The lights are on
We all know them, and (as women) we all pretend to loathe them. They're the pink, jewel-encrusted, spatula-wielding, fashion-obsessed, wedding/prom/baby planning girl games. How dare developers define female interest within such confining stereotypes! Maybe we want to shoot guns and play football! Right?
Maybe not. Girl games are actually, I feel, quite beneficial. They range from games aimed at youth, like Cooking Mama or the Imagine series (see: Fashion Designer, Teacher, Rock Star, etc.), to those for the older audiences, such as puzzle or adventure games. Why, though, would these games be good for the image of the girl gamer? Certainly a girl who partakes of these nonsense titles doesn't deserve to be considered by the gaming world.
Wrong again. Let's first consider the aspect of the young female gamer. While not all girls grow up with a Barbie in hand, most do. I, myself, was (and am) a girly girl. My room was all pink, my Beanie Baby collection too large... but I loved video games. I can only imagine now what life may have been like with a pink DS at my disposal, both Pokémon and Nintendogs tucked away in my pocket. My hobby would have been accepted by my friends-- we would have played together!-- and I would have developed it much earlier, unashamedly.
In fact, the idea of a girl game is simply an expansion of otherwise feminine pursuits. If there is blame to place anywhere for pigeon-holing the role of a girl, it doesn't lie in the gaming industry. Stopping girl games won't stop the problem; in fact, it will leave the world full of unhappy little girls. Not only that, but why not turn the tables? Why not blame boy games for male stereotypes? Backyard Sports inspires male youth to play sports-- how horrible! The bottom line is that children's games are, whether for boys or girls, education disguised as fun. A girl can't learn to read by physically dressing her doll, but is forced to when doing so on her DS. This is a tool that girls lacked for decades.
But what about more adult games? Puzzle games and adventure games, etc.? Firstly, you should be proud as a female that puzzle games are aimed to you, as that's an indication that you're the more intelligent of the two sexes. Secondly, girl games may be entertaining to everyone. Men and women enjoy adventure titles, like Phoenix Wright. I've had Cooking Mama tournaments with all-male competitors-- all were fans by the end of the night. Perhaps it's those of us that label a girl game as such that cause so much reason for concern.
In short, if you don't like the idea of a "girl game", then simply don't buy one. Do understand, however, that if others suffered the same misunderstanding, we (as female gamers) will continue to be an overwhelming minority.
I think there needs to be more games geared torwards diffrent audiences...not just"girly girls" but everyone in general. The more gamers we recruit the better haha
Idk, I liked Cooking Mama a lot but never felt it was a girl game then a puzzler.
As for girl games, I just think they even though they prove to be beneficial, they dont really seem useful at all.
Well, it seems that it would be hard to make a game geared to girl gamers, but what I think that they should do is gear some games that make the main characters relate to more of the girls out there. I think Final Fantasy had done this effectively. In multiple Final Fantasies, a lot of the main female characters can really relate to a lot of girl gamers.
I don't loathe the idea of a game geared toward a younger female audience. What burns me up is the fact that a good portion of said games are made with very little regard for quality or substance. While that is true for many other titles as well, the typical "girl games" are usually pretty terrible. Sure, shining gems such as Cooking Mama are great, but trash like "My Boyfriend" can only turn away prospective young female gamers.
I was unaware that there was a widespread bashing of 'girl games'. Those games have an obvious target audience and I was pretty sure that people who weren't apart of that audience didn't say much about it.
I am a man that enjoys some "girly" things. My wife is always making fun of me. Unfortunately all forms of media will in some way be part of the "programming".
First: I wasn't aware there was a huge portion of the gaming population who was actively bashing girls who played videogames. I mean, no portion of population over the age of twelve. Indeed, I think most guy gamers are excited when we hear that there are girl gamers.
Second: I'm going to echo Molotov Cupcake in saying that the issue is not with "girl games." Games like Pokemon and Nintendogs are perfectly engaging and entertaining. It's games like, as he said, "My Boyfriend" that really do a lot to make most gamers with any sense of taste go, "this is the *** they're giving you guys?" We don't hate you; we hate the poorly-designed, half-assed titles they give you to play.
