Girls buying games

norrie rugger

The world is ending!!

nah only kidding but my GF turned 28 and what did her friend buy her for it?
A PS3 game!! and they all loved the idea.

Admittedly it was singstar but this is from a group of girls who have never owned (or played I think) a piece of games hardware.


Strange times ahead where the wimmens steal time on our machines

koneko

Dot dot dot

tman

Wow, that's amazing!
Shame that they don't make more cooking and cleaning games though, because that's what girls really want to do...

koneko

Sandwich Simulator 2010 is the game I'm looking forward to most.

johnny_ultimate

koneko wrote: »

Sandwich Simulator 2010 is the game I'm looking forward to most.

Oh (wo)man I cannot wait! Rumor is they've added mayonaisse this year, but I don't think it will really surpass Baguette Baker 7 until they add in believable toasting physics.

L31mr0d

norrie rugger wrote: »

what did her friend buy her for it?
A PS3 game!! and they all loved the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUgZto9y_aM

norrie rugger

oh you are all super smart aren't ya:rolleyes:. How about coming down off of those high horses, it is very bad weather, at the moment like

What I meant was a group of girls who, untill very recently, would have frowned on games as a hobby and NONE of them own a console.
Not posted in relation to the many girls, who play games.

I am more talking about the shift, in perception, of games in general. In that it is now accepted that late 20's girls buy them as presents, for each other.

norrie rugger

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Oh (wo)man I cannot wait! Rumor is they've added mayonaisse this year, but I don't think it will really surpass Baguette Baker 7 until they add in believable toasting physics.

Well there is Cooking Mama, on the Wii

Nevyn

That isn't how your first post came across.

With a lot of people playing games on thier phones a hand held is not that far of a leap away esp with the type of marketing that has been used esp for the DS.

It is the huge leap to interactive enterainment which has been happening over the last few years. 10 years ago if someone had of said there would be billboard ads for games I would have laughed, but it is a reality now.

norrie rugger

Thaedydal wrote: »

That isn't how your first post came across.

With a lot of people playing games on thier phones a hand held is not that far of a leap away esp with the type of marketing that has been used esp for the DS.

It is the huge leap to interactive enterainment which has been happening over the last few years. 10 years ago if someone had of said there would be billboard ads for games I would have laughed, but it is a reality now.

Apologies if I was not clear, in my original post.

I have always been in a house where women played games. Trying to get my own original GameBoy, from my mother, was nigh on impossible and my sister had a PS1 and stole my PS2 when I got the 3.

i was just stunned when I saw them present the game and loving the idea of it. As I said, they are so far from the "typical" games person. I realise that there is a large shift in gaming but just surprised that it was so accepted now that birthday gifts between girls are games

Dravokivich

norrie rugger wrote: »

The world is ending!!
A PS3 game!!

The story would be so much better if you actually had a 360...

-Drav!

norrie rugger

Dravokivich wrote: »

The story would be so much better if you actually had a 360...

-Drav!

I had thought that. The girl buying knew what I had though, as her BF and I are always yapping on about them

johnny_ultimate

While there does seem to be a growing acceptance of games by society, I think we have some way to go yet. Games still are extremely gender segregated (I did an essay in college for this ridiculous ad). The unfortunate thing is game developers, publishers and advertisers are pushing specifically 'girl' orientated games (Ubisoft's Imagine series in particular is absurd and backwards). Luckily, most female gamers I've talked to reject this kind of thing, but I don't think these sort of games should be pushed on younger female gamers as it just reaffirms traditional gender roles by separating games as distinctly for men and women. There is always a place for so-called 'casual' or lifestyle games (Wii Fit, Singstar etc... - plenty of people enjoy them as much as others would enjoy Rock Band) but I also think it would be great if many newcomers to games could broaden their tastes as a result. Barring the particularly macho shooters, there is no reason female gamers wouldn't enjoy RPGs, platformers, FPS or strategy games. Of course every medium is gender-segmented, but it would just be unfortunate if Singstar: Take That is as far as some are likely to venture, because there is a rich variety of games out there that shouldn't simply be ignored when someone dictates that they are 'for boys'.

L31mr0d

norrie rugger wrote: »

i was just stunned when I saw them present the game and loving the idea of it.

Casual gamers do not count though.

I work in an office full of tech heads and I'd only really call 1 of them a "gamer". He knows release dates, knows what engine a game is running, reads the reviews, knows the memes, posts on forums, plays the games, competes online, understands acronyms such as AA, AF and HDR, pulls all nighters with his favourite games and a bunch of friends.

