How to make games for girls

[Psyleid]

I'd have to say that's impossible..... I don't think nearly as many girls play games or would even be interested.

...But maybe I'm wrong.

[Aswald]

Rhiannon tried back in 1984. Anyone remember them?

Ummm... I guess not. Nothing comes up for Rhiannon on the online rarity guide. Are you sure they're a real company?


Yes. They appeared in a 1984 article in Electronic Games magazine.

Try looking for a game called "Lauren of the 25th Century," for the Apple 2.

[Push Upstairs]

I think I've discovered something that would draw girls into gaming without fail

Fabio the Video Game.

Already been done - see the cover art for Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors 2!


I was compelled to point this out at the game store i worked at...

Under the shrinkwrap was a little sticky note shaped like a cartoon bubble & on that bubble was the phrase "Hi Kids, I'm Fabio!" LOL

[Lady Jaye]

So, are you implying that I, along with POG, QOF, and all the other female DPers, are less of a woman for playing videogames (or other "boys' toys")? Are we then less "normal" for our preferences and tastes?

While we're at it, is a man less of a man if he doesn't like sports, or if he prefers opera to heavy metal, if he doesn't give a shit about cars?

The whole nature vs. nurture debate is old, very old, and there are no good, permanent answer. And anyway, how about the guys here whose girlfriends weren't gamers until they started dating?

[dreams]

Ok guys. Time to get this topic back on topic.

*splits*

[slip81]

All this hate, where's the love? All poor SoulBlazer wanted was some intelligent discussion on marketing games to women.

I for one would market a game to a girl the same way I would to a non gamer. I don't think that girls liking "simple" or puzzle games has anything to do with their gender, I'd say it has to do more with the fact that they aren't gamers.

Non gamers seem to like games that are easily accessable, and can be played from 5 minutes to 5 hours, like a puzzle game. And I would say that most women who pick up a game for the first time, pick puzzlers for this reason.

Now why are girls less likely to be gamers over guys? Who knows, but it seems now that more and more women are getting into, and sticking with games, especially in the 15 and under crowd. There may not be as many "grrl gamers" as guys, but it seems the numbers gap is always closing.

Now you want a form of media that is almost totally dominated by males, look into comicbooks. I hardly ever see or meet any female comic collectors, and I bet for every one female comic enthusiest you have 5 girl gamers.

[Lady Jaye]

Now you want a form of media that is almost totally dominated by males, look into comicbooks. I hardly ever see or meet any female comic collectors, and I bet for every one female comic enthusiest you have 5 girl gamers.

As an aparte, I know two women who own a collectible/sports cards store here in Montreal. They once told me that they had a lot of difficulty at first to be taken seriously in their business... yet, both are highly knowledgeable (one takes care of sports cards, the other one, collectible card games like Magic The Gathering).

My boyfriend even wrote an article about them for our university paper, a few years ago, which you can read at http://www.geocities.com/hattonandco/ (just scroll down the main frame to Writing samples, "The myth of the family-friendly card store"). And yes, that's my boyfriend in the top of the page (although he no longer has a goatee).

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

[Aussie2B]

When it comes to comics, it really depends on what region of the world you're talking about. Being a big fan of comic books in the US seems to be shunned all together regardless of gender (yet oddly, it's perfectly fine to be a big fan of the comic-based movies and such). However, in Japan, girls buy just as many comics as guys (and they're popular among all ages as well). I'm a comic collector myself, but just manga (and most of it being imported from Japan). Although, my boyfriend has a lot of Marvel trading cards and such, and I think they're pretty cool.

[Emily]

I used to collect comics , but they became to hard to find locally :bawling:
Plus most of my favs were somewhat obscure.

[Aussie2B]

Not to mention most US comics are absolute crap in recent years. Have you been to a comic store recently? Almost everything is poorly-drawn anime-wannabe garbage with ridiculously stupid stories like goth type stuff. The American comic companies used to have some extremely talented artists possessing their own unique styles. If I want manga, then I buy manga, not manga rip-offs. Gimme some American-style artwork, for goodness sake.

[SoulBlazer]

Thanks for the support. :D

I think its only fair I target my own question now....I'd market games to girls the same way I would market them to casual gamers. If Sony had such a success with it, it should be easy, right? ;)

[Nz17]

So, are you implying that I, along with POG, QOF, and all the other female DPers, are less of a woman for playing videogames (or other "boys' toys")?

No.


Are we then less "normal" for our preferences and tastes?

Yes.


While we're at it, is a man less of a man if he doesn't like sports, or if he prefers opera to heavy metal, if he doesn't give a shit about cars?

That describes my preferences perfectly (my music tastes have always been on the eccentric side ;) ) and simultaneously is part of my point: though I like what I like, I am not of the majority. Gender is irrelevant outside of what the majority of the group I am within generally cares for.