Plenty of women in MMO's. From the lady that is really bad at healing raids because she is trying to pay too much attention to whispers from e-friends, to the lady that does that god-awful "seductive" voice in vent that only seems to work on 19 year old lonely guys.
I applaud the variety(?) of women that play MMO's!
The fact that there is even an article on this topic is pretty pathetic. It's 2011, I was hearing this crap when I first logged into an online game in 1995.
I will say one thing: Im actually thinking of leaving my Corporation in EVE Online due to the drama caused by the MALES. Very tiresome. Perhaps as women have become more independent, men more sensitive and emotional? Bromances and all that. I told one guy that was going off in Corpchat to shutup the other day (he was being annoying and said something rude to me) and he ragequit, citing me as the reason. Then I got a whole bunch of questions from the other males about it. Children. I would have much preferred if they just begged for stuff.
Still waiting on a single woman to post that this is no longer an issue.
Just sayin'.
Not an issue.
I also have to say this has not been an issue for me now or ten years ago when I started in EQ1. Maybe it is the company I keep or the specific MMO's I choose to play. I'm sure there are a minority of players that might make it an issue, but you will find a minority of players with all other sorts of prejudices. Dwelling on those few players and whining about the unfairness of it all just makes us seem....well whiny.
I have to agree with a previous poster that these sort of rants do nothing to help any cause, just justifies the bias some may have.
My only problem with the "girl gamer" image, is that most boys, and yes I said boys, that play games think that every gamer girl is a hot chick behind a keyboard wearing next to nothing drooling at the chance to get with the prepubescent screechy voiced child, who can barely manage to log into a game without mommy and daddies permission, let alone drive around and pick up a girl.
The way I think of most girl gamers is the wait I think of the ones back 20+ years ago that used to show up to those PnP games. They were often as bad of hygene as the male counterparts, many of which were already more damaged mentally than your typical girl their age. Sure they were the only thing that paid ANY attention to some geek as he went off on a tyrade about how powerful his level 15 Paliden of Tempest is. But trueth is the girl gamer, that is in those pics in the original rant, are a myth. Or more correctly as rare as a BNR34 Skyline GT-R spec Nur in the USof A.
Just saying that its partly sites like this that have pics of hot gamer girls and then dont show the typical gamer girl that goes with the typical gamer guy.
So before you go off on a tyrant about how gamer girls are real and they are whatever shut up and look at the pics your attaching to those statements.
In spite of the title it is a short, humorous look at Men "looking down" on women practitioners in a past time mostly thought of as a "Man's thing". (historically, but changing)
Short read, actually happened, good chuckle had by all at the time.
I think there are a lot mor e"hot" girl gamers these days than you think, but ya I thnk the norm woudl be ones who look like the characiture of the author. Just as the norm of guy gamers are probably pimply faced twerps... Not me though. I'm an Adonis.
"I am not in a server with Gankers...THEY ARE IN A SERVER WITH ME!!!"
...especially if they look like the girl top right in the first pic.
Seriously though. Who someone is behind the keyboard makes no difference as to how they play the game, or at least to me. I'd rather group with a girl gamer, who plays intelligently and maturely, than any of the many adolescent teen boys out there in MMOland. You know, the ones who call you dude all the time.
I've played a female character in many an MMO, and I think I know some of the things that nark Isobel. I haven't seen it frequently but I've seen it. I was chatted up a number of times in EQ2. I was even asked if I'd marry an ugly little dwarf in Thundering Steppes once. That put an awkward slant on the continued killing of giants, I can tell you.
I don't think people judging each other in MMOs is going to go away any time soon though. It is just a microcosm of real life after all.
im not really the social type so to speak. but i dont look down on anyone unless they fuck up me or some other m8's farming, rading or whatever we are doing.
that being said i have been in one guild in a mmo before where females were just not allowed to join due to the drama it can often cause. not because of the female individual herself, cuz they are just as good gamers as we dudes are. the reason was that there could be someone blinded by the fact that a "girl":o is playing the game and then takes that persons side nomatter what. i dont like this kind of policy, but i have seen this kind of drama happen before over silly things. call it a internet crush or whatever. these are just lonely males i guess.
