Jae Onasi Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Came across this Marketing to Older Women Gamers article and found that 52% of gamers are women. So...why aren't there more games geared to attract more women? Here's what I'd like to see in an ideal game: A good story, both overall and for each character. Humor. Intelligent female main characters who are clothed in something besides 3 postage stamps and some string. If a dev feels they have to make females half-naked to appeal to the male buyers, at least let her be clad decently enough that I don't have to worry about what my kids will see if they walk up to my computer. Some male eye candy wouldn't hurt, either. Adjustable violence settings. If I want to see blood and guts, I'll go watch Medical TV or a Tarantino film. Language that's not too filthy/full of expletives. Again, when you have kids hanging around, there are just some things they don't need to hear. Something that doesn't require shooting at a thing 80 zillion times before it dies. I'm hyper enough chasing my kids around. I need something to calm down with, not something that gets me wound up. A game that I can pick up and put down quickly. If my kids get hurt, I need to be able to leave the game immediately, and I prefer not to suffer game penalties because I make my kids a priority. Something a lot of fun that takes me away from Real Life for awhile. Something that isn't 'cutesy'. I hate 'cutesy' crap as much as I hate Barney and the Smurfs. And even worse are bubbly, giggly, stupid women characters. Something that doesn't insult my intelligence. Women who play computer games are not idiots. Something that I can replay and see something new each time. I like a certain level of complexity, but again, I'm gaming to relax, not solve the physics equations for the Big Bang. Most important--a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 [Gulps]I always thought the games are for youngsters like us... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 [Gulps]I always thought the games are for youngsters like us... Why? Just because I work in/out of the home and have a family doesn't mean I've stopped wanting to have fun just like anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Why? Just because I work in/out of the home and have a family doesn't mean I've stopped wanting to have fun just like anyone else. No offense Mama Jae, It's just my, you know, traditional thinking--Because lots of youngsters like me hangs in Cyperbar playing games, you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hallucination Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Keep in mind that many of these "gamers" being counted are playing things like solitaire and bridge online. They might not be spending much, or any, money on their gaming habit and they might not even feel the title "gamer" applies to them. If you count card games as video games, then 60-year-old women have been gaming since the 70's. I deem this article a failure until it counts only real games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 If you count card games as video games, then 60-year-old women have been gaming since the 70's. I deem this article a failure until it counts only real games. Yeah, I agree with Hallucination... Keep in mind that many of these "gamers" being counted are playing things like solitaire and bridge online. They might not be spending much, or any, money on their gaming habit and they might not even feel the title "gamer" applies to them. What, Card Games? No wonder why... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentScope001 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Keep in mind that many of these "gamers" being counted are playing things like solitaire and bridge online. They might not be spending much, or any, money on their gaming habit and they might not even feel the title "gamer" applies to them. Coming Soon: Solitare 3: The Revenge of the DeckMaster! Can the hapless cards finally wreck revenge against the evil DeckMaster? Can they evcauate into orderly patterns? Can they do so...before it is TOO LATE? You are the long-lost Messiah of the Card People, and it is up to you to prepare for an evacuation to undermine the DeckMaster's rule. While you find recurits and put them into patterns so that they can be teleported into the Card Heaven, you will finally find out the weakness of the DeckMaster, and the reason why he gain ulitmate power! With mutliplayer access, 100 hours of cutscenes and dilaouge, and an Infulence System by which you gain infulence with certain cards to get dialouge information, it's obivous that this game is contender for "Best Game of the Year!" Buy today, casual gamers! --- Seriously, I think that most women (and men) are into the causal game indursty. Soilatre, Minesweeper, Diner Dash, I Spy, etc. These games are games by which you play, and then save, and then come back and play. I count KOTOR as a casual game, since you can save whenever you want (and the game is so easy). I think the gaming indursty should make more casual games...as LONG as they get a good story. Heh, I'd buy Soilatre 3 if it had a good story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDJOHNNYMIKE Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Intelligent female main characters who are clothed in something besides 3 postage stamps and some string. The internet tells me that this appeals to women as well. If a dev feels they have to make females half-naked to appeal to the male buyers, at least let her be clad decently enough that I don't have to worry about what my kids will see if they walk up to my computer. Hmmm.... Alyx Vance.... hAwt! That chick from Beyond Good or Evil (or whatever it was called) Bastila Shan (the basic clothing option fit her better than the silly looking underwear) My current "Persistent Elite" in Rainbow Six The generic Scifi-Action Gungirl in