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Take a normal high school PE lesson in an average school on an average day. The average male at the end of the average PE lesson will head into the changing rooms sweaty and muddy after an hour playing hard, competetive sport. The average female will wander back to the changing rooms having spent the hour gossiping and playing netball or something in a barely competetive environment and is unlikely to have broken a sweat.
This difference in attitudes towards competiton is reflected in most role models. The vast majority of male role models are seen as strong, intelligent and skilled, often excelling in a clearly competetive sport or profession. The female counterparts are skinny, don't obviously seem competetive (even if they have had to struggle hard to reach their position, it's generally not drawn attention to), and gossip.
Of course there are exceptions, the girls who play hockey with the boys and break shins to the top female athletes, but such people are in a vast minority.
How does this tie in with video games? The competetive element of video games is obvious, from the challenge of the objectives to be achieved to the combative nature of most games and the high score table. So does this explain why so few girls are interested in gaming? If they find no or little desire to play these games when the main purpose of the game is in competition, and this is the case with most games, of course they won't spend large amounts of money on consoles and games. On the other hand, the competition seems much more attractive to men, perhaps explaining why we are prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on the latest games and consoles.
So this explains why boys men use phone lines to beat opponents on internet games, while girls use phone lines to gossip?
However, the future is looking at change. The growth of computer 'toys' such as the mario party series and dance games such as samba di amigo are far less concerned with the competetive element, and instead emphasise the fun, entertainment factor of the games. And if the situation in Japan in any way indicates our future, we'll soon all be in arcade halls playing fun 'toys' that all ages and sexs want to spend their time and money on, and presumably this will be reflected further in the games available for consoles.
Prepair to be kicked off your console by your sister!
This difference in attitudes towards competiton is reflected in most role models. The vast majority of male role models are seen as strong, intelligent and skilled, often excelling in a clearly competetive sport or profession. The female counterparts are skinny, don't obviously seem competetive (even if they have had to struggle hard to reach their position, it's generally not drawn attention to), and gossip.
Of course there are exceptions, the girls who play hockey with the boys and break shins to the top female athletes, but such people are in a vast minority.
How does this tie in with video games? The competetive element of video games is obvious, from the challenge of the objectives to be achieved to the combative nature of most games and the high score table. So does this explain why so few girls are interested in gaming? If they find no or little desire to play these games when the main purpose of the game is in competition, and this is the case with most games, of course they won't spend large amounts of money on consoles and games. On the other hand, the competition seems much more attractive to men, perhaps explaining why we are prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on the latest games and consoles.
So this explains why boys men use phone lines to beat opponents on internet games, while girls use phone lines to gossip?
However, the future is looking at change. The growth of computer 'toys' such as the mario party series and dance games such as samba di amigo are far less concerned with the competetive element, and instead emphasise the fun, entertainment factor of the games. And if the situation in Japan in any way indicates our future, we'll soon all be in arcade halls playing fun 'toys' that all ages and sexs want to spend their time and money on, and presumably this will be reflected further in the games available for consoles.
Prepair to be kicked off your console by your sister!
Well thank you - I feared for my own life though
She wanted to turn me into lamb chops :)
She wanted to turn me into lamb chops :)
well done sheepy!
My ex who is a physco! :D used to say to me
Craig for goodness sake your always on that computer playing games it is such a waste of time
One of the many reasons why I kille .......... dumped her yes thats right ... dumped he he :)
Craig for goodness sake your always on that computer playing games it is such a waste of time
One of the many reasons why I kille .......... dumped her yes thats right ... dumped he he :)
I know a few girls that like Tomb Raider. The majority of girls (who I know) don't play computer games because they are too busy waiting for their nails to dry etc. :-)
Its a known fact that the weaker sex of females believe that most of computer games are a waste of time
That shows you why they are the weaker sex :D
That shows you why they are the weaker sex :D
My ex played Street Fighter, always seemed to be the female Chun li though!
They are always the girls!