Originally posted by Hodo My only problem with the "girl gamer" image, is that most boys, and yes I said boys, that play games think that every gamer girl is a hot chick behind a keyboard wearing next to nothing drooling at the chance to get with the prepubescent screechy voiced child, who can barely manage to log into a game without mommy and daddies permission, let alone drive around and pick up a girl.
The way I think of most girl gamers is the wait I think of the ones back 20+ years ago that used to show up to those PnP games. They were often as bad of hygene as the male counterparts, many of which were already more damaged mentally than your typical girl their age. Sure they were the only thing that paid ANY attention to some geek as he went off on a tyrade about how powerful his level 15 Paliden of Tempest is. But trueth is the girl gamer, that is in those pics in the original rant, are a myth. Or more correctly as rare as a BNR34 Skyline GT-R spec Nur in the USof A.
Just saying that its partly sites like this that have pics of hot gamer girls and then dont show the typical gamer girl that goes with the typical gamer guy.
So before you go off on a tyrant about how gamer girls are real and they are whatever shut up and look at the pics your attaching to those statements.
The first part of your post is largely accurate, I think. Boys idealise the physical appearance of gamer girls and initialising their mental capacity.
But then you go on to stereotype both male and female gamers. The typical gamer, male or female, is pretty much the same as the typical *person.* Gamers are no different from other people, save in that they play games. What you describe was once the case, back during the time that you reference, some twenty years ago. But that hasn't been the case, for guys or girls, for a long time.
I realise this perception persists, though. At the risk of bragging, I am a pretty fit young woman, and when I go to a store and start browsing games I get odd looks, gawkers, and sometimes questions like "are you buying a present for your boyfriend/brother?" I try to explain politely and casually that no, I'm a gamer and I am totally normal.
So, you are part of the problem, Hodo. Yes, there are gamer girls like you describe, but there are also girls like those in the top photo in the article. Both are about as rare among gamers as they are in the general populace. There is no longer a marked demographic difference between gamers and non-gamers. The only difference is that gamers are skewed towards the young end of the spectrum. You have to realise that people are people are people. Some play games, some don't. Some are hideous and unwashed, some gorgeous. Some too old to be in their parents' basements, some working professionals.
The "typical" gamer guy or girl is no different from the "typical" non-gamer guy are girl. You have to realise that simple face before this problem will go away.
Originally posted by holifeet I don't think people judging each other in MMOs is going to go away any time soon though. It is just a microcosm of real life after all.
I wish I had said it so eloquently.
"Gamers will no longer buy the argument that every MMO requires a subscription fee to offset server and bandwidth costs. It's not true you know it, and they know it." Jeff Strain, co-founder of ArenaNet, 2007
Ok, so, I want to see a pic of "real" gamer girls... the generally fat, unattractive goth girls that sit at home ignoring their kids... yea... lets get real here...
Ok, so, I want to see a pic of "real" gamer girls... the generally fat, unattractive goth girls that sit at home ignoring their kids... yea... lets get real here...
That is not the majority of gamer girls.
Ok... Get a wig, and take a pic... This basically has turned into how many girl gamers are model material. Who cares? I'd take a gamre girl that was a 7 over a non gamer that was a 10. Luckily I go tme a solid 9 who likes console gaming.
"I am not in a server with Gankers...THEY ARE IN A SERVER WITH ME!!!"
Female players have to earn respect the same way male players do. In my experience, male and female players can be good or bad, and are not stereotypically one or the other, in the games I've played. I really don't come across any intelligent players with a sexist mentality, with exception to FPS games.
You know, I've been gaming online in MMOs since the original Air Warrior on GEnie, when there really were very few female gamers, and have watched as more and more women have gradually become involved in the pastime...
Early on, many females were pretty self-concious or low-key as they always seemed to expect, sometimes justifiably, to be denigrated or belittled, but that has totally changed over the last 10 years or so...It's been my experience that most female gamers now are as confident and comfortable as any male with themselves as gamers, and I think it's great...
