General: Girl Gamer Vs. Gamer Girl

Stradden · January 2007

Carolyn Koh takes a look at the similarities and differences in female gamers.

Is there a difference between a Girl Gamer and a Gamer Girl? Some suggest that the term "Girl Gamer" is simply a designation of the gender of the gamer and that a "Gamer Girl" implies that the female gamer a hard-core gamer. One that can frag with the best of them.

Pffft. Semantics. I say. But former MMORPG.com Snior Editor Dana Massey took it one step further and called me a "Girlie" Gamer. When Laura Genender and I did a couple of debates early last year, Dana opined that we were perfect foils for each other. As he put it, Laura fragged with the best. She enjoyed beating the boys and shoving their noses into it. Whereas I ran like a girl, threw like a girl and would paint the toe-nails of my character if I could.

Read the Editorial here.

Balerathon · January 2007

I think (personally) a lot of male gamers get hyped up about Girl gamers because it s spark of hope that you (a guy gamer) will be able to find a girl that shares one of your biggest intrests. "And they gamed happily ever after"

I mean.. if you could me a funny, intelligent, good looking girl.. you'd want to go out with her right? Now imagine you met through a MMORPG... Score! :P

anyways, thats my take on it

Lissette · January 2007

Being a WOMAN (been a long time since I was a girl

) gamer, I admit that I dress my char in the sexiest wear that the game provides (if it is still "good" armor, I would never sacrifice AC for looks

), but I don't go out of my way to act or be girly (probably because I was always a tomboy growing up and still am, lol). You know different strokes for different folks, my only problem with it would be when the industry thinks that is what all women'/girl gamers are about. I remember when I heard about the game coming out geared for women gamers, based on the TV show desperate housewives?!??! I was so disgusted by the whole thought process behind that game. Excuse me I am a woman gamer and that is like the last game I would ever buy. I want to swing a sword and decapitate things, thank you very much.

Balerathon · January 2007

Now THAT is something I'd Love to see!!

A game where you actually decapitate the monster sometimes! I'd pay to play a game where sometimes you lop the head off the monster and it rolls around a bit while the body convulges before collapsing... or even better, in the fight with the mob, as you do battle and dmg you slowly dismember limbs and stuff ... that would rock! Im tired of all the monsters staying in one peice when I attack with my two handed heavy battle axe...

I say... Off with their heads!

Anofalye · January 2007

Join the group now or keep doing this interesting stuff.

The choice is yours, but meanwhile, XP are rolling around. You're in, you're out! You're call, but this carebear won't stop the XP machine for you! Now if you excuse me, while I write this, I miss my chain pulling and the group is already talking, more pulling, less talking!

Lissette · January 2007

You might want to check out Age of Conan then (I know I will be

). I have seen some footage that shows heads flying, of course it still being in beta everything is subject to nerfing, lets just hope they don't.

soulwynd · January 2007

Because what girl doesn't love chopped off heads, right? ;P

Harafnir · January 2007

Ok, I am a guy. Unshaven most of the time, been fighting with different wepaonry for almost 20 years now, and those that know me know that I am a very nononsense kind of guy. I am not macho... I am what makes macho guys nervous. At the same time... I color coordinate my equipment... My girlfriend (also gamer, but more adventure games and CS) always laugh when I sit with a new character, because the looks of equipment is always more important than the stats, and my credo when playing is "Style is everything". One of the most fun things ever made in any MMO is the character builder of CoH and CoV, and I abolutly loved the thousands of different pieces of clothing and equipment in AO to choose from. So I am pretty much the other side of the coin...

In my world... Its never who you are that matter, or what you are... Its how you are. How you behave and act, your priorities and your principles. I see no difference between someone in a pink armor and someone in a black, it is all in how they behave. I dont think most men worry too much about that either, I never sit and wonder if someone think I am homosexual just because I wear the stuff I like... I dont think lady gamers should worry about that either.

There are lots of idiots out there that just like to throw monkey poo around themselves... There is never a reason in the world to doubt yourself or change your personality just because of those idiots. Ignore them when possible, ridicule them when occation arise, but never... ever.. listen to them.

moongdss · January 2007

I guess I never really thought about which kind of Gamer Girl I am... I like to frag with the rest *and* dress my best! I guess that's what this article missed for me, that Girl Gamers can do both and it's really okay. Take the response to the guy who says he coordinates his armour and weapons... a gamer girl wouldn't be considered less of a girl because of the color of her armor, but the guy gamer would. I think Gamer Girls enjoy a kind of freedom in this regard... although the trade-off is the ever tiring, "Are you really a girl?!" Followed by the even more popular "Will you got out wih me?"

