female gamers

[zanyweb]

I recently that, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, almost two-thirds of women between the ages of 25 to 34 play video games. Do you think the market offers games to reflect that? And how much do you think it's a matter of "women's games?"

[Pamalala]

Women play the same sorts of games that men do, so I don't really see the point of marketing directly to women with "women's games." I'd be much happier if they actually put effort into creating more female characters that weren't just big boobs and no brains, though.

[Micci]

I don't think the market is reading these polls because there are a lot of blood, guts and gore games out there. I'm not saying that from time to time I don't mind playing them - but not all the time.

[zanyweb]

That's how I see it, Micci. And each person is different. I don't think you can generalize that all women like or don't like a particular type of game or genre. For that matter, the same is true for men.

[SiA360]

Is that study only for console games or are they also including games on the internet like Facebook games and other ones too? I know some female gamers, but not enough on Xbox to justify that high of a figure for console gaming. I'm sure it includes the internet gaming sector as well.

[William]

I didn't know that there were so many female gamers. I only know two or three girls who have consoles in my group of friends... I can't imagine what exactly "women games" should be like. I assume a gamer is a gamer, no matter what gender (s)he may be. Other than introducing a wider variety of female characters, I don't quite see what they should change to games to make them more female-friendly.

[Jules]

I don't know why people would ever assume that women don't like video games. I don't think there are games for men or women, just games.

I'd be much happier if they actually put effort into creating more female characters that weren't just big boobs and no brains, though.

I'm totally with you there. There are too many games that cater to the male gaze.

[castlevania2011]

I'm a female gamer, and I play the same games my husband and brothers play. Call of Duty, God of War, Castlevania, Assassin's Creed, etc., etc., etc. It's so odd to me that men find it shocking that women like to play video games. Why is it so weird that women like to have fun? And who said that blood, guts, and gore were masculine? All the female friends I have own at least one console, if not more, so where is this "girls don't play games" stereotype coming from?!

[360vixen]

I think the two-thirds estimate is too high, honestly (unless they're counting the silly stuff on Facebook, which aren't real video games, in my opinion). Twenty-five to thirty-four is prime time for women to focus on their families, which doesn't leave much time for video games. Also, a lot of women just aren't into this form of entertainment, from what I gather.

As for female gamers only playing "women's games", I know this isn't true. Plenty of chicks can hold their own in the serious, male-dominated games. Although for me personally, I have to admit that most of the games I play would not be a top choice for my husband.