LONG BLOG
Interesting IGN Article...
I came across this article on IGN, which you need Insider to see, but I will summarize:
http://insider.ign.com/articles/835/835335p1.html
The article takes a look at female gamers, the increase in female gamers over the past couple of years and how the industry is trying to capitalize on it. Of course they mention Ubisofts recent foray in the Imagine series of gamesz (X-treme!), and while there is supposed "research" to back up the subject matter of the games still makes me cringe.
What was most interesting to me was the following paragraphs which discuss ways to get women to play games:
There's got to be a way to tap into what women actually want out of a video game.
Actually, there are four.
A.) Go completely asexual. Puzzle-games show absolutely no favoritism, and that's made them a big pick thus far for a lot of casual gamers, female or otherwise. Doesn't have to be 2D, either. There's nothing wrong with Katamari, aside from its galloping insanity.
B.) Female role models. Lara Croft and Samus Aran are duds because those are guy games, but Super Princess Peach didn't do too badly by making a role-reversed platformer where the frequently helpless kidnappee finally got to kick some ass (with a magic parasol) and rescue Mario for once.
C.) Appeal to female tastes. The quest for chocolate or romance or adventure or equality or escape, what have you. There's a reason Girl Gamers tend to go in for RPGs, and it's the same reason they appeal to Boy Gamers... fantasy fulfillment. Specific fantasies, no less, whether it's leveling up in Azeroth or being who you want to be in Second Life.
D.) All of the above. Can't be done? It has been done: it's called Portal. It's short and packaged with a bunch of badass male-dominated shooters, but taken on its own, I'd bet something along those lines would absolutely appeal across genders. Several entries in the Final Fantasy series can make the same claim. Especially the asexuality.
I've been thinking this for a long time and I'm glad somebody had the balls to say it. Although I think Samus Aran could be a role model I think the points of making gender-neutral games and focusing on genres like RPGs to appeal to female tastes are totally the way to go. As a female gamer looking back on the games I was playing in the tween years were mostly Square and Enix RPG's. Why? Because they had fun stories with interesting characters. They aren't geared towards any particular gender but they have something that women and men can latch onto. I find this particularly with JRPG's more than Western RPG's, but it's hard to convince the marketing people that in these companies when we live in a gaming society that embraces "Real is Brown." JRPG's are too colorful and run the risk of being mistaken as a kids game. I almost wish I had a business degree so I could apply for one of these marketing positions; I would smack everyone over the head.
I'm not trying to be a bra-burner. I had dolls growing up (though they were back in the 80's when Barbie was very career-oriented). I like to look nice with the makeup and all that jazz. However I outgrew Barbie. Once girls outgrow the stereo-type companies have the potential to lose this consumer if they don't know what else is out there. I think the games exist, but most women don't know they want to play those games yet.
http://insider.ign.com/articles/835/835335p1.html
The article takes a look at female gamers, the increase in female gamers over the past couple of years and how the industry is trying to capitalize on it. Of course they mention Ubisofts recent foray in the Imagine series of gamesz (X-treme!), and while there is supposed "research" to back up the subject matter of the games still makes me cringe.
What was most interesting to me was the following paragraphs which discuss ways to get women to play games:
There's got to be a way to tap into what women actually want out of a video game.
Actually, there are four.
A.) Go completely asexual. Puzzle-games show absolutely no favoritism, and that's made them a big pick thus far for a lot of casual gamers, female or otherwise. Doesn't have to be 2D, either. There's nothing wrong with Katamari, aside from its galloping insanity.
B.) Female role models. Lara Croft and Samus Aran are duds because those are guy games, but Super Princess Peach didn't do too badly by making a role-reversed platformer where the frequently helpless kidnappee finally got to kick some ass (with a magic parasol) and rescue Mario for once.
C.) Appeal to female tastes. The quest for chocolate or romance or adventure or equality or escape, what have you. There's a reason Girl Gamers tend to go in for RPGs, and it's the same reason they appeal to Boy Gamers... fantasy fulfillment. Specific fantasies, no less, whether it's leveling up in Azeroth or being who you want to be in Second Life.
D.) All of the above. Can't be done? It has been done: it's called Portal. It's short and packaged with a bunch of badass male-dominated shooters, but taken on its own, I'd bet something along those lines would absolutely appeal across genders. Several entries in the Final Fantasy series can make the same claim. Especially the asexuality.