But, for the longest, until about '95 or so, most of the women *I* knew looked upon gaming with disdain, and it's gratifying that all that has so completely changed.
The person who beat me worst in real swordfighting was a rather small, cute red haired girl, and I sparred with some nasty looking huge guys...
It is not about appearance or which sex you belong, combat (real or MMO) is about guts.
If you think all ladies are helpless and always needs rescuing you are in for a nasty surprise sooner or later...
For every Loise Lane there is a Bodicea as well.
I'll see your rather small, cute, red haired girl and raise you a rather small, cute, red-haired girl who made her own swords. Haven't seen her in years (more like two decades), but last time I did, she was going for her degree in blacksmithing, and I think she was all of five feet tall and ninety pounds.
As for me, I am female and I tend to play female toons. I have less issues from other players over my gender than I used to, it's one of the few ways in which I'd say the community has improved. But I guess since I'm wandering around the new pvp server in Age of Conan right now on free to play and reading about how female melee characters are at a disadvantage in pvp due to a certain mechanic, I'll roll a male character. Age of Conan male Khitai are good looking enough compared to your usual lumpy MMO male avatars that I'm half tempted to buy the expansion just to make one. But I dread having some other gamer chick hit on me in game because then I'll have to explain that yes, my avatar is hot, I made him that way because I didn't want to stare at an ugly man all day! That would just be a weird conversation.
I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.
In my church, 85% of the girls i spoken to, below the age of 20 have played atleast 1 video game. They played that one video game alot. They did it to be around the guy they liked, fit in with friends, male sibling influence or just for fun. My gf loves video games because she grew up playing video games with her older brother. When the xbox kinect came out, some of the women I know that are above the age of 20, who never really touched a video game, were buying the thing. My close friends wife worked my butt in kinect sports but i'm not fit as I was when i was 21. Believe it or not my good men, women DO play video games.
I really feel that the ratio of male to female players in an MMORPG is related to the popularity of the MMORPG.
In SWG I found over the last 8 years that about 10% are women. As to the guys that play female characters in that game, the only normal reason that I have found are those that feel that since they have to look at the character all day it may as well appeal to them so they play female.
While over in WoW my current experience is that 40-50% are women. Some of them play male characters because they have to stare at it all day and others are more pragmatic about the gender that they play.
But then you go on to stereotype both male and female gamers. The typical gamer, male or female, is pretty much the same as the typical *person.* Gamers are no different from other people, save in that they play games. What you describe was once the case, back during the time that you reference, some twenty years ago. But that hasn't been the case, for guys or girls, for a long time.
I realise this perception persists, though. At the risk of bragging, I am a pretty fit young woman, and when I go to a store and start browsing games I get odd looks, gawkers, and sometimes questions like "are you buying a present for your boyfriend/brother?" I try to explain politely and casually that no, I'm a gamer and I am totally normal.
So, you are part of the problem, Hodo. Yes, there are gamer girls like you describe, but there are also girls like those in the top photo in the article. Both are about as rare among gamers as they are in the general populace. There is no longer a marked demographic difference between gamers and non-gamers. The only difference is that gamers are skewed towards the young end of the spectrum. You have to realise that people are people are people. Some play games, some don't. Some are hideous and unwashed, some gorgeous. Some too old to be in their parents' basements, some working professionals.
The "typical" gamer guy or girl is no different from the "typical" non-gamer guy are girl. You have to realise that simple face before this problem will go away.
You are a minority in the vast majority of gamers. Now the one thing I will add to the modern gamer persona type is the pot smoking burn out. Or at least the wannabe burn out. Most of the gamers I have run into now days have added reeking of weed stench to the vast collection of other smells that permiate their aura of scent. I am what I call a A-typical gamer. I love games but I am also a person who will go outside and do things with cars more than I will online on games. Now there is a difference between a casual gamer and a hardcore gamer. What I describe is a hardcore gamer. The casual gamer hell are a dime a dozen and have been around in hundreds of shapes, sizes, races, and family status levels since the beginning of the Arcade machine. Need I point out that even people like Asia Carrera and Emilio Esteves are what are considered casual gamers. But not hardcore.