full bodysuit Plenty more examples out there, but I only agree with you in part, because I like both and will have my cake and eat it too... Also, I'll lightly assist the jaw of the first person to mention Dark Elves. Some male eye candy wouldn't hurt, either. I once tried to start "the Belly Hair Clan" a few of us guys with well hirsuted guts would go topless to any LAN with an appropriate age limit. Want to explain that burned-in screen image to your kids? Violence...Language...etc. I've never messed with it, but some of my best friends always turn off mature content in Gears of War so they don't have to listen to the language..... But then again they don't have my twisted sense of humor either. A game that I can pick up and put down quickly. If my kids get hurt, I need to be able to leave the game immediately, and I prefer not to suffer game penalties because I make my kids a priority. Jimbo gets a bug in his eye and accidentaly smacks one of the chilluns with the lawnmower.....does the final boss really mean crap anymore? Although I do agree with you on that;) Allow me to throw this out in the middle of my response (because now is when I thought of it and I'm to lazy to work it in anywhere else)... Are you stereotyping all women according to your personal gaming taste? Because I've never seen a female gamer who trained hard enough to gain those instacraniapopper skills in Counterstrike *excessive sarcasm* Of course many women do lean towards the "casual games" market (most of the girls I play with tend to prefer that genre), but that doesn't discount the fact that there are male and female "hardcore" gamers and male and female "casual" gamers. About as many of the guy gamers I know are "casual" as the ones who are "hardcore". Back to your comments... Something that doesn't insult my intelligence. Women who play computer games are not idiots. Hmmm...maybe we've just never played the same games because I can't say I've ever seen an option at the beginning of a game saying "enter sex to determine difficulty". Unless you are referring to ingame character design...in which case I somewhat agree, but can tolerate it slightly more than the pathetic excuse for villains. Sooooo...more realistic female characters and less remedial adversaries then? Something that I can replay and see something new each time. The game would have to be either based around complete randomization with self aware manual modification and creativity algorithms....or really modder friendly. I like a certain level of complexity, but again, I'm gaming to relax, not solve the physics equations for the Big Bang. Considering the games I play I'd have to say that most of the "casual" games are more complex and puzzling then the simple read'n'react "hardcore" games I play. These findings call into question conventional wisdom about gamers and gaming. Keep in mind that many of these "gamers" being counted are playing things like solitaire and bridge online. They might not be spending much, or any, money on their gaming habit and they might not even feel the title "gamer" applies to them. To clear up the confusion, we talked to Jessica Rovello, the Chairwoman of Arkadium, a developer of Internet games and advergames, about the older, female gamer market. Who is going to make games for a gaming demographic that isn't used to paying for their gaming habits and might be reluctant to start shelling out money for the kind of games they like playing. The reason so many women are gamers is that the definition of what a gamer can be is so broad. Gamers, of course, include those people who buy systems on launch day, or spend thousands of dollars keeping their home theater system up to date. The group also includes the soccer mom who plays several hours of solitaire at her computer each week. That one person may be defined as "hardcore" and the other not does not really matter. One difference there is that those tastes are completely different markets... People who wait in line to pay launch prices for systems that can display someone's jaw being dismantled piece by piece by a .50cal bullet or display 3,000 combat units on screen at once tend to pay more for max performance/quality systems and software than the person who just wants to play simple card games and doesn't require 90billion polygons@300fps and can be easily entertained by the simple free programs found online. "What the latest comScore release says is the sort of thing that people in the casual gaming industry have known for a while. Women dominate in number of people and the hours put in. This report puts that a little more into light," asserted Rovello. "That being said, women in gaming should send a message to game markets across all platforms, and you're starting to see it on traditional game platforms, with things like Brain Age. Older gamers and women really get into that." Unless they can prove profitable, numbers and play time don't make a bit of difference. Another major finding of the comScore study was that the recommendations of friends or relatives have more effect on sales than anything else. When asked about the findings, and how marketers could respond, she said, "I can only speak to the casual space. There's the $19.95 model where you try out a game, then decide eventually to purchase it for $19.95. I think marketers are going to change the way they market their games when the industry changes the way people purchase their games." The downside to this is that for the projected profit less money can be spent on development. While there are quality games produced on low budgets, not everyone can pull it off, and we end up with the crap on the back shelf at wall mart. So a positive difference must be made to distinguish these new games from the freeware already available without increasing the supposedly undesired "complexity". Content needs to be able to be created with efficiency and quality