Ask any of these girls would they spend 48 hours playing games solid. If they answer "No" then they are as close to being a gamer as my friends mother is, who plays solitaire and mine sweeper on her sons Crysis killing PC.

norrie rugger

L31mr0d wrote: »

Casual gamers do not count though.

I work in an office full of tech heads and I'd only really call 1 of them a "gamer". He knows release dates, If a game interests me then yes knows what engine a game is running generally nope, reads the reviews yup, up to a point. some reviews are insane, knows the memes nope, posts on forums only here, plays the games obviously, competes online depends on the game, understands acronyms such as AA, AF and HDR nope, pulls all nighters with his favourite games and a bunch of friends whenever I can.

I am only a partial gamer then lol

Still though, everyone starts as a "casual" gamer

johnny_ultimate

L31mr0d wrote: »

Ask any of these girls would they spend 48 hours playing games solid. If they answer "No" then they are as close to being a gamer as my friends mother is, who plays solitaire and mine sweeper on her sons Crysis killing PC.

That is a bit absurd tbh. I wouldn't spend 48 hours solid playing games, and I very much consider myself a gamer. Someone who plays lots of games is a 'gamer' - just because they don't know the slang or spend two days straight playing doesn't mean they are any less of a gamer than someone who has, say, prestiged 3 times in MW2 already. Loads of time playing / reading up on games is not equivalent to being a 'purer' gamer - just means that that person has more time to spend.

L31mr0d

norrie rugger wrote: »

Still though, everyone starts as a "casual" gamer

Yes but saying a bunch of girls buying SingStar is somehow a change for the books is wrong. It's like people who play DnD noting that because their sister bought snakes and ladders, soon the wimmins will be into serious fantasy role play dice games.

Plus, I'm sure you know the memes, if I was to say "Boom! Headshot" or "all your base" or "the cake is a lie"... etc, you'd know what I was talking about.

L31mr0d

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

That is a bit absurd tbh.

Well, of course I was describing the Alpha Gamer, he who pwns on PC and dabbles in some console gaming so as not to become disconnected from the peasantry masses.

norrie rugger

L31mr0d wrote: »

Well, of course I was describing the Alpha Gamer, he who pwns on PC and dabbles in some console gaming so as not to become disconnected from the peasantry masses.

How did Leo Cullen get in there??

Irishcrx

Not really that strange, My girlfriend plays more games than I do. She has an xbox 360, Ps3 , Wii, psp and I haven't seen her in a week because she has been playing MW2 online lol and I live there!!...it is pretty sweet though.

meganj

my OH was terribly confused when he came home from a weekend away with the lads and I was bleary eyed on the sofa screaming "Die Templar DIE!" at the PS3 while playing Assassins Creed.... I had played it for 36 hours straight... it was awesome...

But... It is nice to play the girl card and get him to do missions and levels for me that are too hard because after the fiftieth time trying to finish AC I nearly put the controller through the telly and he couldn't allow that!

L31mr0d

All this being said, on the weekend I was at one of our regular SFIV meets at a gaming center in Dublin, and there was a 20 something couple, sitting close together cuddling and kissing during the load screens between areas in some split screen shooter they where playing. Don't think I've ever seen that before.

Gummy Panda

Irishcrx wrote: »

Not really that strange, My girlfriend plays more games than I do. She has an xbox 360, Ps3 , Wii, psp and I haven't seen her in a week because she has been playing MW2 online lol and I live there!!...it is pretty sweet though.

Are you sure your gf isn't retro dressed as a girl?

[insert retrodressedasgirl.jpg]

Vegeta

I am a 26 year old male living in Munster, I have never met a female console owner, let alone multi console or gaming PC owner.

Gaming in fairness has a lot of stereotyping which probably doesn't help.

PogMoThoin

My 11 year old daughter loves L4D, TF2 and even plays CSS some times, all on pc.

KilOit

Loads of girls play WoW, we got afew in the guild and they are hardcore gamers, always nice to come accross girls playing shooters though, havn't come accross any on MW2 yet

K.O.Kiki

Tonight's top story: woman plays video game willingly, more after the break.

angeldelight

Vegeta wrote: »

I am a 26 year old male living in Munster, I have never met a female console owner, let alone multi console or gaming PC owner.

Gaming in fairness has a lot of stereotyping which probably doesn't help.