It is unfortunate that there still is a perception that there aren't female's that game (MMO, FPS, etc) or that we're all FB social gamers. It's sad in 2011 if even needs to be addressed, but to say the average game isn't marketed for the 18-30 male demographic is silly. That is the target group and why the majority of both male/female characters are modeled to look that way.
The issue of armor though in game, while I will admit I do like it to coordinate and not look like a clown or homeless person compiled my gear, I really don't like the fact in many games 'female' gear looks like something you'd see in the red light district. Seriously developers WTF????
I've been lucky over the years to have been in some decent guilds that didnt' judge based on gender, and many with a higher than average female population. Was that the reason IDK.
But in general I've found it safer not to state what sex I am in PUGs or PvP. That seems to enrage or open you up for the steriotypical questions/comments.
Sadly though there are some 'girl gamers' that do like to cause drama in guilds with the flirting, helpless b.s., and the continual need to point out they are a girl gamer to anyone that will listen - usually with a link to their MySpace or FB account with photos to prove it.
The vast majority of gamers I truly believe just want to enjoy themselves, be treated fairly and judge on ability in game.
I treat men and women exactly the same in the MMOs I play. EXACTLY the same. I expect them both to know the fights, know the bosses, put in effort, ask questions when needed, be respectful, etc.
My only problem with female gamers is when they either:
A) Expect special treatment because they're female.
Yes, I know you're a woman/girl/whatever. And yes, I'm going to call you an idiot just as loudly when you wipe the raid for failing to follow directions. Weren't you the one giggling on Vent last week when I ripped into Steve for getting feared into the whelps? Well, guess what. It's YOU being the dumbass now, and no I'm not going to "go easy" on you just because you have a vajayjay.
Feel the need to push their female rhetoric.
I get it. You're a girl gamer. You don't need to flaunt your "girl gamer and proud" t-shirt. You don't need to name your guild "PMS" or "Cramps" or "G.I.R.L." . You don't need to pretend you're special for being a girl gamer. You're a GAMER, and that's it to me.
I wouldn't have a problem with girl gamers, but unfortunately there's people like the stupid PMS clan out there advertising their femininity as if it affects anything. It doesn't.
(Oh, and before anyone runs their mouth about H2O, that clan is a joke. It was created by PMS so their guild could look a little less idiotic)
Be a gamer, and you'll be treated like a gamer.
Be a girl gamer, and you'll be treated like a girl gamer.
Honestly the whole OMG A GIRL IN MY MMO!?!?!?!?! Thing is ridiculous, I remember playing wow and when i first hit 70 on my moonkin i was recruited into a raiding guidl where the leader was a female, i was still a teenager, when asked if it was a problem or was i surprised i said no, because it shouldnt be a surprise or problem that women play video games and even mmos. People especially the young ones need to step up and stop the immaturity, sure you can have jun, crack jokes but saying that women shouldnt play games is just obsurd.
Playing: FFXIV, DnL, and World of Warships Waiting on: Ashes of Creation
I absolutely agree with all you say. My gf actually plays some MMO's and she's the one leading me to play them. I'm more on the FPS side.
Anyway, great pic showing up the Fragdolls Team. Not heard of them since 2 years. They used to be one off the greatest UT 2003-2004 team to live up if I remember correctly
Still waiting on a single woman to post that this is no longer an issue.
Just sayin'.
It is still an issue and it will always be an issue as long as the Internet
A) can be said to be an environment without the usual RL consequences and
has boys on it who
1) pine for a male-only space, not realising they'll not get it and
2) have not yet been socialised to relate to a woman either besides or including their mothers as a human being.
