Video Game Makers Thinking Too Much About Girls Instead Of Games
from the this-again? dept
It seems like every few months or so there's yet another news article published somewhere complaining that the video game industry doesn't focus enough on women. The latest is from the BBC, quoting someone from EA saying that the industry is "failing women." This is the same story that's been said for years. There was even a well-hyped video game company called Purple Moon during the last boom that was entirely focused on "games for girls" -- and it failed. The problem, it seems, is that every time someone tries to make such games, they focus so much on the "girls" part that they come up with silly, stereotypical ideas for games that emphasize the "girl" part, rather than the gameplay. In the meantime, it appears that there actually are a ton of female gamers -- it's just that they're more likely to be found playing "casual" games, rather than first person shooters. So, perhaps instead of focusing on "games for girls," the industry should stop worrying about it and focus on making good games.
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And the cycle repeats...
Yes, social-verbal includes a lot of women and more than a few guys. However you can find more than a few blood-thirsty women out there as well. Heck, my 76 y.o. Mom is always the person chosen first when playing Napoleonic War games, for her expertise with artillery! And you certainly don't want to go against Sis (ex-Army) in any FPS.
The problem with these marketing-droids is that they want to market to the greatest common denominator in a very messy market (world) that if further fragmenting as the internet time ticks by.
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Other games
All they need to do to sell games to women is make good games, and perhaps tone down the game box art but even then, not all women find it instantly offensive to see some sort of cleavage on the cover. It's a fact of life they've gotten used to seeing, and many are willing to look beyond it at the game.
But if the game play is not there, all the cover art in the world won't save it. Realistically, 90+% of games are crap. Put some skin on the cover and guys will think that crappy game doesn't seem like such a bad purchase. Girls are not fooled by covers. They know it's crap and they won't won't buy. They are extremely choosy.
Game companies need to focus on making solid games instead of putting skin covers on bad ones. This is harder work. It may not make as much money. But it good games get everyone playing and the customer wins. Guys too.
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Clan Girls
You are sadly mistaken there Mike. I've seen a lot of female Enemy Territory gamers, plus I've seen a few incredibly hot Enemy Territory girls in clans as well. And it goes well beyond that game. Ever hear of GirlsofCS? Yea, and as many female gamers as there are on Enemy Territory there are a ton more that playing Counter Strike.
Personally, I couldn't be more thrilled. What's better than a hot girl who plays games like Counter Strike? I bet being pulling off some headshots against your wife would be pretty therapeutic.
Of course, I'm sure you'd find more girls who play RPGs like the Final Fantasy series and whatnot. Now, considering the amount of girls who played, and the plot line of Final Fantasy X-2 along with the fact that there are quite a few female FPS addicts... I'd say it's about time people just let it go [and they could start making more games like final fantasy ^_^].
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Re: Clan Girls
Which part of "more likely" was confusing? He didn't say that no girls play first persons shooters, just that most women who "game" are likely to be found playing casual games, which the stats support.
I love anecdotal evidence from one person against actual numbers.
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Doll house...
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There are girl gamers...
Female gamers may not be a huge demographic but even if they were trying to market girlie games to them is not going to work.
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Umm...
Games are games. We all play them. If both sexes end up liking the same thing, cool. What's wrong with that?
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Video Games are for Boys! (Girls have cooties)
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"Girl" games
Hmmm.
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Re: "Girl" games
So yeah sterotypes suck.
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Re: Re: Clan Girls
The majority of girls will be found playing "casual" games [whatever that's supposed to mean]... but out of that majority how many also play [non-casual?] FPSs? there is no distinction between the "casual" female gamer and this "non-casual" female gamer. it's like trying to generalize and say that any guy who plays FPSs ONLY plays FPSs and any guy who plays RPGs ONLY pays RPGs... as if there is a clear cut line defining the playing habits of gamers.
In summation, it's absurd to generalize and say that most girls play "casual" games... when such ideas are only a warping of the statistics to fit a theory. Statistics never lie... statisticians do.
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sex with u baby boy
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Re: sex with u baby boy
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Re: sex with u baby boy
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A few observations from a gamer
Mike, why don't you tell us what a "good" game is? It seems as if you think games geared toward women would be inherently "bad" games. Is this because they're stereotypical or because they're not something you'd play yourself?
Also, why don't you define "casual" gaming? I see a few other people on this board have wondered the same thing. "Casual" has a lot of definitions, and because we're gamers (I would assume mostly gamers are reading this) we can come up with a general idea, but please. If you're going to categorize people, at least understand the categories you are tossing them into.
Also, why, oh WHY do you cite Purple Moon as a failure? Did you mention the reason they went down was because of ethnic stereotyping and dull gameplay? No? That's right, you just mentioned they were a gaming company geared "towards girls" that "was a failure." Misleading much? Oh, and by the way: You cite Techdirt for the entry that's supposedly "proof" of Purple Moon being a failure. Within that story, I had to click another link to a page that doesn't exist. Frustrating.
Almost done.
To the guys who are attempting to be supportive: Thank you, but do you always have to tag on "AND THEY'RE HOT" at the end of your argument? I mean, really, is it relevant if the gamers who happen to be female are physically attractive? Don't you realize this is what pisses most women off anyway, being valued for looks instead of their skills?
Finally. To the jackass that asked why women don't "make them themselves": Seriously. You must know how many people it takes to make a game. You must understand marketing strategies (at which Purple Moon failed miserably) and the sheer amount of men compared to women in this field. While I understand men have put together companies, realize this is still a a very young, and very male-dominated field; it took the men time to get to where they are today. With the number of female gamers rising, this is a possibility. But they can't just do it overnight.
That being said, if you read all this, thanks. If you want to talk to me more about it, send me a message on Myspace. Peace.
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Thank you very much. As I read down the line I wanted to say the same thing. Looks have nothing to do with playing games and are completely irrelevant in this discussion. And it may sound like a compliment, but the motivating attitude is actually quite harmful.
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Girl gamers!(RULE)
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re
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