Actually I started a reply to that thinking it was just weird but on reflection most of my friends don't play games either. I just grew up in a house where my mam and dad both played games so did as well and until now hadn't really thought about it. I had a gameboy and PS1. Have a PS2, DS and Wii now... favourite games I have/had: Singstar, Time Splitters 2, Professor Layton and Wii Sports.

Oh and I loved Crash Bandicoot

FruitLover

In Japan, the bloody wimmins know more about games than I do

(and always beat me...)

*shakes fist*

jonny72

Yes girls do play computer games but in quite small numbers

A fair amount play world of warcraft, the ratio there is about 15 to 20 guys for every girl (real ones that is)

A much higher amount play console/light games such as sims, singstar, guitar hero, etc

A much lower amount play shooters, rts, strategy, etc

Out of the girls who play the mmo's and very online games, some do it purely for the attention, etc they receive, rather than from a pure gaming basis

Dr_Phil

tman wrote: »

Wow, that's amazing!
Shame that they don't make more cooking and cleaning games though, because that's what girls really want to do...

Girls playing computer/console games are so hot IMO....

Kiith

jonny72 wrote: »

Out of the girls who play the mmo's and very online games, some do it purely for the attention, etc they receive, rather than from a pure gaming basis

That seems like a pretty biased attitude tbh. I doubt there's that many people, male or female, who play games for the attention they recieve. Its not like most girls playing online games shout "I'm a girl" when they log in. I only really know 1 girl who plays games regularly, and she mainly play Warcraft. I didnt even realise she was a girl, as i met her in game first and she wouldnt have been the first lad with a female avatar.

jonny72

Kiith wrote: »

That seems like a pretty biased attitude tbh. I doubt there's that many people, male or female, who play games for the attention they recieve. Its not like most girls playing online games shout "I'm a girl" when they log in. I only really know 1 girl who plays games regularly, and she mainly play Warcraft. I didnt even realise she was a girl, as i met her in game first and she wouldnt have been the first lad with a female avatar.

Heh, I was careful and I said "some". Girls receive A LOT of attention in online games, guys don't. Put it this way, my friend's girlfriend who plays an MMO got a microphone, things changed quite rapidly after that, basically she was never short of help to put it mildly.

NunianVonFuch

My gf plays Modern Warfare 2. Finished it before me as she had some time off. Also plays Gears, prefers Left4Dead as it has better teamwork but is a bit peeved at the lack of talkers (and she uses a mic). Is taking a break from Modern Warfare on Veteran due to red ring of death and is playing Killzone 2 thanks to teachers strikes right now.

Whoop-de-frickin Doo. :pac:

tuxy

OP just wanted to point out that he's into gamew and HE HAS A GF!

/end thread

Cunny-Funt

Women are getting into 'proper' gaming alright but I think Irish women are lagging behind. Most girls I've met would look at me in utter disgust if I mention I'm into gaming. Or at even a mention of it as a form of entertainment.

It certainly gives the impression that well, half of the countries female gamers have already posted on this thread

I look forward to the day when telling a girl I like playing games would have the same reaction as telling one I like watching movies. "Eh doesn't everyone?"

But I reckon I'll have to move before that happens KOREA HERE I COME

Irishcrx wrote: »

Not really that strange, My girlfriend plays more games than I do. She has an xbox 360, Ps3 , Wii, psp and I haven't seen her in a week because she has been playing MW2 online lol and I live there!!...it is pretty sweet though.

I hate you.

PogMoThoin wrote: »

My 11 year old daughter loves L4D, TF2 and even plays CSS some times, all on pc.

That's cause you raised your kids well :pac:

Nevyn

And some of the attenision female players can get can be very negative and disruptive to game play, personally I hate it when arseholes start trying to chat you up or show off or want you to explain thier gf or ex gf or answer for all females cos they have a grudge/issue.

Seriously I am logged in to play it's not a hookup or date site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ3rg_qn8vY

Davidius

You can't say it's not just a little funny listening in on an attempt at chatting up a woman by an American boy no older than 16 over Xbox Live. :pac:

Don't think I know of any women who play video games. If they do they don't seem to make note of it, and in my very limited experience some women seem to believe it to be a waster's hobby.

Cunny-Funt

I'll always remember years ago playing an old GTA Vice city multiplayer mod (MTA) one of the people I regularly played with was called 'Bastard'. When I asked 'him' about the blunt ass name she told me she chose the least feminine name possible cause she was sick of how some guys acted.

More recently when I played a bit of Age of Conan I was chatting to a girl who was telling me how her sister, who ran one of the largest guilds on the server, pretended she was a guy for a good few months cause she felt no one would take the guild seriously if it was a girl running it.

