We had a few people in our raid almost in tears once because they were so confused as to his gender (people started refering to him as 's/he' and 'his/her'). He's also humilliated several of the resident server tools by playing the 'flirting bimbo' card (for loot, raid spots, gold, anything). Said tools have only later found out they've been had by talking to one of the people in our guild. Often it's me. I hear nothing breaks a gamer's spirt more than hearing, "Oh, 'her'? Yeah, 'she's' my IRL boyfriend."
Perhaps this should be a warning for all you, er, 'hopeful' male gamers out there.