Nothing about the fact that some of these non-alpha males are 40-plus years old (though, granted, rarely) changes the fact that they are in essence boys-- the lone wolves and "suckers" of the infamous (and NSFW) "How Not To Fail At Life"--leading to
Point Number One:
There are shockingly fewer men than male persons on the Internet. Many who are cleverly disguised as men by beards or bellies or baritone voices visit the Internet for any of the many obvious (and in this case, we're talking just plain wrong) ways in which they can act less than their age and without the restraints or gravitas to which decent and mature male human beings naturally aspire. It is Never-Never Land come to (Second) Life.
Secondly:
All communities have standards; some have very human-positive standards and this should be no surprise to anyone, much much less a thing for anyone to crai moar about. Thus, if you belong to a community it is your positive duty to keep using the system that's in place in order to keep those standards that benefit you. Report. Always. What doesn't bother you "enough" but is still a violation of the rules is what you most must go to the extra effort of reporting. Selection and repetition is the life and death of ideas.
Thirdly:
For every other need beyond merely observing and reporting, there's fatuglyorslutty.com (NSFW, but doing its part to give more lulz and less grief to women who game).
Casilda Tametomo, Priestess of Soldeus | AKA Lepida Aegis-Imperium.com
«Si oblitus fuero usque ad finem omnia opera eorum»
Comments
Plenty of women in MMO's. From the lady that is really bad at healing raids because she is trying to pay too much attention to whispers from e-friends, to the lady that does that god-awful "seductive" voice in vent that only seems to work on 19 year old lonely guys.
I applaud the variety(?) of women that play MMO's!
The fact that there is even an article on this topic is pretty pathetic. It's 2011, I was hearing this crap when I first logged into an online game in 1995.
I will say one thing: Im actually thinking of leaving my Corporation in EVE Online due to the drama caused by the MALES. Very tiresome. Perhaps as women have become more independent, men more sensitive and emotional? Bromances and all that. I told one guy that was going off in Corpchat to shutup the other day (he was being annoying and said something rude to me) and he ragequit, citing me as the reason. Then I got a whole bunch of questions from the other males about it. Children. I would have much preferred if they just begged for stuff.
Current Games: WOW, EVE Online
I also have to say this has not been an issue for me now or ten years ago when I started in EQ1. Maybe it is the company I keep or the specific MMO's I choose to play. I'm sure there are a minority of players that might make it an issue, but you will find a minority of players with all other sorts of prejudices. Dwelling on those few players and whining about the unfairness of it all just makes us seem....well whiny.
I have to agree with a previous poster that these sort of rants do nothing to help any cause, just justifies the bias some may have.
My only problem with the "girl gamer" image, is that most boys, and yes I said boys, that play games think that every gamer girl is a hot chick behind a keyboard wearing next to nothing drooling at the chance to get with the prepubescent screechy voiced child, who can barely manage to log into a game without mommy and daddies permission, let alone drive around and pick up a girl.
The way I think of most girl gamers is the wait I think of the ones back 20+ years ago that used to show up to those PnP games. They were often as bad of hygene as the male counterparts, many of which were already more damaged mentally than your typical girl their age. Sure they were the only thing that paid ANY attention to some geek as he went off on a tyrade about how powerful his level 15 Paliden of Tempest is. But trueth is the girl gamer, that is in those pics in the original rant, are a myth. Or more correctly as rare as a BNR34 Skyline GT-R spec Nur in the USof A.
Just saying that its partly sites like this that have pics of hot gamer girls and then dont show the typical gamer girl that goes with the typical gamer guy.
So before you go off on a tyrant about how gamer girls are real and they are whatever shut up and look at the pics your attaching to those statements.
So much crap, so little quality.
Heh-heh. You might like this one Isabella, as it's an example of the Man / Woman thing:
A WoodTurning Smock at No Cost! http://t.co/Co9Uejv
In spite of the title it is a short, humorous look at Men "looking down" on women practitioners in a past time mostly thought of as a "Man's thing". (historically, but changing)
Short read, actually happened, good chuckle had by all at the time.
Wherever you go, there you are.