Third: And this is a bit of a side note, but why do you consider games like Pokemon, Nintendogs and Cooking Mama "girl games." If boys also play them, doesn't that make them, inherently, gender neutral? Forcing games into these gender-specific categories is what creates this schism of "boy games" and "girl games" in the first place.
Fourth: "Firstly, you should be proud as a female that puzzle games are aimed to you, as that's an indication that you're the more intelligent of the two sexes." -- Direct Quote
I can only assume that you were joking with this statement. If not, I lost a lot of respect for what you were saying the moment I read that. That whole line just came of as being very sexist and ignorant. If I wanted to be equally sexist, I might argue that it takes a lot more mental focus to play a game like Halo, or Rock Band, or Metroid Prime, etc., etc. Maybe the reason they aim puzzle games at girls is because they know that girls aren't bright enough to handle -serious- games*.
You see what I did there?
*I do not actually believe this statement. I was just trying to illustrate a point about the OP's sexist comment.
I grew up with Robocop, Batman action figures and those Jurassic Park dino toys. I had a lot of Barbies but I used them as bait for my other toys. I would also put my Barbies in Tonka Trucks and throw them against trees and stuff. I would also draw red marker on their faces for blood. Why am I telling you this? I have no idea.
While I am not a avid campaigner against 'girl games' I do think they give young females the wrong introduction into gaming. I was lucky enough to grow up with games, so I had a chance to play a real variety before I played them, when I started working in a GAME store I realised that people don't look at the right game for their young girls, they just grab the pinkest thing they can.
One time a father asked me for a washing up game for her daughter, why would anyone want a washing up game? Honestly. I think there needs to be more family friendly alternatives rather than just make up and cooking games to entice girls in.
Just realised I said "play a real variety before I played them," I mean "play a real variety before I got into them"
I am not opposed to girl-oriented games on principle. And maybe my opinion would change if I were a parent, as opposed to an uncle, of a little girl.
But I am a vocal proponent of releasing games (and television shows and toys, etc) that are good for the self-image of little girls. Cooking Mama and Imagine: Teacher seem like they'd be pretty productive to a girl's development. Bratz does not, anymore than beanpole-thin Barbie dolls.
Ultimately, though, I think a lot of it comes down to parents. If parents cave and just buy their girls "girl games" exclusively, have to concede that that is not really the fault of the publisher; they're trying to run a business.
That's why, when I'm asked by friends what would be good for their little ones, I'm quick to point out that things like Professor Layton, while not marketed directly at girls, are great tools for learning and development.
As for boys, well, unfortunately girls receive a lot more pressure to fit in than boys do. Even in 2009, by which time you'd think we'd be mostly over that, we're still dealing with the dregs of some outdated notions about the different sexes. I think we'll see that change more and more, though, as the parents who grew up playing games start buying them for their own kids.
Girl or boy games is pidgonholing. Shouldn't it be about what the kid wants to play? If my daughter wanted the next Shaun White game I'd give it to her in a heartbeat. If my son wanted Cooking Mama I'd likewise get it for him. Variety is the spice of life.
Frankly I don't see the difference in the way that games are marketed towards men or women. A game is a game. Just because it's main protagonist happens to either be a female or male doesn't flat out make it a game geared towards the sexes. For instance the Tomb Raider series. As of late IMO I think the series has gotten a bit more edgy, since the days of just shooting Bears, Tigers, and dinosaurs (I'm surprised PETA didn't protest this game!). But who specifically is Lara supposed to appeal to? For obvious reasons it would be men on one hand simply due to the her physical state -- need I go into detail?
When I think of a game geared towards my mind set is one that's focusing on a specific age group say between 8 & 12. After that the playing field is even especially now since more games are starting to have a female protagonist as a MAIN character in main stream titles (Ayame from the late Tenchu series) or as a notable partner ( Sheva Alomar 4rm RE5 and the women 4rm Ninja Gaiden 4got the names sorry) so it seems to me that there is no standard in which "girly games," are made but only those who identify with them.
i don't think it matters what kind of game it is, all games are for both sexes. my little sister has cooking mama and i accualy think its fun(even though i suck at it) and she loves playing Call of duty World at War with me. she laughs so hard when she blows my head off with a shotgun at close range.
oh and one more thing, how is pokemon considered a "girl" game? i know alot more young men who are oppsesed with pokemon then young women. i myself loved pokemon when i was younger. im not trying to be sexist but you can never call pokemon a "girl" game.
