There are the horror stories we’ve read about gamers dying in front of their computers, and addicts across the globe.
But these all have one thing in common: they’re usually guys.
Where are the women in all this? They’re playing Bejeweled, or at least something like it, according to this ABC News article.
“Women are … typically not interested into going around shooting other players, as a guy might be, and so they are more interested in, sometimes, spatial relationships, using vocabulary knowledge or word knowledge,” Robert Nall, a game designer, said in the ABC article.
Shockingly, women don’t want to go around shooting people, or join with the Horde to slaughter their opponents. This isn’t to say that women don’t join raiding parties or play First Person Shooters, of course, but the stereotypes stick. But what people are finding is that what women gamers have in common is they’re sometimes just as fiercely devoted as their male counterparts.
“I came home last night, I played from 4 until probably 11:30 at night,” Lillian Green, who has a full time job and still manages to play 40 hours per week, said.
There’s a huge casual gaming market out there that developers and marketers are trying to nail, and more and more women from the ages of 34 to 55 are joining in.
I can definitely see the draw of casual gaming, though. Bejeweled and Sudoku are games I’ve had the tendency to pick up when I’ve been limited to fifteen minutes.
16 Comments to Women and Casual Gaming Is not so Casual
by: Stephany
On July 26, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Robert Nall needs to go back to working in fast food. What the hell. Yes, I have played Bejewled, and Jewel Quest, and Bookworm etc.. at work when I am bored or at lunch. But when I get home, I want nothing more than to eat, shower and then start knocking heads off of demons or the opposing army. I am sick to death of the stereotypes surrounding women in gaming (let alone with life in general) and to be honest, I put partial blame on the women themselves. Either they do not want to admit that they love the gore because it will make them look bloodthirsty and unfeminine in front of their Paris Hiltonesque pals or they are just not woman enough to handle playing something that makes them actually feel something not clothing related. 90% of the time, if blood is not shed in a game I will not play it. If it has a cute little fluffy critter in it, I want to shoot it. There I said it. Despite what women want you to think, we like to revel in pretend violence and mayhem as much as men. So, Robert Nall needs to look into more sources than just the airheads he ran into at the mall last Saturday afternoon.
by: William
On July 26, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I agree 100% Stephany. He’s clueless.
by: Peter
On July 26, 2007 at 5:22 pm
He’s not clueless, it true that a majority of women who play games will play games like Bejewled. Yes, it’s a stereotype and it’s actually true in most cases. Stephany, you’re a girl gamer and that’s great and all but if you compare your type to the type of women who like simple games then i’m sorry but theres more girls who play those games. Does it suck? Yes! But the fact remains unchanged.
They dun studies, it’s science
by: Hugh Jas
On July 26, 2007 at 10:28 pm
“But when I get home, I want nothing more than to eat, shower and then start knocking heads off of demons or the opposing army.”
That’s great, “dude,” but you need to face the fact that you are abnormal compared to most women. However, that doesn’t make you better than they, only different.
“I put partial blame on the women themselves…they are just not woman enough to handle playing something that makes them actually feel something not clothing related.”
LOL! Wow, you are quite the misogynist. I bet you have penis envy too. Your father and/or brothers must have dominated the hell out of you as a child.
“Despite what women want you to think, we like to revel in pretend violence and mayhem as much as men.”
No, you don’t. You personally may, but the overwhelming majority of women do NOT. But, there is not a damn thing wrong with that. Only someone like you who has been brainwashed by a patriarchal society into thinking that traditional male pursuits and interests are superior to traditional female pursuits and interests would be so deluded into thinking that there is something wrong with women who don’t do and like what men do and like.
Just because women as a whole have different interests than men does NOT make them inferior to men. Nor should it make men and you think lesser of women because of it. It’s simply a case of different strokes for different folks. So long as you continue to judge yourself and other women by a male standard of superiority they and even you will always come up short.
by: William
On July 26, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Peter, many of the statements in the article were written in a definitive way. Things are changing rapidly these days, and perhaps a majority of women do prefer stuff like Bejewled, but there are a considerable number of hardcore female gamers popping up all over the place, and it’s very obvious that the mainstream media tends to ignore this. I really do not think women should be pegged as casual gamers, considering a large number of men also fall into the same boat. Honestly, it’s tough to peg or stereotype any group with how rapidly the games are changing. What’s true today might be false next month.
by: Hugh Jas
On July 27, 2007 at 1:18 am
“I really do not think women should be pegged as casual gamers”
Why not when statistically it is true? That doesn’t mean that women are prohibited from playing other types of games. Nor does it mean that all women only play casual games. It simply means that is the type of game which the majority of women who play video games prefer to play.
