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WiseOldUnicorn · Oct 27, 2009, 11:41 PM

I recall reading somewhere that close to 50% of gamers are female. Of course, they weren't distinguishing there between casual female gamers who stick to things like puzzle games and Guitar Hero, and the more "hardcore" female gamers that play games like Halo and Gears of War--they were counting anyone who plays any kind of video game on a regular basis as being a gamer. But still.

I think the real difference may just be that female gamers don't make their presence known to the extent that male gamers do, most likely because society tends to view video games as being a "guy thing." Typically, the girls I know that are very public about their love of gaming tend to be more tomboyish in general, including me. The girls I know that are more feminine in most cases still PLAY games, including some of the more hardcore games--my sister is the type you'd expect to stick to things like Nintendogs, and she absolutely LOVES Assassin's Creed--but they don't talk about them as much. It's rarely a conversation topic for them. So most people would tend to assume they weren't into gaming at all, or at best, were casual gamers.

morgaine300 · Oct 28, 2009, 12:58 AM

I recall reading somewhere that close to 50% of gamers are female. Of course, they weren't distinguishing there between casual female gamers who stick to things like puzzle games and Guitar Hero, and the more "hardcore" female gamers that play games like Halo and Gears of War--they were counting anyone who plays any kind of video game on a regular basis as being a gamer. But still.

Yeah, true. I've heard that. I too play board games and puzzle stuff, card games, etc. I have one of those Hoyle things that has casino, board and card stuff. I just like playing stuff, period. Those are good for when you just want something quick to relax and don't want to get involved with something. A half hour before I go to bed is not really when I want to be pulling out Medal of Honor or something... cause I'm never getting to bed.

I think the real difference may just be that female gamers don't make their presence known to the extent that male gamers do, most likely because society tends to view video games as being a "guy thing." Typically, the girls I know that are very public about their love of gaming tend to be more tomboyish in general, including me.

After your first sentence, I thought, who cares. I'm not the type to care if it's a "guy thing." In fact, I get along with guys much better most of the time anyway. I'm not really a tomboy exactly, but I'm not one of those females who likes shopping and gets all concerned about my hair and nails, and for that matter, if my butt looks to big. :p I do run around in jeans and tshirts and have my hair up in a pony tail. (I'm probably killing my image of being an accountant here too. :D) If I wear a dress for something I tell people they better take a good long cause they're never seeing it again. Not tomboyish exactly, but certainly not the overly feminine type either. There might be something to that.

jaime90 · Oct 28, 2009, 09:43 AM

I'm the same way. I concern myself with my appearance that I don't "let myself go" and I want to look presentable in public, but I'm just like you- ponytail, jeans, a tshirt- and dresses on very rare and special occasions. I get along with guys way better too- there's tons less drama to worry about =)

Synnen · Oct 28, 2009, 10:00 AM

Perhaps that is why our opinions on this differ so greatly.

I AM the girly girl. I wear dresses and suits and put on make up every morning. I like being a woman.

That doesn't mean I'm not a gamer--I play video games EVERY DAY. Sometimes it's the Sims, sometimes it's an MMO, sometimes it's Guitar Hero.

That doesn't mean I'm not a gamer. Just means I'm not a tomboy.

morgaine300 · Oct 28, 2009, 10:25 PM

I like being a woman too. It doesn't require dresses and makeup.

Synnen · Oct 29, 2009, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by morgaine300

I like being a woman too. It doesn't require dresses and makeup.

Oh, for heaven's sake.

Seriously? Are you going to argue with EVERYTHING I say? I never said that you didn't like being a woman!

So done with this thread. You "real" gamers can pat each other on the back and agree with each other or go to hell for all I care. I have better things to do than argue with little girls that have to be right.

albear · Oct 29, 2009, 05:41 AM

To be honest I don't think it was meant like that synn, I took it more along the lines of

Synnen: I like Pie

Morgaine: I like Pie too, just not apple pie

i.e just because she said she likes pie doesn't mean you said she didn't, :)

Calm down a bit and have some pie k :)

jaime90 · Oct 29, 2009, 09:46 AM

Lol. Synn, that was a really big overreaction. Morgain did state a very true fact- dresses and makeup does not make you a woman. NO dresses and NO makeup does not make you a woman either. You portray womanhood in your own way- don't get offended when someone's way is different than yours- everyone is different.