I've been thinking this for a long time and I'm glad somebody had the balls to say it. Although I think Samus Aran could be a role model I think the points of making gender-neutral games and focusing on genres like RPGs to appeal to female tastes are totally the way to go. As a female gamer looking back on the games I was playing in the tween years were mostly Square and Enix RPG's. Why? Because they had fun stories with interesting characters. They aren't geared towards any particular gender but they have something that women and men can latch onto. I find this particularly with JRPG's more than Western RPG's, but it's hard to convince the marketing people that in these companies when we live in a gaming society that embraces "Real is Brown." JRPG's are too colorful and run the risk of being mistaken as a kids game. I almost wish I had a business degree so I could apply for one of these marketing positions; I would smack everyone over the head.
I'm not trying to be a bra-burner. I had dolls growing up (though they were back in the 80's when Barbie was very career-oriented). I like to look nice with the makeup and all that jazz. However I outgrew Barbie. Once girls outgrow the stereo-type companies have the potential to lose this consumer if they don't know what else is out there. I think the games exist, but most women don't know they want to play those games yet.
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About naia-the-gamerone of us since 1:51 PM on 09.13.2007
My name is Naia (pronounced either Nay-a or Neye-a, like yay or like eye). I've been poking around here for a while, although I don't comment as much as I used to. I do the music and the sound stuff. Teach and do scholarly research too! I do mostly freelance work and I'm always looking for people (even on DToid) to do fun projects with in entertainment. That can be either in theater, film, TV, or video games. I want to be like Kermit the Frog and be part of a group that entertains and makes people happy. I also love blue slimes, puppies and Sprinkles Cupcakes.
I've been playing computer and video games all my life. My dad was a programmer so we got an IBM 5150 PC very early on in the 80's. For Christmas in 1989 my parents surprised me with a Nintendo and it's been downhill ever since. I have/had most consoles over the years, mainly from Sony or Nintendo. I've had some Sega consoles and an Xbox 360 too.
I'm a big fan of the JRPG trinity of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Fire Emblem (more DQ and FE lately, but I didn't hate FFXV). I was a finalist in Nintendo's DQ6 trivia contest back in 2011. I play RPGs, Action/Adventure, Platformers, Puzzles, and Point-n-Click Adventure games. I will play fighters and shooters, but they have to be the right kind of game.
Also, Rydia is my hero.
I'm such a nerd, I like to keep track of all the games I've completed in an excel file (it's over 400). Now that my backlog is out of control I have a word document for that too. My goal is to for once and for all eliminate the backlog, or at least keep it to a number in the single digits.
I have a lot of things to say about the game industry, it's something I care deeply about and love giving my opinions. I like to rant about shit. I'm here just to share what I have to say, in hopes someone is willing to listen.
Also for the record, my Top 5 Games of All Time
1. Chrono Trigger
2. Final Fantasy 4
3. Super Mario 3
4. Dragon Quest 11
5. Phantasy Star 4
Yes, I love my retro games (and DQ 11)
Thanks to The GHost for this awesome card!
I've been playing computer and video games all my life. My dad was a programmer so we got an IBM 5150 PC very early on in the 80's. For Christmas in 1989 my parents surprised me with a Nintendo and it's been downhill ever since. I have/had most consoles over the years, mainly from Sony or Nintendo. I've had some Sega consoles and an Xbox 360 too.
I'm a big fan of the JRPG trinity of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Fire Emblem (more DQ and FE lately, but I didn't hate FFXV). I was a finalist in Nintendo's DQ6 trivia contest back in 2011. I play RPGs, Action/Adventure, Platformers, Puzzles, and Point-n-Click Adventure games. I will play fighters and shooters, but they have to be the right kind of game.
Also, Rydia is my hero.
I'm such a nerd, I like to keep track of all the games I've completed in an excel file (it's over 400). Now that my backlog is out of control I have a word document for that too. My goal is to for once and for all eliminate the backlog, or at least keep it to a number in the single digits.
I have a lot of things to say about the game industry, it's something I care deeply about and love giving my opinions. I like to rant about shit. I'm here just to share what I have to say, in hopes someone is willing to listen.
Also for the record, my Top 5 Games of All Time
1. Chrono Trigger
2. Final Fantasy 4
3. Super Mario 3
4. Dragon Quest 11
5. Phantasy Star 4
Yes, I love my retro games (and DQ 11)
Thanks to The GHost for this awesome card!