"Gypsies, tramps, and thieves, we were called by the Admin of the site . . . "
I think there are a lot mor e"hot" girl gamers these days than you think, but ya I thnk the norm woudl be ones who look like the characiture of the author. Just as the norm of guy gamers are probably pimply faced twerps... Not me though. I'm an Adonis.
"I am not in a server with Gankers...THEY ARE IN A SERVER WITH ME!!!"
Amen to that! Every girl whom I knew, who was even remotely interested in gaming, was a frigging NUTCASE!
I welcome girl gamers in any game I play...
...especially if they look like the girl top right in the first pic.
Seriously though. Who someone is behind the keyboard makes no difference as to how they play the game, or at least to me. I'd rather group with a girl gamer, who plays intelligently and maturely, than any of the many adolescent teen boys out there in MMOland. You know, the ones who call you dude all the time.
I've played a female character in many an MMO, and I think I know some of the things that nark Isobel. I haven't seen it frequently but I've seen it. I was chatted up a number of times in EQ2. I was even asked if I'd marry an ugly little dwarf in Thundering Steppes once. That put an awkward slant on the continued killing of giants, I can tell you.
I don't think people judging each other in MMOs is going to go away any time soon though. It is just a microcosm of real life after all.
.
im not really the social type so to speak. but i dont look down on anyone unless they fuck up me or some other m8's farming, rading or whatever we are doing.
that being said i have been in one guild in a mmo before where females were just not allowed to join due to the drama it can often cause. not because of the female individual herself, cuz they are just as good gamers as we dudes are. the reason was that there could be someone blinded by the fact that a "girl":o is playing the game and then takes that persons side nomatter what. i dont like this kind of policy, but i have seen this kind of drama happen before over silly things. call it a internet crush or whatever. these are just lonely males i guess.
The first part of your post is largely accurate, I think. Boys idealise the physical appearance of gamer girls and initialising their mental capacity.
But then you go on to stereotype both male and female gamers. The typical gamer, male or female, is pretty much the same as the typical *person.* Gamers are no different from other people, save in that they play games. What you describe was once the case, back during the time that you reference, some twenty years ago. But that hasn't been the case, for guys or girls, for a long time.
I realise this perception persists, though. At the risk of bragging, I am a pretty fit young woman, and when I go to a store and start browsing games I get odd looks, gawkers, and sometimes questions like "are you buying a present for your boyfriend/brother?" I try to explain politely and casually that no, I'm a gamer and I am totally normal.
So, you are part of the problem, Hodo. Yes, there are gamer girls like you describe, but there are also girls like those in the top photo in the article. Both are about as rare among gamers as they are in the general populace. There is no longer a marked demographic difference between gamers and non-gamers. The only difference is that gamers are skewed towards the young end of the spectrum. You have to realise that people are people are people. Some play games, some don't. Some are hideous and unwashed, some gorgeous. Some too old to be in their parents' basements, some working professionals.
The "typical" gamer guy or girl is no different from the "typical" non-gamer guy are girl. You have to realise that simple face before this problem will go away.
I wish I had said it so eloquently.
"Gamers will no longer buy the argument that every MMO requires a subscription fee to offset server and bandwidth costs. It's not true you know it, and they know it." Jeff Strain, co-founder of ArenaNet, 2007
WTF? No subscription fee?
Ok, so, I want to see a pic of "real" gamer girls... the generally fat, unattractive goth girls that sit at home ignoring their kids... yea... lets get real here...
That is not the majority of gamer girls.
Ok... Get a wig, and take a pic... This basically has turned into how many girl gamers are model material. Who cares? I'd take a gamre girl that was a 7 over a non gamer that was a 10. Luckily I go tme a solid 9 who likes console gaming.
"I am not in a server with Gankers...THEY ARE IN A SERVER WITH ME!!!"
Female players have to earn respect the same way male players do. In my experience, male and female players can be good or bad, and are not stereotypically one or the other, in the games I've played. I really don't come across any intelligent players with a sexist mentality, with exception to FPS games.