That said, in my COH Super Group, we have lots of women. When I have teamed with many of them together, it's apparent that some have a more 'fluffy ' approach the game. Those are usually the youger ones (and are usually daughters of women who are playing a more serious game). YMMV

Game on!

Kyleran · January 2007

I have gamed with both types of female gamers, and there are some differences I've noticed...

Gamer Girl - Joined game on their own, tend to play as Warriors, Mages and other damage dealing characters. Most competent I ever met was in Lineage one, a 24 year old female who ran a terrrfic sieging guild that I was a member of. She would actually make us train our combat skills on a bi-weekly basis, running group excercises and mock siege warfare. Can't comment much on her thoughts on character looks though, Lineage 1 didn't lend itself to that. Girl gamers are less likely to play the "sex" card in a game, they are more focused on game mechanics and goals, and not about pointing out that they behave a certain way because they are female.

Girl Gamer - Usually joined the game at the urging of their spouse, boyfriend, or other family members. Will frequently play support classes such as healers/buffers and will normally only co-lead a guild with their significant other. One oddity, some women prefer to belong to guilds separate from their partner, I've met several husband/wife teams that play in different guilds. They can be extremely competent at playing their classes, they take it serious, even if they do spend more time working on good looking outfits/weapons. I find this group tends to handle the bulk of the crafting/gathering chores in a guild more often than not, and they make up a larger portion of the female population than gamer girl.

Of course, these are sterotypical observations that don't pertain to all female players. Its just how I've come to perceive female players over the course of many years of MMORPG gaming.

Your results will vary....

Myrdek · January 2007

I wouldn't know, when I play a mmog I don't see sex I see players. I don't know, never asked, never wanted to know if the person playing it is young/old/male/female. All I care is whether or not it's enjoyable to play with certain person or not. Who you are in rl I could care less, killer, baby-eater etc. Doesn't matter, in a virtual world the same rules don't apply, we play a Character we feel like playing.

I've seen guys pretending to be girls, girls pretending to be guys, guys that worried more about look than stats, girls that did the same. It takes the whole Dress-Up game some kids play to a whole new level

On the other hand though, statistically speaking I've seen more girls that sucked than those that could challenge guys. But that's bound to change more and more with the popularity of mmog increasing exponentially with girls.

Crysalis · January 2007

I feel as though this topic doesn't have a very strong point but then again I'm a dood. I've played MMO's for many years and over the course of time I've noticed that other than looks female gamers don't play very different than male gamers. Aside from hearing female voices in vop's and perhaps some style variation I've not noticed very much differences. Although I would have to agree with Kyleran post to this discussion, there does seem to be two general varying types when it comes to female players.

Although I'd like to add a little something here too... me personally I've noticed in my many years of gaming that of all the role playing gamers out there the ones who ended up being an actual female, were probably one of the best role players of that server. Sticking to character the most and creating quite the innovative story for their avatar as well.

Harafnir · January 2007

Originally posted by hotwu

Originally posted by Harafnir

There are lots of idiots out there that just like to throw monkey poo around themselves... There is never a reason in the world to doubt yourself or change your personality just because of those idiots. Ignore them when possible, ridicule them when occation arise, but never... ever.. listen to them.

Everything about this post screams "I take it in teh pooper".

I rest my case...

Celestian · January 2007

Girl Gamer Vs. Girl Gamer

Hawt girl on girl gaming!

Personally I could care less if someone is male or female, long as they are mature players. As to the difference in the titles, I see no difference.

hotwu · January 2007

Originally posted by Harafnir

but never... ever.. listen to them.

You failed.