You make a great point and support it well. My daughter is 4 and loves video games, can't wait till she is reading well enough to play the higher level games. Currently she is able to find the nick jr website on our bookmarks and navigate the site with little if any help, only time she gets stuck is when she needs something read to her. I will wait till she is a few years older to get the pink ds for her.
I never claimed there's any sort of heated underground war against effeminite games, but I guarantee all of you have participated in the debate (even internally) at some point. I used to work at a GameStop, and the questions arose quite frequently: what defines hardcore? What makes a game good? Men looked at women buying games with an inner grin-- look at her reaching for Bejeweled, how predictable!
I noticed most girls were picking up games like Brain Age, Professor Layton, and Family Game Night. All easy to play, with little to no button memorization required. My coworkers would become piqued at this-- these girls don't deserve their time. Other girls who played the "hardcore" games would laugh outright. It's hard enough to be a girl who likes games-- don't we need to support each other?
As to whether or not these games should be geared toward teaching girls to cook and care for children isn't necessarily debatable. Like I said, the problem doesn't lie within the game, it's due to society. Toys'R'Us has the same divisions-- I can't say I've seen a Lego set for girls... ever. The girly shelves are stocked with Hannah Montana and Easy Bake Ovens.
The example of Pokemon versus Cooking Mama was to compare a boy and a girl game, both of which I'd have gladly played when I was little. I gradually lost girl friends when I took up to playing Pokemon-- I suppose that's an experience most of you wouldn't share.
Amanda, I'm sorry, but you're coming off sounding just as sexist as you seem to be accusing many of you male counterparts to be. You're letting your own personal experience cloud your vision here. We're all here telling you that many of us don't think any less of girls when we see them buying puzzle games and stuff; we're trying to tell you that in our personal experience, these things don't make "girl gamers" any less of "gamers." Yet, you fire back with, "I guarantee all of you have participated in the debate (even internally) at some point." If by "participated in the debate", you mean "thought about it for two seconds and decided it didn't matter" then, yes I suppose so. I've never thought any less of girls who play "girly games," because if they're gaming, they're gamers, and we're all in this together.
If I may take issue with another of your statements:
"I gradually lost girl friends when I took up to playing Pokemon--I suppose that's an experience most of you wouldn't share."
Wow, sexist. Your implication here is that, because we're boys, and it's okay for us to play games, we wouldn't lose friends because we played Pokemon. I'm 24 years old, and some of my male friends still sneer at me when I tell them I play Pokemon (and I do, on occasion). I dealt, all through school with rude comments and snotty behavior from other kids when they realized the game I was playing on my Gameboy. Fact of the matter is, as gamers, we have all experienced raise eyebrows and up-turned noses as a result of our passion for videogames, regardless of gender.
You're doing more with your post to set girl gamers apart from the rest of us than many of the guys I know who play video games would ever think of doing. Congratulations.
I don't think there should be any games geared towards either sex in particular, just geared towards general interests. Most girls will think that war games are geared towards boys because thats what boys play when in fact these are just well done games. I don't play war games and sports games because I am a guy, I play them because I have an interest in them.
It helps if you look at a game with a female lead. Lets say the excellent, Perfect Dark 64. Is this a girl game because the lead is a girl, or is it a guy game because it is a shooter? Neither, its just a good game that an interested party will play.
Also, puzzle games and educational games are not girl games nor are the pet games or pokemon. Most people who play these games play them because they are unique and educational......aside from pokemon, thats just addictive. The only reason more girls then guys play these games is because girls claim them as girl games. There should be no games based on sex, just games based on interest. The reason a lot of girls don't play war games and sports games is because a lack of interest, not because they are guy games.
What was your point? I think most girls dislike video games, and that is why there is a shortage of games just for girls.