“considering a large number of men also fall into the same boat.”
Idiot, you are missing the point. Yes, many males who play video games do play games of multiple genres including puzzle and so-called casual games. However, the point of the article and of the useage tracking underlying it is to determine what types of games females play. Of the women who play video games, the majority prefer to exclusively play so-called casual games, and that is not a new trend.
“Honestly, it’s tough to peg or stereotype any group with how rapidly the games are changing. What’s true today might be false next month.”
While games themselves may be changing rapidly from a technological perspective, useage trends are not especially those which pertain to the types preferred by gender. Traditionally men and women simply do not have the same interests in equal numbers and that includes in choice of entertainment. Just as men and women don’t like the same television shows, movies, music, and books in equal numbers, their tastes in video games also differ. Sure from the narrow-minded male’s perspective, the so-called casual games which women prefer may seem frivolous, uninteresting, or unimportant, but that doesn’t make the games any less worthy of development or significance to the market from an enlightened, objective standpoint. The types of games which males prefer to play could just as easily be ridiculed as repulsive, sadistic, and vulgar from the female perspective. Objectively speaking it’s no more of an insult to generalize that females prefer puzzle and card games than it is to say males prefer shooters and sports games.
by: THELORD
On July 27, 2007 at 7:58 am
@ Stephany: best comment ever, i couldn’t agree more
by: Sean Patrick Fannon
On July 27, 2007 at 10:04 am
Greetings, folks.
The article above simply restates a truth that has been understood in the casual games market for a few years now. While it is true that there is an increasing number of women gamers that fall in the same area as Stephany (and I personally believe women, in general, can understand and enjoy visceral combat games just fine, thanks), the purchase patterns and other demographic numbers are rather overwhelming and cannot be ignored.
Until very recently, the percentage of “casual gamers” skewed heavily female – over 72% – and older – 32 and up. At this year’s Casual Connect conference in Seattle, however, it was revealed that the numbers of casual gamers have gone up considerably, something like 30%. The percentage of female players, however, has gone down to 66%.
What’s interesting about that is not that there are fewer female gamers, but now there are MANY more male gamers in the casual marketplace.
My theory is that more and more people – men and women – are growing frustrated with hardcore titles that require the social orientation and flex-and-twitch skills of a typical 14-year-old boy. As such, more fast-play and “old school” style RPGs and strategic games are and will be appearing in the casual marketplace to serve the interests of those looking for games that are more their speed.
-
Sean Patrick Fannon
Communications Director, FreshGames
by: Peter
On July 27, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I was just saying the point of the article was to prove more girls like casual-games, there’s nothing wrong with that. Gamers like Stephanie are more than welcome in the gaming community.
by: LaChandra
On July 27, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I hate to disagree with Stephany, well not on everthing. I like blood and gore. I honestly would prefer a horror or action film then a romantic comedy. When it comes to games though I would love to play the same thing only…I suck. I’m willing to believe that there are several types of women. Women who were introduced or taught that they can do what they want, like Stephany and myself. Women who were told that girls play with dolls and boys play with trucks. Then there are women and men who just can’t play them. We try but stink at it. I think women have the luxury to try other games like casual. Most of the time when other men hear that a guy prefers casual games they look at him funny.
Just image how many guys you know who play FPS who have no business doing so. Maybe someone should give then a copy of Bejeweled or Diner Dash (one of my favorites) and not laugh at them.
