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A contentious issue this one. It seems to me that the male is more game orientated due to the competitive nature of being male, we like to be the best at everything we do, and gaming is one outlet for expressing this, being able to beat a computer, or the developers, at their own game.
This, of course, is a wild generalization, I'm not implying that girls don't play games, a lot do, and I'm not implying that they are not competitive, a lot are. I'm not generalizing the male stereotype either, it just seems to me that the gamers' world is very male orientated.
This theory could perhaps be supported by data available from Special Reserves membership database. For example:-
What is the ratio of girls : boys in the membership?
What is the sales ratio for these elements?
What is the genre mix for these elements (do girls and boys like different types of game for example)?
These and other questions could easily be answered, or perhaps a survey conducted, the results of which could be passed on to the development community to see what they could do about providing a more satisfactory gaming experience for either group.
How many females in this forum, for example, would agree that there is not enough out there for them, that something more is required?
How many males in this forum, for example, would think that gaming is too male orientated? And do we care?
This, of course, is a wild generalization, I'm not implying that girls don't play games, a lot do, and I'm not implying that they are not competitive, a lot are. I'm not generalizing the male stereotype either, it just seems to me that the gamers' world is very male orientated.
This theory could perhaps be supported by data available from Special Reserves membership database. For example:-
What is the ratio of girls : boys in the membership?
What is the sales ratio for these elements?
What is the genre mix for these elements (do girls and boys like different types of game for example)?
These and other questions could easily be answered, or perhaps a survey conducted, the results of which could be passed on to the development community to see what they could do about providing a more satisfactory gaming experience for either group.
How many females in this forum, for example, would agree that there is not enough out there for them, that something more is required?
How many males in this forum, for example, would think that gaming is too male orientated? And do we care?
It doesn't necessarily have to appeal to them, it just has to drop the image of being for Men only in people's minds and in the eyes of the media. A good start to increase appeal to women though would be to have games reviewed in magazines which women buy, ones about music or videos, or even those women's only ones and so forth...
Exactly Gronti, well put, but how to facilitate this route for women into gaming, how can it be made to appeal more to them? Still waiting for Special Reserve's database to back us up with some facts and figures for this one, hope they do though, it could prove interesting.
Well i think that women gamers have plenty of choice... it is often said that "the fairer sex" prefers nice, pleasant things like 3D Garden Designer Pro, or Barbie Shops Again!, but i think that this is an unfair misconception... i don't see why all women should hate running around in a ship trying to frag anyone who comes into their sights in the most violent manner possible! Maybe some women don't like this kind of thing, but the same goes for some men. Another problem is that it is sometimes seen that women gamers wouldn't be given a fair chance if they try to get into games. They may feel they will be treated differently because they are female when playing on-line, or that they will be seen as unusual just because they do something that is seen as a Male Only activity (though it only is to a certain extent, and never out loud). I don't think gaming is too Male oriented, there is practically something for everyone (especially on the PC), it's just that it is often portrayed as being a Men's Club... but remember that women have already breached the walls of many an Men's Exclusive Golf Club, so why not this club! Prove them wrong!(the metaphorical them, who don't seem to be any individuals, just an invisible group) Of course as a Male gamer, i'm don't know exactly what women want, but the point is that all women are different and should have the right game without being scorned!
A contentious issue this one. It seems to me that the male is more game orientated due to the competitive nature of being male, we like to be the best at everything we do, and gaming is one outlet for expressing this, being able to beat a computer, or the developers, at their own game.
This, of course, is a wild generalization, I'm not implying that girls don't play games, a lot do, and I'm not implying that they are not competitive, a lot are. I'm not generalizing the male stereotype either, it just seems to me that the gamers' world is very male orientated.
This theory could perhaps be supported by data available from Special Reserves membership database. For example:-
What is the ratio of girls : boys in the membership?
What is the sales ratio for these elements?
What is the genre mix for these elements (do girls and boys like different types of game for example)?
These and other questions could easily be answered, or perhaps a survey conducted, the results of which could be passed on to the development community to see what they could do about providing a more satisfactory gaming experience for either group.
How many females in this forum, for example, would agree that there is not enough out there for them, that something more is required?
How many males in this forum, for example, would think that gaming is too male orientated? And do we care?
This, of course, is a wild generalization, I'm not implying that girls don't play games, a lot do, and I'm not implying that they are not competitive, a lot are. I'm not generalizing the male stereotype either, it just seems to me that the gamers' world is very male orientated.
This theory could perhaps be supported by data available from Special Reserves membership database. For example:-
What is the ratio of girls : boys in the membership?
What is the sales ratio for these elements?
What is the genre mix for these elements (do girls and boys like different types of game for example)?
These and other questions could easily be answered, or perhaps a survey conducted, the results of which could be passed on to the development community to see what they could do about providing a more satisfactory gaming experience for either group.
How many females in this forum, for example, would agree that there is not enough out there for them, that something more is required?
How many males in this forum, for example, would think that gaming is too male orientated? And do we care?