Video Games: Not Just for Boys

For eons, games were seen as a male thing. The "Barbies" of males, if one were to make a comparison (actually, I don't know what to compare it with -_-'). This is because all games back in the days seemed to present problems which were resolved with violence, among other reasons. With the sudden influx of games which appeal to anyone (such as Nintendogs) the gaming market has changed quite a bit. More girls, adults (in their 40's or something, say) and even grandparents are discovering the gaming world.

For those out there who aren't adolescent boys, how do you feel as a minority in the gaming world? How did you get into the world of gaming? Why do you enjoy games rather than what you'd usually be associated with (for example, as a girl, singing and dancing... OMG this is SO MUCH GENERALISING... sorry for the sexism -_-') ?

So yeh... discuss.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Do you reckon the next generation (for portables, this generation) of consoles will likely help this perception that games are a guys thing only? What with the games I've seen comng out for PS3 and Xbox360 so far... Hmm...

On another note, slightly off-topic, this was a few months ago. A Current Affair program over here in Australia had a story about people not going to work because of games. Two people they interviewed were girls... But BOY were they like blokes ('scuse the pun). It's got me thinking... Are there any girls who doesn't have a "nerdy" or "geeky" type past who play games (DDR etc. doesn't count)? Or girls who don't act like guys?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well, do girls usually incorporate the topic of games into their daily conversations? I know some friends who talk Warcraft 24/7 (annoying -_-').

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Originally Posted by pisscart deluxe

This thread:

"Please notice that I'm a girl playing videogames! I'm trendy! And out of the norm, and hip! I understand boys and what they like to do! I'm so much cooler than those girls who get mad when their boyfriends play Halo!"

Come on.

It's insulting to everyone to be totally surprised that a girl could enjoy videogames and feel like it's some kind of recognition you have to fight for. I've never expected (or experienced) a guy being shocked and aroused that I owned Soul Calibur, so just play your games and be happy with it. It's not some sort of women's liberation movement.

...

Well I made this thread in response to Nintendo's speech about reaching "other consumers" and they (to my memory) included "girls" as "other customers". Not to do what you wrote above.

By now, it shouldn't have to be like, "Holy crap you play games?" when girls are buying their games over the counter. But yet for some reason no matter how much people think the industry has changed, girls are still seen as "another group" altogether.

This thread's intention is to discuss on many aspects of being an "other gamer".

And I guess to add a bit more flavour into this thread, are there any gamers out there who are not "boys" (boys: kid, teen, young adult)? Like, for example, a parent? A priest?

Discuss discuss.

-EDIT-

Originally Posted by Technophile

Wow the news just keeps on coming and E3 hasn't even started yet!

Ok so Kojima has stated that he's working on a brand new IP just for Wii! Here's the questionable part: It's geared towards girls. Eh? How girly are we talking? Cause I can take Animal Crossing/Nintendogs "girly" but if it's more like Barbie's Horse Adventures, then I'm a bit worried.

Discuss. (sorry technophile ^_^)

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