Another Bullshit Study on Gender and Video Games...

http://www.watercoolergames.org/archives/000868.shtml

I read this on Kotaku and found it amusing and accurate in some ways but not in the ways the study suggests. The overall conclusion when they surveyed preferences in kids aged 13 and 14 that they found girls prefer 2D games, guys prefer 3D (they say boys, but I'm sorry. They're guys by that point. Their voices have lowered and such. 14 year old males don't want to be boys).

From the study:
Results indicate that 2D electronic games are easier than 3D electronic games for both females and males, and the majority of females would rather play games that are "easy" while the majority of males would rather play games that are "challenging". Females tended not to like the confusion in the 3D video games, whether it was unclear directions, objectives, camera perspectives, or not knowing how to control the character. Females may also prefer games that have dreamlike graphics to games with realistic graphics. Results also point toward a steeper learning curve for females when playing a 3D game than a 2D game.

Now I can't say I disagree with women liking 2D games more than 3D games (I prefer 2D all the way). A lot of my girlfriends who are casual gamers prefer 2D games as well. However what this study implies is what I find so bothersome. It implies that 2D games are easy by nature or that 2D games SHOULD be easy by nature. Anyone that was alive to play games from the NES era know that 2D games can be anything but easy. It makes me concerned for the future of 2D side scrollers in the video game industry.

I do believe it's true that women tend to have more issues with spacial reasoning skills. I'm bothered by a poor camera in 3D games more than any other control issue that may occur in a 3d game. I also prefer colors over realistic graphics. However I don't think my preference that has anything to do with being female.

It has everything to do with liking games that don't suck!11111!!

I'm kidding. Not all realistic games suck. That's not very nice.

However most of them look so drab and generic, lacking any sort of art direction and they don't make me want to play them. It would be nice if they weren't all shooters either, but that's another topic for another day.

If there is any merit to this study it makes me suspect that the guys are SAYING they prefer realistic graphics in fear they will be called derogatory names (like a girl :P). From reading some of the message boards on more mainstream sites like Gamespot, it's pretty clear what some of the younger reader's agenda is.

I'm also concerned this study will just encourage developers to focus on the "just for girls, just for boys" mindset in development instead of making games for anyone. Say it with me developers: Gender Neutral.

Studies bother me.