Total MMOs played: 274|Enjoyed: 9. >:|
You know, I've been gaming online in MMOs since the original Air Warrior on GEnie, when there really were very few female gamers, and have watched as more and more women have gradually become involved in the pastime...
Early on, many females were pretty self-concious or low-key as they always seemed to expect, sometimes justifiably, to be denigrated or belittled, but that has totally changed over the last 10 years or so...It's been my experience that most female gamers now are as confident and comfortable as any male with themselves as gamers, and I think it's great...
But, for the longest, until about '95 or so, most of the women *I* knew looked upon gaming with disdain, and it's gratifying that all that has so completely changed.
I'll see your rather small, cute, red haired girl and raise you a rather small, cute, red-haired girl who made her own swords. Haven't seen her in years (more like two decades), but last time I did, she was going for her degree in blacksmithing, and I think she was all of five feet tall and ninety pounds.
As for me, I am female and I tend to play female toons. I have less issues from other players over my gender than I used to, it's one of the few ways in which I'd say the community has improved. But I guess since I'm wandering around the new pvp server in Age of Conan right now on free to play and reading about how female melee characters are at a disadvantage in pvp due to a certain mechanic, I'll roll a male character. Age of Conan male Khitai are good looking enough compared to your usual lumpy MMO male avatars that I'm half tempted to buy the expansion just to make one. But I dread having some other gamer chick hit on me in game because then I'll have to explain that yes, my avatar is hot, I made him that way because I didn't want to stare at an ugly man all day! That would just be a weird conversation.
I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.
~Albert Einstein
In my church, 85% of the girls i spoken to, below the age of 20 have played atleast 1 video game. They played that one video game alot. They did it to be around the guy they liked, fit in with friends, male sibling influence or just for fun. My gf loves video games because she grew up playing video games with her older brother. When the xbox kinect came out, some of the women I know that are above the age of 20, who never really touched a video game, were buying the thing. My close friends wife worked my butt in kinect sports but i'm not fit as I was when i was 21. Believe it or not my good men, women DO play video games.
I really feel that the ratio of male to female players in an MMORPG is related to the popularity of the MMORPG.
In SWG I found over the last 8 years that about 10% are women. As to the guys that play female characters in that game, the only normal reason that I have found are those that feel that since they have to look at the character all day it may as well appeal to them so they play female.
While over in WoW my current experience is that 40-50% are women. Some of them play male characters because they have to stare at it all day and others are more pragmatic about the gender that they play.
You are a minority in the vast majority of gamers. Now the one thing I will add to the modern gamer persona type is the pot smoking burn out. Or at least the wannabe burn out. Most of the gamers I have run into now days have added reeking of weed stench to the vast collection of other smells that permiate their aura of scent. I am what I call a A-typical gamer. I love games but I am also a person who will go outside and do things with cars more than I will online on games. Now there is a difference between a casual gamer and a hardcore gamer. What I describe is a hardcore gamer. The casual gamer hell are a dime a dozen and have been around in hundreds of shapes, sizes, races, and family status levels since the beginning of the Arcade machine. Need I point out that even people like Asia Carrera and Emilio Esteves are what are considered casual gamers. But not hardcore.
So much crap, so little quality.
It is unfortunate that there still is a perception that there aren't female's that game (MMO, FPS, etc) or that we're all FB social gamers. It's sad in 2011 if even needs to be addressed, but to say the average game isn't marketed for the 18-30 male demographic is silly. That is the target group and why the majority of both male/female characters are modeled to look that way.
The issue of armor though in game, while I will admit I do like it to coordinate and not look like a clown or homeless person compiled my gear, I really don't like the fact in many games 'female' gear looks like something you'd see in the red light district. Seriously developers WTF????
I've been lucky over the years to have been in some decent guilds that didnt' judge based on gender, and many with a higher than average female population. Was that the reason IDK.
But in general I've found it safer not to state what sex I am in PUGs or PvP. That seems to enrage or open you up for the steriotypical questions/comments.
