Wednesday, September 7, 2005 10:42 PM CDT
Girls and games: Female gamers still a minority
By NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- Some video games might as well be made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails.
At least, that's the attitude of Randee Weedon, an Eastern Illinois University senior who could get into gaming were it not for an apparent saturation of testosterone.
"I think games are more violent now, and guys like that more than girls," said Weedon. "The majority of games are (about) sports and guns."
She's not alone in her general disdain.
Studies show the majority of gamers are male, although industry officials reported that the percentage of female players isn't as small as one would expect. Meanwhile, local women who do play say they prefer games that emphasize social interaction rather that sociopathic slaughter.
And they just wish there weren't so many darn buttons to push.
"These new controllers, I'm terrible with them," lamented Weedon.
According to this year's report from the Entertainment Software Association, males accounted for 55 percent of U.S. game players. Surprisingly, though, 43 percent of gamers are female.
The ESA reported that boys ages 6-17 comprised only 21 percent of the gamer population, but 28 percent were females older than 18. These are women who actually play the games, not those who merely buy them for male family members or friends.
"They are self-identified gamers," said Dan Hewitt, ESA manager of media relations.
Even Weedon conceded she enjoys the occasional go-round with Nintendo's ever-versatile Mario brothers.
Regardless, a disparity still exists between the percentages of male and female gamers, and Hewitt said it's difficult to pin down the reason because many games should have universal appeal.
"It's just like books and movies and magazines, there's something for everybody," he said.
There are companies like Her Interactive — which makes games based on the young female sleuth Nancy Drew — but most game producers don't target either gender specifically, said Hewitt.
"They (women) aren't really interested in a game that's pink with a bow on it, that's specially marketed to them in a patronizing way," he said. "What women are looking for is what all gamers are interested in: A game that's challenging, a good story, good graphics, something that's really immersive.
"Those are traits to good video games that go beyond gender lines."
Although women such as Weedon appear to detest the blood-and-guts of first-person shooter games and the machismo of football or hockey games, some females still blast aliens on "Halo" or drive the NASCAR circuit with the best of them.
It's the almost-mechanical complexity of today's games that causes many women to balk. They also miss those carefree days before game controllers sprouted buttons like pimples on a computer geek.
While Lake Land College student Dana Hurley sometimes tours "Grand Theft Auto" with her brother or watches a group of guys conquer "Halo," she gravitates toward the earliest Nintendo consoles, which have no more than four buttons and one directional pad.
Newer controllers vibrate almost incessantly, and boast a minimum of eight buttons and two different thumb sticks. "It's too much stimulation for me," said Hurley.
For many female players, the game itself isn't as important as the person with whom you play. Brittany Bailey, a clerk at Spotlight Video in Mattoon, said females regularly rent racing games to share with their boyfriends or husbands.
Other women say females particularly seem burdened by time constraints. Area resident Karen Kallis, 55, plays video games when she can, but mostly finds herself occupied with work and household responsibilities.
"I don't have time," she said. "I'm going to have to wait until I retire."
Hewitt concurs with these sentiments. "Most women are looking for games that are easy to pick up, that don't require a lot of time," he said.
"They're shorter, but provide just as enjoyable an experience."
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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