so that game development costs can be balanced with enticing prices. I'm sorry, but I usually tend to play games that are more "hardcore" in complexity and intensity, but whenever I'm in the mood to play something "casual" I can usually find it for free somewhere online. Some of the folks I know who work at the gaming center I frequent are casual gamers, and usually spend quite a bit of their time playing these kinds of games online. If you know some people who feel the same way, maybe you should get together and start a "casual gamers club". The more people people you get looking for games, the more you'll find. If that doesn't suit you then read on..... The only one who knows what you want IS YOU! If more "over 40 female gamers" made games, then they'd have what they wanted. In your free time, instead of wasting time playing your favorite casual game, find an easy set of tools, some good guides and make your own game. It's nice to claim that "my demographic" has the greatest population and the most time playing, but those numbers and hours are being wasted in a perpetual loop. If a fraction of those numbers quit whining and put their creativity and obvious free time to use they'd have what they wanted. You want a game with good story/character/humor/gameplay then make it. Designing a game can be done anytime, and working on it can be pause even if the game you'd rather be playing can't. You'll definitely get some time away from "real life". You'll see something new every time you create it. If women who play games aren't idiots, then prove it and step to this. I've kind of had the same problem, if I'd spent half my free time finishing what I started I'd have a full conversion mod by now, but I was too busy messing around and playing games which I always end up complaining about instead of biting the bullet and creating the next thing. I think it's time for a return to things long left unfinished......interested? It's definitely a hard trade, but if one soldier doesn't take the first step then Sparta falls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerbieZ Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 There are lots of games out there that fit into all these catagories. I think games like Black and White, the sims, SPORE etc would be more your thing Jae. Personally, the highlight of blood and guts games was Soldier of Fortune 2. It was epic, and it was one of those things which had to be played to be understood. It may sound weird but i think you should give Dark Forces 2 a try. It's old and like walking around inside the world of mspaint but it is my all-time favourite game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Windu Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Postage stamps and string? I demand evidence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Skywalker Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Looks like Mama Jae wants to party. Well, i agree with every point, but the thing is on how to put it in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuel Dravis Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 If 52% of gamers are already women, then where's the incentive to change the product? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth InSidious Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Came across this Marketing to Older Women Gamers article and found that 52% of gamers are women. So...why aren't there more games geared to attract more women? Because most game developers are [single?] men, at a guess? Here's what I'd like to see in an ideal game: A good story, both overall and for each character. Humor. I'd call these prerequisites for any game to be considered 'good' Intelligent female main characters who are clothed in something besides 3 postage stamps and some string. Would definitely make a change- in fact, an intelligent main character full stop would be nice... If a dev feels they have to make females half-naked to appeal to the male buyers, at least let her be clad decently enough that I don't have to worry about what my kids will see if they walk up to my computer. ...Or playing somewhere public... Adjustable violence settings. If I want to see blood and guts, I'll go watch Medical TV or a Tarantino film. As someone extremely squeamish, I totally agree. Language that's not too filthy/full of expletives. Again, when you have kids hanging around, there are just some things they don't need to hear. Don't see the need for it most of the time, myself... Something that doesn't require shooting at a thing 80 zillion times before it dies. I'm hyper enough chasing my kids around. I need something to calm down with, not something that gets me wound up. Another one I'd call a prerequisite A game that I can pick up and put down quickly. If my kids get hurt, I need to be able to leave the game immediately, and I prefer not to suffer game penalties because I make my kids a priority. Always a problem with multi-player... Something a lot of fun that takes me away from Real Life for awhile. Always paramount! Something that isn't 'cutesy'. I hate 'cutesy' crap as much as I hate Barney and the Smurfs. And even worse are bubbly, giggly, stupid women characters. So "Mr. Bunnsy's Interactive Adventures" aren't on the cards? Something that doesn't insult my intelligence. Women who play computer games are not idiots. Absolutely. Sometimes I think its just lack of effort put in on behalf of the devs... Something that I can replay and see something new each time. I like a certain level of complexity, but again, I'm gaming to relax, not solve the physics equations for the Big Bang. Yes, please And less confusing level design - I hate nothing more than spending fifteen minutes wandering around the same identical corridors. Most important--a lot of fun. 'Chartered Accounting 3D' also not on your 'most wanted' list, either? