On Female Video Gamers
Since I look so hurried all the time, people have asked me what’s making me so haggard. When I say that (besides being a Game Producer and running a Communications department) I am doing my thesis, the immediate follow-up question would be, what is your thesis all about?
The answer: Girls and gaming.
One of the videos I came across while doing my research is this interesting piece done by Escapist Magazine’s Daniel Floyd, featuring Gamasutra’s Leigh Alexander, a girl gamer, journalist and a blogger. She’s a hardcore gamer, like I used to be before real life set in (LOL). And if my suspicions are correct, she’s also a Third Wave feminist, like I am. (We don’t mind it if female game protagonists are wearing nothing but loincloths, like in Anito
In any case, Floyd wondered about why women aren’t into hardcore video games, and here’s what he came up with:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ZVZRsy8N8&w=410&h=337]
My thoughts? Hm. I originally wanted to do a thesis on girls and MMORPGs, but since my day job is all about casual games, I decided to lessen my academic burden and study casual gaming girls instead. I think the interest in casual gaming, which was discussed in the last part of the video, doesn’t really have anything to do with girls being right-brained. I mean, check out our art department. It’s predominantly male. And we all know that artists are right-brained.
I think it has more to do with the tasks women juggle before and after work hours than simply just being interested in cute and pretty things. Many of my old hardcore gaming girl buddies are now casual gamers, and I think many of them eased into those games after they got married. Just my two pesos. Hehe.
Anyhoo, your thoughts?
Image above is from http://www.xkcd.com/67/
14 Comments
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Janette Toral
July 19, 2011 at 12:50 amThanks for sharing this. I enjoyed the video and agree. Hope they will improve the packaging of characters so that women will feel that this sector is also for them as participants – rather than objects.
Marc Aldrin Collado
July 19, 2011 at 2:33 amI can relate to this (Even though I'm not a girl) I make 'em casual games. Gameplay-wise and art-wise, the game just gotta attract both sexes into playing.
A lot of stuffs 'ere is true, I say.
Claire Ponsaran
July 19, 2011 at 2:50 amYou got that right! I used to play Nintendo games until my thumbs were sore. I reached the last levels of Mario Brothers and Rambo. I also enjoyed playing Dunes and Doom with my male friends in high school and college. Later, reality sets in. I had to get a job, pay the bills, and do what most adults do. I simply lost the time to play games to give priority to more important stuff.
skysenshi
July 19, 2011 at 9:40 pmThanks for dropping by, Ms. Toral! I really want to promote the game industry, not just our company, especially now that CICT has been dissolved (I was at the CICT Convergence a couple of weeks ago). And I think empowering women in our industry (“Womenomics”) is one of the things that will help make it flourish.
skysenshi
July 19, 2011 at 9:41 pmAnd we need more gals in the gaming industry. Hihihi.
skysenshi
July 19, 2011 at 9:45 pmExactly what I was talking about. I think the only reason I haven't fully transitioned into the casual gaming realm is that I am unmarried and have no kids to take care of. So far, it's only work/study/association meetings for me. Whenever I want some “me” time (which is something most married women cannot afford to have), I immerse myself in RPGs.
I actually salute a lot of married women, especially mommy bloggers. I have no idea where they draw their energy from, especially the ones that can update their blogs everyday while taking care of their children and their day jobs. Many of them are casual gamers.
Alpha Parent
July 21, 2011 at 5:06 pmHi. Sorry for being cheeky and incredibly OT, but how did you get the reactions check boxes and following to appear after every blog post:
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Aileen M
July 22, 2011 at 2:52 pmI think you are spot on regarding women and their task juggling. I totally immersed myself playing RO a few years back. I only had an average of 3 hours of sleep a day. I really got addicted haha. Now, I just play PSP because I don't have time to play MMORPG's anymore. If I had time, I would love to play again! I love kicking the guys' butts in PVP and sieges. Those were the days 😀
skysenshi
July 23, 2011 at 12:01 pmHi! It's in the settings of Blogger.com. Check under Design and Page Elements. The content box has them. 🙂
skysenshi
July 23, 2011 at 12:02 pmHee. I'm on the PSP and DS now too because they're portable.
Engrjohnraycabrera
August 12, 2011 at 3:28 amplaying while working is tantamount to termination in our company, so you're lucky to be there.
madjewel
September 20, 2011 at 5:10 amPlaying games is one of bonding activity with bf =)
We're both developers and considered it as “sharpening the saw” haha
so if we have kids, i prefer playing games with them than strolling in the mall =D
and oh I hope I could work in your company XD
skysenshi
September 20, 2011 at 9:37 pmHello, madjewel! 😀 Which company do you work for? 😀
skysenshi
May 4, 2012 at 11:54 pmWeirdly enough, I think I commented to this post but probably not. I still remember what I said, though…or didn't say. Ahk. Well, getting in here was kind of nerve-wracking because the exams were whoa! Hardest I've ever been through, actually. LOL. So I guess the CEO thought we all deserved some kind of break.