Starchild771 · January 2007

Originally posted by hotwu

Originally posted by Harafnir

Ok, I am a guy. Unshaven most of the time, been fighting with different wepaonry for almost 20 years now, and those that know me know that I am a very nononsense kind of guy. I am not macho... I am what makes macho guys nervous. At the same time... I color coordinate my equipment... My girlfriend (also gamer, but more adventure games and CS) always laugh when I sit with a new character, because the looks of equipment is always more important than the stats, and my credo when playing is "Style is everything". One of the most fun things ever made in any MMO is the character builder of CoH and CoV, and I abolutly loved the thousands of different pieces of clothing and equipment in AO to choose from. So I am pretty much the other side of the coin...
In my world... Its never who you are that matter, or what you are... Its how you are. How you behave and act, your priorities and your principles. I see no difference between someone in a pink armor and someone in a black, it is all in how they behave. I dont think most men worry too much about that either, I never sit and wonder if someone think I am homosexual just because I wear the stuff I like... I dont think lady gamers should worry about that either.
There are lots of idiots out there that just like to throw monkey poo around themselves... There is never a reason in the world to doubt yourself or change your personality just because of those idiots. Ignore them when possible, ridicule them when occation arise, but never... ever.. listen to them.

Everything about this post screams "I take it in teh pooper". The wonderful irony of machoism is that it can be so frail, insecure... and stupid.

I am a female whos been playing games for years. I like my ingame characters to be evil, deadly and to dress them up in suitably co-ordinated attire. I don't mind dropping some stats for looks because I would rather rely on my own skill and intelligence than the use of uber items.

I also couldn't care less if someone wanted to underestimate me purely because I was a female player (and possibly decked out in a matching pink outfit) - their ignorance is their problem, not mine.

shava · January 2007

Grrl Gamer for 30+ years now, and I can tell you that being a *wargamer* in the 70's and female made it damn hard to be girlie. Much as our stylish friend is having fragile male egos doubt his status as top or bottom (WHATEVER, guys), being a wargamer in the 70's -- well before there were women in camo in the armed forces, and when the military academies were just starting to consider that women might be able to survive the environment and live -- well, let me say I had a lot of guys who didn't hit on me because they figured I must be a very femmy dyke. And the guys who did hit on you thought that being smart and assertive meant that you must have a huge stash of leather and whips in your bedroom.

*SIGH*

By the time D&D emerged from Chainmail, the few of us grrls who were playing in places such as the MIT Strategic Games Society found we had an advantage -- women seem to be, in general, a bit better at roleplaying and politics/diplomacy, for those PnP RPGs that had GMs that were creative enough to call for it. Women at MIT often emerged as natural leaders in campaigns in those games. We were also trusted to *creatively* gametest archetypes. Peter Aronson, who created the minstrel (later bard) and illusionist classes in D&D had me run his first minstrel and second illusionist character ever, because he knew I'd go nuts with the "toolset."

Unfortunately, though women can be as adept power gamers, twitch gamers, raid leaders and what have you, I believe MMOs don't call up some of our best characteristics. I find that women tend to be better (and less cheesy) roleplayers, in general, than the guys. We are often better at functions that require empathy, such as leadership and diplomacy. We are often better at stylistics (with obvious sartorial nods to our friend earlier in the thread from CoH/CoV) which support roleplaying and *yes* even leadership. (A person who cares about their style often is also fussy about details and more trustworthy -- it's why business environments insist on proper dress, so that they can eliminate the people who can't consistently pay attention to standards...).

So MMOs aren't the best showcases for the strengths that western culture tends to instill in our women, because MMOs are not flexible, and women who play games tend to be better at adapting to novel conditions. Ah well...

Shava

Taera · January 2007

Originally posted by Kyleran

I have gamed with both types of female gamers, and there are some differences I've noticed...
Gamer Girl - Joined game on their own, tend to play as Warriors, Mages and other damage dealing characters. Most competent I ever met was in Lineage one, a 24 year old female who ran a terrrfic sieging guild that I was a member of. She would actually make us train our combat skills on a bi-weekly basis, running group excercises and mock siege warfare. Can't comment much on her thoughts on character looks though, Lineage 1 didn't lend itself to that. Girl gamers are less likely to play the "sex" card in a game, they are more focused on game mechanics and goals, and not about pointing out that they behave a certain way because they are female.
Girl Gamer - Usually joined the game at the urging of their spouse, boyfriend, or other family members. Will frequently play support classes such as healers/buffers and will normally only co-lead a guild with their significant other. One oddity, some women prefer to belong to guilds separate from their partner, I've met several husband/wife teams that play in different guilds. They can be extremely competent at playing their classes, they take it serious, even if they do spend more time working on good looking outfits/weapons. I find this group tends to handle the bulk of the crafting/gathering chores in a guild more often than not, and they make up a larger portion of the female population than gamer girl.
Of course, these are sterotypical observations that don't pertain to all female players. Its just how I've come to perceive female players over the course of many years of MMORPG gaming.
Your results will vary....

