We all know the stereotypical gamer - young teenage boy thumbing and clicking his life away. But, did you know there are more women gamers than teenage boy gamers?
According to a recent survey, 38% of gamers are men (over 18), 26% are women (over 18 - that's me!), 21% are boys (6-17), 17% are adults over 50 (my dad and father-in-law fit this in this group), 12% are girls (6-17).
I thought this was a pretty interesting study (despite its small scale - a little over 1000 people). I wonder how this will change game making and marketing. I think its interesting that females tend to prefer strategy/war games better than games that are designed and marketed towards women. It is also interesting that household income seemed not to make much of a difference.
[ August 27, 2003, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
You have no idea how much I would give to find a woman who would play strategy games with me.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
You just must not be looking in the right places... Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
So, um, what exactly are these "right places" of which you speak?
*sits down, impatiently waiting for more info*
Posted by slacker (Member # 2559) on :
I met lusti in church, but there are several women at work who love to play computer games as well.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I'd be interested to see what questions were asked on this.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
One of my good friends and his girlfriend (well, they're both good friends, but you get the idea) live together and spend a good portion of their recreation time playing strategy-type games together, such as Starcraft and Civ II. Sadly, Juliette doesn't share that enthusiasm for gaming.
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
I'd be interested as well what the questions were.
The largest group is still men aged 18 and up, although the women 18 and up are close.
Keep in mind, too, that most of the "color" of the article is Harody's opinion based on her experiences, like the war games comment.
twinky -- I love strategy board games Just not a big fan of computer games.
[ August 27, 2003, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: Christy ]
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
That's probably one of the biggest mutual sources of entertainment for Dan and I.
The only problem is keeping TWO systems updated ($$$) enough to play all the games we want, but we choose to sacrifice clothing and food to compensate.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Ralphie - Gee, that sounds familiar..... Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Toni, why do you feel compelled to taunt me so? Two systems? I dream of the day when I can get one computer suitable for modern games.
I guess the whole eating and not running around naked thing is nice. I just wish it didn't leave me feeling so empty.
[ August 27, 2003, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: saxon75 ]
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
Ralphie, so you and Dan sit around naked eating Ramen noodles playing video games? Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
I wonder if my Mom would count as a PC 'gamer', even though she plays solitaire and some online games like collapse? That's quite different than someone who plays UT2k3.
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Mike - And we have each have 22" flatscreen monitors, to boot.
Zan - I think the intimate details of married couples should be kept in the bedroom.
(Mac -n- Cheese, not Ramen.)
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Board games are good too.
So since so many strategically-inclined women have congregated in this thread, I'd like to take a little informal survey...
1) When you were either in university or of university age, where did you hang out?
2) When you were either in university or of university age, what did you look for in men and boys?
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
I didn't go to college, twinky. I did do a lot of reading and drinking of mochas in public places, though.
However, I didn't become anything but painfully harsh on the eyes until AFTER I got married. Dan actually married me for my personality (sucker!) and then it got better.
So, maybe look for some horrifically dressed MU-tant with potential drinking a cup of coffee and reading a paperback in a park. (She may or may not have an oversized Trogdor shirt on.) Or perusing the new PC Games rack at your favorite game store.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
*makes notes furiously*
Ok, gotcha.
But I've never seen a woman looking at the geek magazine rack
...for that matter, I haven't seen any women reading the one magazine I subscribe to (Harper's), either. Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Never? What about looking at game boxes?
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
Shells and cheese, you phillistines.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Nope...
Maybe the places I've lived in just don't have any women who are interested in strategy games Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
*laugh* I mostly hung out in my room while I was in college, but I was dragged out occasionally by friends to play pool, go bowling and to go to frat parties. None of my friends were geeky (or gamers), though. They attempted to get me to wear 70's style clothes with as few buttons buttoned as I would allow and drag me out partying.
Once I met Tom, my geekiness was given free reign, although I met him on love.com, so I can't even really tell you where to hang out to meet future love interests Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
twinky - You may have better success looking for chicks into FPSers.
I can't believe you haven't seen any female gamers perusing magazines and/or boxes. It's got to be timing. Whenever Dan and I go to Fry's or Costco or anywhere that sells games it's the first place we head toward.
Maybe it's Canadian chicks.
edit: Christy has a point. I got into games a lot more once I had a PC guru to hand-craft me a system to play them all. You may just be looking for some girl with inner-geek that is looking for hot, sweet twinky love to set it free.
[ August 27, 2003, 04:57 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
1) When you were either in university or of university age, where did you hang out?
Hmmm... I didn't have much time to spend "hanging out" since I was also working, but while I was physically at the university, but not in class or working, I was often in the Computing Commons or with friends. Try looking for gals working in the various computer labs on campus. One guy I dated I met that way.
2) When you were either in university or of university age, what did you look for in men and boys?
I looked for intelligence and a sense of humor - someone fun to be with that I could also have intellectual conversations with.
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Are there any local game shops? We've found a local shop that we haunt now and there although it has a high density of men, there are usually a few women. See if there are any campus game-related organizations. Comic book shops are usually another good bet. Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Sopwith's first rule of finding the gal of ya dreams:
Find out what you like to do and go do it. Now, look for girls there. Those you find, chances are, like at least one thing that you do.
Sopwith's second rule: Move out of your parents' basement...
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
And tight buns, Lusti. Don't forget about the tight buns.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
*scribbles notes furiously*
Campus labs... game stores... arcades even... organizations/clubs... check.
Not living at home... check. Home is 1,800 km from school.
Tight buns... check. Okay. I think I'm good to go.
...
*checks updates to thread through review pane*
kat!!!!
Really? REALLY? *bounces up and down*
kat.hotness++++++;
Rowr.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
quote:Mike - And we have each have 22" flatscreen monitors, to boot.
Accursed succubus! You go to hell! You go to hell and you die!
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
saxon - If you really want to blow up - slacker and I picked up a couple 21" trinitron flatscreen monitors a couple weeks ago for $50 each!
[ August 27, 2003, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
ARGH!
::explodes::
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
We got ours for $100 a piece because the frame was slightly dinged in the corners. They weren't sellable at Dan's company, so we scored two for $200.
Considering they were originally selling for $1000 a piece, we feel we scored.
Oh, and Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
I just want you to know how deeply and unremorsefully I hate the both of you. And your spouses.
AND YOUR LITTLE DOGS, TOO!
Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :
I object to the Canadian Chicks comment!
*Plays more video games then Ted does and my computer is better then his*
And to prove my geekiness, I have 4 Warhammer 40k armies lying around (Chaos, Dark Elder, Elder and Ork), I played D&D religiously for a while (my fellow D&D'ers drove me nuts though- they ended up lighting my druid on fire for fun the one day), I have magic cards, love stratigy games... I've never gotten into comics (*whispers* don't tell Ted, but he is slowly swaying me towards them), I own all Monty Python movies (although they are on long term loan to my little brother- he's enjoying them too much, I don't have the hear to take them away )... *shuts up now*
Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :
Francine is a good puppy. You want to hurt Francine.
You're a big bad, green... thingy..
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
Good thing we don't have any little dogs!!
I don't think I've ever been so fiercely hated. Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
I forget how to be mean, that radiation half lobotomized me!
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Everything you need to know about gamer stereotypes can be observed here.
[ August 27, 2003, 05:55 PM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
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Just not a big fan of computer games.![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
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