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3nix Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Alot of women play World of Warcraft. nearly all of them Night Elf Priests or Hunters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Sun Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Probably happy that they can hurt their male counterparts in a lot of different ways lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjpb3 Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 Intelligent female main characters who are clothed in something besides 3 postage stamps and some string. If I may add my 2 cents worth with this? I don't mind sexy clothing on my female PCs. I actually like sexy clothing, because I usually play RPGs. I wouldn't dare wear some of the stuff I've made/modded, but that doesn't mean I don't want to role-play and see my female PC wearing my mods. It's supposed to be a fantasy, hence all of my mods. But, like Jae, I don't want my son to walk in and happen upon me playing some big-breasted half nekkid chick and totally blow his gaskets, and have to explain why Mommy is playing a female PC that is semi-nude. Some male eye candy wouldn't hurt, either. Hey, what's good for the goose should also be good for the gander, right? Ladies like a nice, firm, round butt to stare at continuously as well. ----- Also, I am a fairly intelligent person, I think---at least that is what my I.Q. test hinted at. I want to play a game not discover the secrets of the universe in one sitting. Don't make a game so hard that I absolutely have to buy a strategy guide, or look up a walkthru or solution on the internet or else I can't finish the game. But on the other hand don't dumbdown a game either. A nice balance in between should do nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk102 Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 It's supposed to be a fantasyYou may be on to something there mjpb3 -- I came across this article a couple weeks ago. <_< >_> What? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 teekay ftw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjpb3 Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 You may be on to something there mjpb3 -- I came across this article a couple weeks ago. <_< >_> What? LOL! See, I knew there was a reason I got into gaming... well, besides Carth's butt I mean... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted March 18, 2007 Author Share Posted March 18, 2007 You may be on to something there mjpb3 -- I came across this article a couple weeks ago. No comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Obi-Wan Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 You may be on to something there mjpb3 -- I came across this article a couple weeks ago. Compelling. Very compelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aash Li Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Alot of women play World of Warcraft. nearly all of them Night Elf Priests or Hunters. Now its Blood Elves, or Draenei hunters, shamans and priestesses. :3 I play a Draenei Shaman... or have been. Ive gotten rather bored with Warcrack lately... so Ive been playing Titan Quest and its xpack. ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HK-87 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Intelligent female main characters who are clothed in something besides 3 postage stamps and some string. You ask too much! Sexist comment of the day. "Pics or it never happened." Snap, I said it. Several of the points brought up appeal to me aswell. Not all though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Jones Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 What you are talking about in your first post, Jae, are for instance classic adventure games like Monkey Island, Indy Jones or the like, and a more recent fun game would be The Most Excellent Game Psychonauts! by Tim Schafer (also involved in the first two Monkey Island games), who is like your husband, in making computer games of course, not investigating plan E. Yes, indeed, in case you have not already, you should play Psychonauts as soon as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceAlex Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Here's what I'd like to see in an ideal game: A good story, both overall and for each character. Humor. Adjustable violence settings. If I want to see blood and guts, I'll go watch Medical TV or a Tarantino film. Language that's not too filthy/full of expletives. Again, when you have kids hanging around, there are just some things they don't need to hear. Something that doesn't require shooting at a thing 80 zillion times before it dies. I'm hyper enough chasing my kids around. I need something to calm down with, not something that gets me wound up. Something a lot of fun that takes me away from Real Life for awhile. Something that doesn't insult my intelligence. Women who play computer games are not idiots. Something that I can replay and see something new each time. I like a certain level of complexity, but again, I'm gaming to relax, not solve the physics equations for the Big Bang. Most important--a lot of fun. I believe this applies to both genders. Intelligent female main characters who are clothed in something besides 3 postage stamps and some string. If a dev feels they have to make females half-naked to appeal to the male buyers, at least let her be clad decently enough that I don't have to worry about what my kids will see if they walk up to my computer. When i play a video game, i like to see "realistic" clothing on females aswell. I don't mind if it's sexy.. just that it's not showing too much skin (Bastila's outfit in K1 is a perfect example of what i consider appropiate). Some male eye candy wouldn't hurt, either. Not worried about your kids there, are we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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