Also, out of the few women I know including myself only one likse FPS and that’s me. Everyone else is playing Wheel of Fortune or something like that on the puter.
by: befuddled
On July 27, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I was going to say that most women (like my wife) can’t play first person shooters but then I realized that the article (like almost 100% of articles) was biased. The truth is the author only has 15 minutes at a time to play a game. Well, with that amount of time I would expect a person to not even attempt to play a FPS or any other genre that requires a complicated plot. Stacking blocks is almost the only thing you can do in 15 minutes. Kindergarten kids stack blocks. Perhaps the author should spend more time playing games if they are to write about games. Well, anyway….I just have a problem with “non-gamers”, elderly who think games won’t grow “taters”, politicians who have a one sided opinion about games of any kind without giving them the full dedication to see what they are truly about.
by: Stephany
On July 27, 2007 at 4:21 pm
You know, Hugh Jas (how clever), and by reading your post I have to say that you are totally wrong in your assumption of me. I am not a misogynist, I was in no means brainwashed, and I do not have as you so eloquently stated “penis envy”, nor did my father dominate the hell out of me as a child. I am terribly sorry that I struck such a heated cord in your being and insulted you so very harshly. If you like to play casual games fine, no need to sound so bitter. The majority of the women I have had the unfortunate pleasure of forced association with, are airheads. They cannot grasp the concept of anything that sounds dirty, violent, non-pink in color, or anything else that does not revolve around gossip and what Nicole Kidman wore to the Oscars five years ago – so you can see where the majority of my opinion of most women comes from. Faded or wanna-be Southern Belles, which which I am sure yourself com across daily. HOWEVER…… My chagrin, if that is what you wish to call it, is with the the stereotypical assumption that just because I am a gamer, it automatically means I only play Bejewled. The majority of the time I run across some uneducated and truly misogynistic baboon and they find out that I am gamer, they laugh and say ” oh yeah, how often do you play Diamond Quest?” and laugh. The general assumption that women only play casual games and cannot or will not play any other type of game, is the same dark ages mentality that concedes women as inferior. Granted, the majority of females that I have come into contact with, or that you unfortunately watch on the telly are a bunch of tickle brains – but so are men – and I get really pissed off every time someone tries to belittle what women enjoy be it games or shoes. But you have to admit that it is womens fault in the first place that the media and the rest of the world think this way about us. So NEVER insult me or my opinion on what I think, feel or enjoy. I am very aware what makes a woman tick, as I am sure you are as well – being a woman yourself. I do NOT think that I am better than any other woman, I am not abnormal compared to other women – I know PLENTY who would rather kick ass at Halo 2 than play fuzzy barbie horse barn, and as far as coming up short…. I have only come up short in my own esteem for allowing myself to feel pity and general hilarity at your posts and dignify them with a response.
by: Andrew
On July 27, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Dear Befuddled:
Perhaps I wasn’t clear. When I only have fifteen minutes, I’ll usually play a casual game if I feel like gaming. When I have a few hours, I’ll delve in to other games.
But sometimes if I’m playing an in-depth FPS like Half-Life with a “complicated plot,” I’ll simply hit the Save Game option any time I want with whatever time I have.
Further, did any of you not read the line which reads as follows:
This isn’t to say that women don’t join raiding parties or play First Person Shooters, of course, but the stereotypes stick.
by: bs angel
On July 27, 2007 at 8:09 pm
When I first read this article, I was curious to see if Stephany had read it as well.
I agree with her on the points she makes. Female gamers are stereotyped all the time which gets extremely old. Many of us enjoy a wide variety of games which include all sorts of gory shooters. I belong to an all female gaming group and our common link is fps games. Shocker, eh?
Great comments Stephany.
by: Vabitotijin
On July 28, 2007 at 1:24 am
The article is by no means sexist. As a matter of fact, it goes out of its way to point out that it merely suggests a general trend.
The article was written to suggest that more non-gaming females have been attracted to “casual” games, recently. Period.
Vabi
by: armando
On October 6, 2007 at 6:20 pm
If you want to try out something new in sudoku, try shendoku, using the sudoku rules but playing two people, one against the other, like battleshipps. They have a free version to download at http://www.shendoku.com/sample.pdf . Anything else they are bringing out or they are working on you can find at http://www.shendoku.com or at they´r blog http://www.shendoku.blogspot.com . Have fun, I am. I specially like one slogan I heard about Shendoku: SUDOKU is like masturbation (on your own)!. SHENDOKU is like sex (it takes two).