As Carolyn said, I'm a pretty hardcore gamer girl. I raid 3 to 4 nights a week, I co-lead a guild. I love my gaming, and I love to be able to explore all the content.

That being said, I play a cleric. Not because it's a support class, and I don't want to get up next to the blood, but because I trust my competence more than I trust some PUG cleric I've never met before. A bad healer can ruin any group, while a good healer/tank duo can grab some random DPS and have them set up assist macros. A jaded perspective, I know

In the past, I've almost always played tank or healer classes, and if I have a chance to be a cleric type healer (heals AND plate armor) I'll snatch that up in a heartbeat. I like to be a crucial member of any group or raid that I'm on.

Like Kyleran's "gamer girl" example I started off in Lineage I. My main characters there different a little from my norm; I started as a Princess, then a Mage, then an Elf - I ended up settling with the last because I liked the versitility. My Mage was always my siege character, though; Decay Potion was just too invaluable a spell to leave behind.

In terms of armor/weapon appearance, I basically just dye everything navy and then hey, I match!

I did find it very interesting when C and I originally tried to set up a gamer girl debate. As she said, we agreed on almost everything, even though we were such different gamers. I can't even remember how many topics we stumbled through before we finally said "ok, well, I guess I can take that side..."

Dulain · January 2007

Isn't the title supposed to read "Girl Gamer Vs. Gamer Girl" ?

DocOctane · January 2007

Let me direct girl gamers here
.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=21264783

j/king

I don think it's awesome to see girls who enjoy video games.

ganon89 · January 2007

If your a guy you, should not play a girl avatar. Girl avatars are weaker and can never be the best at their class, and girl gamers aren't as good at their given class as guy gamers. Just like the strongest women in the world isn't anywhere close to as strong as god only knows how many guys. Take the best girl basketball player and put her up against any player in the NBA and the girl is going to get smoked.

Brynn · January 2007

You trying to start a flame war with the girls, ganon89 ?

I think the majority of us girl players fit somewhere in between both titles. I may dye my armor to match, and swing a sword. Or I may choose another time to be a Cleric, Ranger or Druid. I've played all classes, and played them well because I like a challenge. I can match most guys, although I know there are both girls and guys who can outmatch me. Over time, I've found my niche in being a healer, simply because I do that best.

You just can't draw such rigid distinctions between the genders. The only players I sneer at are the ones who choose silly names, overly girly names, or create huge breasted female avatars. I do suspect those are guys though, hehe.

gamerman98 · January 2007

i dont think theres anything wrong with girl gamers....i mean everyone has a right to play...like if i saw a Gamergirl that would be awsome (hence my name) but ya....nothing too big to me...

ganon89 · January 2007

Hehe no im not Brynn

I do however fully 100% believe what I say is true, however, I never said anything about those qualities being important. Alot of girls I find are very nice and not nearly as arrogant or stuck up as guys. Women may be physically and mentally (as in inventing and coming up with new ideas and things) inferior to most guys, but they are far superior in the things that really matter in life

DemonOvrlord · January 2007

Annarchy rocks.

And evidently Tycho's niece is not far from the comic character lol

pavlova · January 2007

What kind of gamer am I..

Quite a question! I guess I don't fall on either sides. I was never the best of the best, totally hooked in the game for months or really wanting to become the best... I get addicted to games when I first buy them and then lose interest real quick. I'm not a very "good" gamer, I don't strive to be the best at the games I play. I do it for fun.

But I have gotten into gaming myself, and actually got a few guys into gaming. In MMORPGs I mostly play warriors or rogue types, I hate magic and all that stuff (while I have observed that most of girl gamer friends tend to stick to the mage or healer type).

And I don't spend much time fooling around with the looks of my character, usually: They all look exactly like me.

So I guess I could say I fall on neither side or whatever.

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General: Girl Gamer Vs. Gamer Girl

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General: Girl Gamer Vs. Gamer Girl

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Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV