The Vedio Games Insdustory Ignore Women for years?!

[iatneH]

When I go to arcades, the girls are usually crowded around the Bemani stuff and Purikura... even if half the time they're just watching their beautiful young Asian boyfriends playing Drummania or whatever...

Yesterday I was playing DOJ though and some girls sat down and played Puzzle Bobble..

[beatifik]

I think the biggest problem is that women are inherently worse at games. For instance, my roommate (a girl) and I will get a new shooter and start playing it at the same time. We will play for approximately the same amount of time, but if we compare scores in 3 weeks, mine is always way higher. While this is only one example, I've never encountered girls who are able to develop skills at a game as fast as most guys.

Perhaps is has something to do with hand eye cordination. Maybe it has to do with some sort of psychological approach gamer or non-gamer girls have to gaming.

my ex-girlfriend used to kick my ass every time at virtual on for dreamcast. she was pretty good a virtua tennis too.

my mom kicks ass at dr. mario. her and my dad used to play that game so much that me and my brother had to buy them their own gameboy with carts of dr. mario and tetris, so that we could use mine.

[LoneSage]

Back in the day, girls playing games were like boys playing with dolls (which is super cool!).

Sure we got some more girls nowadays but eh...still a rarity.

[uwfan]

3 people voted for "none of the above"....lol!

[Minzoku]

Well, if my experience has any weight, my console days are quickly coming to an end, as I have less time and patience to boot up a whole other system just to play a game when I can blow more time playing something else on my already-running computer. [Of course, my USB hub is giving out, so even PC shmups are troublesome to start, if I'm going to use a gamepad and REALLY play... ]

The girls I know are more interested in puzzle/thinking games, because it's easier to think which move will be the best and actually execute it. Shmups are a bit more skill-heavy--we might know what to do, but it's hard to actually DO it.

There's prolly some meaning in the fact that men have better direction [hunters] and women are better observers [gatherers]. This is why women love to shop and men never ask for directions

[nZero]

Back in the day, girls playing games were like boys playing with dolls (which is super cool!).

We just called them action figures to be cool.

"By the power of Grayskull!"

[BrianC]

As I said before, my mom used to kick my butt at Dr. Mario and I doubt she played it as much as I have. She's also good at Tetris. She likes mostly puzzle games, but also like games like Ms. Pac-Man. I should try to get her to play Mr. Driller. My sister likes games too, but she seems to be in to mostly RPGs and fighting games. I did talk her into to playing Twinbee and Pop 'n Twin Bee with me once, but she never came back to the games. Also, my sister often tries to get someone else to take over when she is having a hard time with a game. It's very annoying.

[dave4shmups]

Ignored?! For cryin' out loud, there are plenty of video games out now where you can play a female character who's the main hero of the friggin' game!

Like it would even matter if there weren't because according to KLOV, the most popular video game for women is Ms. Pac-Man, which came out over 20 years ago. And you can play that on a ton of different platforms.

[sethsez]

Ignored?! For cryin' out loud, there are plenty of video games out now where you can play a female character who's the main hero of the friggin' game!

Don't be naive. The gameplay is entirely designed for what guys typically play, and the women are busty vixens. Just because Lara Croft is female doesn't mean Tomb Raider was designed with any actual, living, real females in mind at all. It was aimed entirely at the population of humanity that would get a kick out of staring at her ass for the length of the game. What's the last video game heroine you can think of that didn't have skintight leather or copious amounts of clevage?

[beatifik]

Ignored?! For cryin' out loud, there are plenty of video games out now where you can play a female character who's the main hero of the friggin' game!

Don't be naive. The gameplay is entirely designed for what guys typically play, and the women are busty vixens. Just because Lara Croft is female doesn't mean Tomb Raider was designed with any actual, living, real females in mind at all. It was aimed entirely at the population of humanity that would get a kick out of staring at her ass for the length of the game. What's the last video game heroine you can think of that didn't have skintight leather or copious amounts of clevage?

samus

[dave4shmups]

Ignored?! For cryin' out loud, there are plenty of video games out now where you can play a female character who's the main hero of the friggin' game!

Don't be naive. The gameplay is entirely designed for what guys typically play, and the women are busty vixens. Just because Lara Croft is female doesn't mean Tomb Raider was designed with any actual, living, real females in mind at all. It was aimed entirely at the population of humanity that would get a kick out of staring at her ass for the length of the game. What's the last video game heroine you can think of that didn't have skintight leather or copious amounts of clevage?

Point well taken; I'm getting quite sick of the "sex sells" crap increasingly making it's way into video games myself. But if female players don't like it, then they need to speak up and object to these types of games as well. So far, I haven't heard a word of objection (on here or anywhere else), just as I never did about Eminem's assinine lyrics about beating up women, etc.

At any rate, I doubt that there will ever be ANY video game that will get the love from female game players that Ms. Pac-Man has, and conintues, to get.

[BrianC]

Ignored?! For cryin' out loud, there are plenty of video games out now where you can play a female character who's the main hero of the friggin' game!

Don't be naive. The gameplay is entirely designed for what guys typically play, and the women are busty vixens. Just because Lara Croft is female doesn't mean Tomb Raider was designed with any actual, living, real females in mind at all. It was aimed entirely at the population of humanity that would get a kick out of staring at her ass for the length of the game. What's the last video game heroine you can think of that didn't have skintight leather or copious amounts of clevage?

Seriously, as sethsez said, half the games out there with female main characters aren't aimed at females. Even most Metroid games have it's share of fanservice (minor though it may be) with its special endings where you see Samus with less clothing (though Samus is still more respectable looking than many other video game females). There are some games out there with female characters that aren't fanservicy like Musha Aleste, Survival Kids, Aleste GG, Aleste 2 MSX, some of the Fire Emblems, and some puzzle games (though even some of those have fanservicy characters. Magical Drop III comes to mind). Even then, many of those aren't really aimed at women.

[Andi]

Don't be naive. The gameplay is entirely designed for what guys typically play, and the women are busty vixens. Just because Lara Croft is female doesn't mean Tomb Raider was designed with any actual, living, real females in mind at all. It was aimed entirely at the population of humanity that would get a kick out of staring at her ass for the length of the game. What's the last video game heroine you can think of that didn't have skintight leather or copious amounts of clevage?

While I agree almost completely, skintight clothes and cleavage are not necessarily market tools for males. Women's clothing models often show considerable amounts of skin and wear very form-fitting clothes - and that's in order to market to the female clothing consumer.

[Minzoku]

While I agree almost completely, skintight clothes and cleavage are not necessarily market tools for males. Women's clothing models often show considerable amounts of skin and wear very form-fitting clothes - and that's in order to market to the female clothing consumer.

Yes, most of the girls like to play the cute/sexy girl characters. It's about as lesbian as you can get without actual desire for sex.

[Shatterhand]

My father's 2nd wife could play both Tetris and Columns without ever losing. She also finished MSX Eggerland Mystery (This is the game that became "Adventures of Lolo" in NES) in her first go (My father introduced her to the game around 10:00 pm... she begun playing it, he went to sleep... he wakes around 8 am, she is STILL PLAYING the game...).

And the most amazing thing she could do was 1LC Volfied, with 99.9% in EVERY STAGE (Amiga version). Shit, that was some of the most amazing skills I ever saw in front of me... and I saw her doing that a lot of times.

But as far as I can recall, those were the only games she liked to play.

Oh, and her daugther could 1CC the MSX version of R-Type, and I remember she was very good in a lot of MSX and NES games. I guess it's in the genes or something (Though I always kicked the ass of her son in Super Street Fighter 2)

[SAM]

While I agree almost completely, skintight clothes and cleavage are not necessarily market tools for males. Women's clothing models often show considerable amounts of skin and wear very form-fitting clothes - and that's in order to market to the female clothing consumer.

Yes, most of the girls like to play the cute/sexy girl characters. It's about as lesbian as you can get without actual desire for sex.

Yes, good example of this is Twinkle Star Sprites. But I found that if the cutem'up is got a real hardcore gameplay, female players tends to not coming back after the first few trials.

Really wondering why they could keep at it for puzzle games?

[Herr Schatten]

PVP has all the answers.

[SAM]

PVP has all the answers.

You are right, if more women are invloved in the development of vedio games. The outcoming games should attract more female gamers. It is hard to guys to imgine what grils would thinks that is fun to play.

But would girls like a shmups written by women? Or the whole idea of shmups is just not most female gamers' cup of tea?

Shmups is ...
... is about one againest the whole world.
... is about distruction.
... is about prefacting every tidy motion.
... is about constantly making small adjustments according to situation.
... is about chanlange yourself in doing better then your last time.

It is actually very close to driving (racing)* & puzzle games in nature. Just don't know why girls can go into puzzle games but not shmups. Maybe they just don't like the nature of distruction (Well gamers have to keep distroying blocks in puzzle game to surive) or the idea of "one againest the whole world".

I personally think the idea of "one facing againest the whole world" is pretty cool.

* - I personally don't like driving (racing) game that much, because once I make a mistake it is the end of my whole race. The problem is not I cannot stand a single mistake ruin my whole run, what I cannot stand is I have to complete the reminding race after I commited the mistake. While in shmups, I just go down in flame and I can start over again immedately.

[system11]

Really wondering why they could keep at it for puzzle games?

Puzzle games don't require as high reaction times or accuracy as shooters, pretty obvious really.

[sethsez]

That REALLY depends on the puzzle game you're playing. Tetris at full speed makes my eyes bleed.

[SAM]

Really wondering why they could keep at it for puzzle games?

Puzzle games don't require as high reaction times or accuracy as shooters, pretty obvious really.

You really think so? Then you better try "Panel de Pon", "Kuru Kuru Kururin", "Kururin Paradise" or "Starsweep".

Well, you don't need to be very procise to meddling with "Panel de Pon" & "Starsweep", but if you want to pull some advance tricks the timing and accurancy is very important.

BTW, I think shmupers might enjoy the game "Kuru Kuru Kururin" or it squeal. Try it, it feels like swiming within bulllet storm.

[Minzoku]

^ The fastest in-game speed, or the replay with the guy playing at "Ultimate Tetris" speed? [That one is awesome, BTW! TETRIS AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT]

[Kiken]

I have noticed, in general, that while many other genres are argueably "male dominated", shmups appear to be virtually "male exclusive". Obviously, they aren't 100%... but it would appear that the number of females who actively pursue our favourite genre constitutes less than 1% of the total players (read: they are the exception.. and a very miniscule exception at that).

Now, we have already had individuals on this thread expound on the preferred genres of female gamers (RPG's and Puzzle games). However, I have seen a rise within the past few years of female gamers in other, more action-oriented/competitive genres: FPS's and fighting games (both 2D and 3D) in particular. There are now all-female FPS clans (who compete in tournaments) as well as even all-female fighting game competitions (although I have yet to see any female players enter a "high profile" competition such as EVO or SBO).

Considering the above, I think it is only a matter of time before more female gamers start to pursue shmups. However, another aspect that no doubt plays into this is importing. I would estimate that the vast majority of gamers who import are male, and considering the fact that our favourite genre only sees heavy distribution in Japan (and certain parts of Asia), this will be compounded by that.

[BrianC]

That REALLY depends on the puzzle game you're playing. Tetris at full speed makes my eyes bleed.

Exactly. Tetris Attack (aka the above mentioned Panel de Pon aka Pokemon Puzzle League aka Puzzle League), Puyo Puyo (especially Super Puyo Puyo Tsu Remix's hard course), Tetris, Meteos, and a ton of other puzzle games require fast reflexes to master. Like Tetris, Dr. Mario is also insane at high speeds. Not to mention how later levels are flooded with viruses and require absolute persision to beat.

BTW, I think shmupers might enjoy the game "Kuru Kuru Kururin" or it squeal. Try it, it feels like swiming within bulllet storm.

I love Kuru Kuru Kururin and Kururin Paradise. There is also a third game on GameCube called Kururin Squash, which I heard some good things about. Both GBA Kururins are very twichy, especially Paradise where you can speed up the spinning. Kururin Paradise also has a very shmupish mini game.

[Davey]

Superfast puzzling and superfast shmupping both require insane natural abilities. Puzzle games might actually be worse, though, because you can't prepare yourself through memorization (although you do end up recognizing patterns, which is kind of the same thing).

[Ganelon]

Any competitive game requires fast reflexes...

[Davey]

I'm sure inhuman dexterity would give you more of an upper hand in Tetris: The Grand Master than it would in Madden, though. That isn't to say something like Madden doesn't require skill, but twitchy reflexes aren't the biggest keys to success.

[Andi]

Any competitive game requires fast reflexes...

Strategy games? War games?

That's why I'm surprised these type of genres don't appeal to women more than puzzle games (which often do end up requiring reflexes).

[sethsez]

Any competitive game requires fast reflexes...

Strategy games? War games?

That's why I'm surprised these type of genres don't appeal to women more than puzzle games (which often do end up requiring reflexes).

But women are often good at puzzle games that require fast reflexes, which kind of puts a damper on the whole "women have terrible reflexes" thing in the first place.

Strategy games and war games usually have a war theme (obviously) which doesn't typically appeal to women nearly as much as men.

[ST Dragon]

Ignored?! For cryin' out loud, there are plenty of video games out now where you can play a female character who's the main hero of the friggin' game!

Don't be naive. The gameplay is entirely designed for what guys typically play, and the women are busty vixens. Just because Lara Croft is female doesn't mean Tomb Raider was designed with any actual, living, real females in mind at all. It was aimed entirely at the population of humanity that would get a kick out of staring at her ass for the length of the game. What's the last video game heroine you can think of that didn't have skintight leather or copious amounts of clevage?

samus

That was both impulsive & quite Funny!

PVP has all the answers.

You are right, if more women are invloved in the development of vedio games. The outcoming games should attract more female gamers. It is hard to guys to imgine what grils would thinks that is fun to play.

But would girls like a shmups written by women? Or the whole idea of shmups is just not most female gamers' cup of tea?

I don’t know about shooters developed by women, but one of the best games of all time, CastleVania Symphony of the Night (PSX), the character art was designed by a Japanese lady named Ayami Kojima & the awesome epic-gothic soundtrack, which was the soul of the game, was also created by a woman. (I don’t remember her name)

Any competitive game requires fast reflexes...

My last girl friend (Same age as me 26) that had very little video gaming experience (Only played Sonic, Mario, Tetris & Pacman during her teenage years) was in fact much better playing Ikaruga with me, than some of my guy mates that would get killed instantly in a matter of seconds.
.. And at her first try that is…

She explained to me that she enjoyed the strategy/puzzle element of Ikaruga, which you had to switch between the ship’s colours in order to survive. That probably adds to the fact that girls prefer puzzle games.

But what’s interesting is that when we tried Raiden Project, she couldn’t survive more than 30 seconds.
She did figure out when to use the thermo-nuclear bombs at the right time though.
She later complained that she could not synchronize her reaction times & her reflexes were simply not fast enough for that specific game.

She did enjoy the Shoot Em Up genre though. (That’s what she said at least…) but she would never play a shooter by her self, only in 2players cooperative mode to support me.


So the only girl shmupers here are:

Alteka
Andi
Fev
Minzoku
?

Personally I never expected to see a girl in a shooter forum.