Its a shame, I don't deny that theres a lot of fking idiot blokes out there making it harder for women to get into gaming.

There is a lot of female gamers online though who flaunt the fact that they are female for the extra attention or in-game help.

Whats amusing is theres guys who'll use female names for the attention too. :rolleyes:


At the end of the day though the internet is just full of idiots either way.

cherryghost

my ex used to play a lot of halo and guitar hero.

that said, was in japan last year, the amount of girls playing games in internet cafes and such was beyond belief. fairly sure they outranked fellas playing 3/1 nearly anytime i looked in at them

Cunny-Funt

RopeDrink wrote: »

you'd be suprised how many people ask that god annoying question of "Are you fem rl?" as if it matters.

I don't play much mmo's but I do find when I do and if I end up in a chat with someone with a female character , I will eventually ask their gender, its just natural when in a conversation with someone to want an idea of the actual person, nationally, gender, age etc. I'm usually able to guess a lot of this though just by how they type. (the name is also a big clue)

When not in conversation, I'll generally assume if the avatar is female, the person is female .

People are free to make virtual transvestites if they wanna lol :P sure I've made female alts myself but said people shouldn't be pissed off if other people assume they are the same gender as the character they are representing themselves with.

Also if I make a female character I make sure not to have a massively feminine name otherwise I'd be conning people into treating me different, and women are treated differently in an online game, its just a fact. Be it negatively or positively. (in MMO's mainly)

Fnz

Dr_Phil wrote: »

Girls playing computer/console games are so hot IMO....

koneko

When I played WoW, the people in my guild didn't know my gender until I had to join Ventrilo to do a raid. The channel went silent, followed by WHAAAAT you're a girl?
I have a regular group of people I play with online who don't care, it's best that way.

A few days ago I was playing MW2 with friends and got called a "slag" by a 12 year old English boy, and that I should go back to the kitchen, lol. I'm well used to it, we take the piss out of those guys and they never have very good comebacks.

norrie rugger

Jee, I started this thread out of surprise that the general female populace find it appropriate to buy games as presents, thesedays.
Not as an attack on female gamers.

Remember guys that those of us around 30 are still looked upon weirdly, by some mates, who missed out on the rise of games. I just did not think that the "casual" section of games went so far into the female circles (and outside the Wii)

Silverfish

Girls buying games. No way, you just never know what we'll do next. Crazy.

(How would we play them if we didn't buy them....?)

norrie rugger

Silverfish wrote: »

Girls buying games. No way, you just never know what we'll do next. Crazy.

(How would we play them if we didn't buy them....?)

Maybe if you read further down you would realise it was the fact that non gaming girls are buying presents of games for each other that surprised me

I would have said the same thing if my father and his friends started buying each other games

Silverfish

norrie rugger wrote: »

Maybe if you read further down you would realise it was the fact that non gaming girls are buying presents of games for each other that surprised me

I would have said the same thing if my father and his friends started buying each other games

If "non-gaming' girls are buying presents of games for each other, I don't see how they are 'non-gaming' girls.

norrie rugger

Silverfish wrote: »

If "non-gaming' girls are buying presents of games for each other, I don't see how they are 'non-gaming' girls.

Do they own any games (other than the ONE bought as a gift)? No
Do they own any consoles? No
Do they play on their B/F's consoles? No
Do they know about games? No
Have they previously shown interest when the guys talk about games? No


Would lead me to take the belief that they are not gamers

Vegeta

Silverfish wrote: »

If "non-gaming' girls are buying presents of games for each other, I don't see how they are 'non-gaming' girls.

But that implies Singstar is an actual game. :eek:

Silverfish

Yes, but your gf and her friends do not equal all girls.

I know a lot of previously non-gamer guys who recently bought consoles due to heavy tv adverstising. I'd say it's no different for women.

Due to games such as singstar / rock band / lips or whatever, gaming is becoming a more social pastime - for both genders.

norrie rugger

Silverfish wrote: »

Yes, but your gf and her friends do not equal all girls.
I know a lot of previously non-gamer guys who recently bought consoles due to heavy tv adverstising. I'd say it's no different for women.

Due to games such as singstar / rock band / lips or whatever, gaming is becoming a more social pastime - for both genders.

Yes and I then said that I was surprised that it had penetrated, as far as it had. Enough to make this particular group even consider it, never mind actually doing it.

I am very much aware of this thank you