"The 6 Myths of Computer Gaming"

[digitalpress]

A very good article I stumbled upon earlier. Consider this part of your training program, Lesson 1.

Lesson 2: "just put your hand down her pants" (discussed elsewhere) :P

http://www.game-research.com/art_myths_of_gaming.asp

[Dobie]

That is a truly excellent article! I have a bit to add on the gender issue, which I found quite interesting. According to some old studies I dug up on NES games while researching the topic, the WAY girls and boys experience games appears to be different (this is due to the differences in socialization of gender maybe? That's a whole other topic I guess).

In one study I read, researchers found that boys tend to (not ALWAYS, there are exceptions of course--this is a TREND), take over the ROLE of the hero in a game. Essentially, when boys play a Mario game, they take on the experience as if they were Mario himself, saving the princess from the evil Bowser. They take on the quest that is given by the game, and seek to achieve the goal. The enjoyment recieved is not merely from the act of playing the game, but in conquering it. Acheiving the given goals. Destroying the competition.

Girls on the other hand, do not TEND to do this. They treat the game with a different approach, from an "outside" perspective if you will. Instead of "becoming" Mario, they see Mario as a little guy on the screen. Instead of seeking to ACHIEVE the goals of a game, the enjoyment experienced is in merely the participation of the game. So instead of "rescuing the princess," its more about "playing the game for the fun."

So this may be one the reasons that girls don't play as many games? Because the games all, for the most part, have some sort of goal, or quest? I really don't know for sure, like the article said, much more quantitative data is needed. But still, I found it to be an interesting premise, so I tested it on my wife >) .

Her favorite games in my collection tend to be ones without the "superordinate goals," like Tetris, Dr. Mario, and Adventure Island (she likes the skateboarding). I know this isn't conclusive evidence or anything, but I can see the theory in practice, for sure. Anybody else agree/disagree?

Sorry for the long-windedness. :roll:

[ClubNinja]

Mmm, mmm! Lesson 2....

Wait a second, I'm a gentleman dangit... maybe... ; )

[leonk]

Did you see that SMB3 screen shot!? What the heck?? where did that come from? Photoshop??

LK

[Quazick]

Did you see that SMB3 screen shot!? What the heck?? where did that come from? Photoshop??

LK
Super Mario Brothers: All Stars for SNES.

[MarkM2112]

Girls on the other hand, do not TEND to do this. They treat the game with a different approach, from an "outside" perspective if you will. Instead of "becoming" Mario, they see Mario as a little guy on the screen. Instead of seeking to ACHIEVE the goals of a game, the enjoyment experienced is in merely the participation of the game. So instead of "rescuing the princess," its more about "playing the game for the fun."

Hmmm... this is an interesting theory... this may be wgy girls prefer retrogaming rathe than tha games currently on the market...