Sadly though there are some 'girl gamers' that do like to cause drama in guilds with the flirting, helpless b.s., and the continual need to point out they are a girl gamer to anyone that will listen - usually with a link to their MySpace or FB account with photos to prove it.
The vast majority of gamers I truly believe just want to enjoy themselves, be treated fairly and judge on ability in game.
Proud member of Hammerfist Clan Gaming Community.
Currently playing: RIFT, EQ2, WoW, LoTRO
Retired: Warhammer, AoC, EQ
Waiting: SWToR & GW2
I treat men and women exactly the same in the MMOs I play. EXACTLY the same. I expect them both to know the fights, know the bosses, put in effort, ask questions when needed, be respectful, etc.
My only problem with female gamers is when they either:
A) Expect special treatment because they're female.
Yes, I know you're a woman/girl/whatever. And yes, I'm going to call you an idiot just as loudly when you wipe the raid for failing to follow directions. Weren't you the one giggling on Vent last week when I ripped into Steve for getting feared into the whelps? Well, guess what. It's YOU being the dumbass now, and no I'm not going to "go easy" on you just because you have a vajayjay.
I get it. You're a girl gamer. You don't need to flaunt your "girl gamer and proud" t-shirt. You don't need to name your guild "PMS" or "Cramps" or "G.I.R.L." . You don't need to pretend you're special for being a girl gamer. You're a GAMER, and that's it to me.
I wouldn't have a problem with girl gamers, but unfortunately there's people like the stupid PMS clan out there advertising their femininity as if it affects anything. It doesn't.
(Oh, and before anyone runs their mouth about H2O, that clan is a joke. It was created by PMS so their guild could look a little less idiotic)
Be a gamer, and you'll be treated like a gamer.
Be a girl gamer, and you'll be treated like a girl gamer.
Honestly the whole OMG A GIRL IN MY MMO!?!?!?!?! Thing is ridiculous, I remember playing wow and when i first hit 70 on my moonkin i was recruited into a raiding guidl where the leader was a female, i was still a teenager, when asked if it was a problem or was i surprised i said no, because it shouldnt be a surprise or problem that women play video games and even mmos. People especially the young ones need to step up and stop the immaturity, sure you can have jun, crack jokes but saying that women shouldnt play games is just obsurd.
Playing: FFXIV, DnL, and World of Warships
Waiting on: Ashes of Creation
I absolutely agree with all you say. My gf actually plays some MMO's and she's the one leading me to play them. I'm more on the FPS side.
Anyway, great pic showing up the Fragdolls Team. Not heard of them since 2 years. They used to be one off the greatest UT 2003-2004 team to live up if I remember correctly
It is still an issue and it will always be an issue as long as the Internet
A) can be said to be an environment without the usual RL consequences and
1) pine for a male-only space, not realising they'll not get it and
2) have not yet been socialised to relate to a woman either besides or including their mothers as a human being.
Nothing about the fact that some of these non-alpha males are 40-plus years old (though, granted, rarely) changes the fact that they are in essence boys-- the lone wolves and "suckers" of the infamous (and NSFW) "How Not To Fail At Life"--leading to
Point Number One:
There are shockingly fewer men than male persons on the Internet. Many who are cleverly disguised as men by beards or bellies or baritone voices visit the Internet for any of the many obvious (and in this case, we're talking just plain wrong) ways in which they can act less than their age and without the restraints or gravitas to which decent and mature male human beings naturally aspire. It is Never-Never Land come to (Second) Life.
Secondly:
All communities have standards; some have very human-positive standards and this should be no surprise to anyone, much much less a thing for anyone to crai moar about. Thus, if you belong to a community it is your positive duty to keep using the system that's in place in order to keep those standards that benefit you. Report. Always. What doesn't bother you "enough" but is still a violation of the rules is what you most must go to the extra effort of reporting. Selection and repetition is the life and death of ideas.
Thirdly:
For every other need beyond merely observing and reporting, there's fatuglyorslutty.com (NSFW, but doing its part to give more lulz and less grief to women who game).
«Si oblitus fuero usque ad finem omnia opera eorum»