cdenisego · Oct 29, 2009, 01:55 PM

I personally love video games. In fact, I love Gears of War 2, and am super excited about double xp this weekend!! Anyhoo, I have always loved video games, from my atari as a kid, up to my 360 as a 29 y/o woman. I don't really understand the marketing concepts that the industry has held onto. Just because a game has a girl in it does not make it automatically appeal to women/girls. For me, a game has to be fun to play, fun to look at, and somewhat challenging to hold my interest. That's it.

jaime90 · Oct 29, 2009, 03:00 PM

For me it has to be challenging, entertaining, and for the most part- the graphics have to be pretty cool too (unless the entertainment concept makes up for that=)

morgaine300 · Oct 29, 2009, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Synnen

Seriously? are you going to argue with EVERYTHING I say? I never said that you didn't like being a woman!

No, I don't argue for the sake of arguing, whatever you may think. But when it sounds like you think wearing dresses and make up is what makes you a woman, then yes, I'm going to react to that.

I hate to tell you this, but you have reacted to nearly everything I've ever said also -- you've NEVER had any room to talk me during this whole thing.

morgaine300 · Oct 29, 2009, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by cdenisego

For me, a game has to be fun to play, fun to look at, and somewhat challenging to hold my interest. That's it.

Amen. I think that sums it up very nicely. :) (Though I don't require fancy graphics.)

smdk · Dec 4, 2009, 02:31 PM

I disagree gamers are not always agrassive I am a gamer since 7 years and no I am not at all aggresddive and females don't play videogames as it is still considered as a male sport(just like football,soccer,cricket,etc)and I don't think there are any female professional gamers to motivate others...

jaime90 · Dec 5, 2009, 08:51 PM

smdk... You are right in saying that not all gamers are agressive-

Also, I don't believe that videogames are considered a 'male' sport, firstly since it isn't a sport, and here's some statistics for ya: more than a quarter of sports-watching women choose football as their favorite sport. 40% of the NFL fan basis consists of women. 375,000 women attend football games on the average NFL weekend, and 50 million join the men in watching the super bowl every year. It is ridiculous to me to say that gaming is a man sport, if it is a man sport it must also be a children's sport. Polls and studies say that women play video games nearly as much as the average man, but they are underpresented. 65% of women in the 25-34 age braket, are women. And 38% of ALL gamers are female.

I also watch G4 gaming network and have seen many women who play video games on there.

smdk · Dec 6, 2009, 09:01 PM

65% of
Women in the 25-34 age braket, are
Women. What?

shazamataz · Dec 7, 2009, 12:19 AM

65% of women in the 25-34 age braket, are women. And 38% of ALL gamers are female.

65% of
Women in the 25-34 age braket, are
Women. What?

I'm guessing it was supposed to say something along the lines of:
65% of women in the 25-34 age bracket play video games. And 38% of ALL gamers are female. ;)

jaime90 · Dec 7, 2009, 10:47 AM

Exactly ^! Sorry that was a typo, it's supposed to be "65% of women in the 25-34 age bracket play video games. And 38% of all gamers are female.

smdk · Dec 7, 2009, 11:14 AM

OK I would love it if my girlfriend plays videogames with me...

morgaine300 · Dec 7, 2009, 11:29 PM

If your girlfriend doesn't like games, then she doesn't like games. There's a lot of females out there playing them, but just like with any other activity, there are always lots of people who won't do it.

I wonder if your attitude comes from your girlfriend -- like she is actually the one who thinks video games are a "man sport" (and that sports are only a man's thing). There are women like that. They're usually the ones who hate you for sitting around on Sunday afternoon watching football.

If you want her to play with you (er, games that is), is there something that perhaps she would like better? That you could like too? There's all sorts of games out there. Of course, nothing saying you'd like what she might like. But maybe she doesn't realize that games are diverse.

Or... maybe she just doesn't like them. Nothing you can do about that. If she doesn't respect that you like them... um, won't go there. But also keep in mind she's obviously not going to want to "lose you" to games if you're playing them all the time.

jaime90 · Dec 10, 2009, 10:51 AM

Try intriguing her with games like Final Fantasy and Fable, instead of first person shooters. Lots of women like fantasy games as oppose to sci-fi, modern, or historical combat games. Another one you could try is Assassin's Creed.
You could also try intriguing her with Live gameplay like XboxLive. You cannot MAKE her play- and it's true that maybe she got her gaming attitude from the fact that you (and many other men) like to claim video games as their sport.