They are always the girls!
Yeah, you're right, different planets and all that. There are exceptions, there are girls that can play games just as well as boys, but more importantly have that kind of boyish mentality that allows them to enjoy that kind of pasttime.
Only a few games appeal to girls though, and it's down to the girls to let developers know what they want out of gaming (if anything). Until they do that, developers are always going to carry on churning out the money making Metal Gear Solids, the Legend of Zelda's and the Street Fighters, because they know that the gaming market being predominantly male-orientated will buy them.
So the netball, so to speak, is in the girls' court.
Only a few games appeal to girls though, and it's down to the girls to let developers know what they want out of gaming (if anything). Until they do that, developers are always going to carry on churning out the money making Metal Gear Solids, the Legend of Zelda's and the Street Fighters, because they know that the gaming market being predominantly male-orientated will buy them.
So the netball, so to speak, is in the girls' court.
Take a normal high school PE lesson in an average school on an average day. The average male at the end of the average PE lesson will head into the changing rooms sweaty and muddy after an hour playing hard, competetive sport. The average female will wander back to the changing rooms having spent the hour gossiping and playing netball or something in a barely competetive environment and is unlikely to have broken a sweat.
This difference in attitudes towards competiton is reflected in most role models. The vast majority of male role models are seen as strong, intelligent and skilled, often excelling in a clearly competetive sport or profession. The female counterparts are skinny, don't obviously seem competetive (even if they have had to struggle hard to reach their position, it's generally not drawn attention to), and gossip.
Of course there are exceptions, the girls who play hockey with the boys and break shins to the top female athletes, but such people are in a vast minority.
How does this tie in with video games? The competetive element of video games is obvious, from the challenge of the objectives to be achieved to the combative nature of most games and the high score table. So does this explain why so few girls are interested in gaming? If they find no or little desire to play these games when the main purpose of the game is in competition, and this is the case with most games, of course they won't spend large amounts of money on consoles and games. On the other hand, the competition seems much more attractive to men, perhaps explaining why we are prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on the latest games and consoles.
So this explains why boys men use phone lines to beat opponents on internet games, while girls use phone lines to gossip?
However, the future is looking at change. The growth of computer 'toys' such as the mario party series and dance games such as samba di amigo are far less concerned with the competetive element, and instead emphasise the fun, entertainment factor of the games. And if the situation in Japan in any way indicates our future, we'll soon all be in arcade halls playing fun 'toys' that all ages and sexs want to spend their time and money on, and presumably this will be reflected further in the games available for consoles.
Prepair to be kicked off your console by your sister!
This difference in attitudes towards competiton is reflected in most role models. The vast majority of male role models are seen as strong, intelligent and skilled, often excelling in a clearly competetive sport or profession. The female counterparts are skinny, don't obviously seem competetive (even if they have had to struggle hard to reach their position, it's generally not drawn attention to), and gossip.
Of course there are exceptions, the girls who play hockey with the boys and break shins to the top female athletes, but such people are in a vast minority.
How does this tie in with video games? The competetive element of video games is obvious, from the challenge of the objectives to be achieved to the combative nature of most games and the high score table. So does this explain why so few girls are interested in gaming? If they find no or little desire to play these games when the main purpose of the game is in competition, and this is the case with most games, of course they won't spend large amounts of money on consoles and games. On the other hand, the competition seems much more attractive to men, perhaps explaining why we are prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on the latest games and consoles.
So this explains why boys men use phone lines to beat opponents on internet games, while girls use phone lines to gossip?
However, the future is looking at change. The growth of computer 'toys' such as the mario party series and dance games such as samba di amigo are far less concerned with the competetive element, and instead emphasise the fun, entertainment factor of the games. And if the situation in Japan in any way indicates our future, we'll soon all be in arcade halls playing fun 'toys' that all ages and sexs want to spend their time and money on, and presumably this will be reflected further in the games available for consoles.
Prepair to be kicked off your console by your sister!