Are “girly games” a lost cause?
In an interview with Tim Ingham of CasualGaming.biz, James Scalpello of THQ Wireless suggests that mobile games tailored for girls might be a lost cause.
He says (quoted from article):
“You have hardcore gamers that are girls, that don’t need to be patronised, and you have games that come with a phone – which girls will always play. But not in a million years would most girls connect to a mobile portal to download a game,” he added.
“It’s much higher up the list of priorities for guys. To put it bluntly, girls [believe they have] better things to do.”
While the subject of the interview was casual games for mobile phones, I’m a little bit curious how this extends beyond casual gaming. Naturally, I want to poll the ladies of this blog.
First: Ladies, is this true? I know that the writers of this blog tend to lean toward the ‘hardcore gamer’ type, so what’s your take on mobile games? Would you download games beyond those that come with your phone? And do you feel that this has anything to do with your gender?
Second: Hardcore gamer girls and casual gamer girls are bound to have different opinions on games, we know this. Is Mr. Scalpello correct in his assertion that hardcore gamer girls feel patronised by girly games?
Third: What’s your take on “girly” games in general? Do you feel that they’re useless, and that you enjoy the same games that guys enjoy, or do you appreciate that some games are made with the double-X chromosome in mind? Would you like to see more games marketed towards women?
So ladies, what’s the deal with girly games? Gentlemen, feel free to weigh in as well.
Well, as for games on my phone, they never seem to work. Period. I’ve downloaded a few games and they never seem to work like the demo or instructions explain.
Second, I think there are games out there for all girls. I’m not sure what someone means by girly games, but I think if you find a game, or type of game, that you like you should play it, regardless if it’s girly or not. I don’t feel patronised by girly games, I just don’t want to play them.
Also, a game on a phone is just not as much fun as a PSP or DS, both of which fit nicely into a bag or a purse and have a wider variety of games. I can buy a puzzle game for $9 used for my PSP that lasts hours, so why would I spend $4 on a puzzle that only has a few levels on my phone and drains my phone battery?
Overall, I don’t think phone games do well because there is such a wider variety of games available for portable systems that people overlook games on phones.
I have Ngage on my phone and I play it a lot to be honest. I only play it when im away from xbox [at work or walking too and from] because it has multiplayer facilities in games and is set up much like XBL.
Ive bought one game but I wouldnt do it again due to never really caring about mobile phone games
Much better on a screen to be honest.
I’m assuming girly games means games that are cute or fun (for some) like neo pets (is that really a game?). Personally that isn’t a type of game that interests me at all.
I’ve downloaded games on my mobile and agree with Ace completely. It’s a waste of money and you won’t get much replay from it considering the available space on a phone, and the quality is never that good to begin with. I’d rather pay for a game I can play on my DS and use the touch pad, instead of using 2,4,6,8 on my phone.
I don’t like the thought of different games for different genders. This could be because I’d rather play shooters and feel myself more of a hardcore gamer.
There are quite a few women complaining about equity between the genders, stuff like this continues to aid the males that can’t see the females as equals IMO.
I agree with Doll. I don’t enjoy girly games, or my definition of girly games, but I know tons of girls who play Viva Pinata. I just can’t go along with the idea of raising pinatas instead of beating them til they split open, but that may be because I like candy and violence way too much.
I’ve heard people call XBL games like Boogie Bunnies girly games, but I don’t know why a game should be girly because it doesn’t have ultra gore and violence. I like a lot of XBL games because their puzzles and make me think. So I guess it really depends on what you feel is girly. Technically, RSV2 could be considered girly because I can be a girl character and run around with a pink tank top.
As far as cell phone games go, I’ve never been to interested. For me, my cellphone is used to call and text people and that only. I don’t think I would ever want to be in a position where I have to make a urgent call but my phone is near dead because I was too busy trying to play tetris.
What is a girly game? A game is a game, why do we have to attach gender to it? If its fun and interesting its going to get played by both sexes of all ages.
I’ve never been one to waste money on a mobile game… I’d rather use that money, or credits for ringtones. I always carry my DS in my purse and that keeps me quite entertained.
I don’t know what games to classify as ‘girly’ though. Every person has a different opinion on different games, so like Avahra stated, why do we have to ‘gender-ize’ it?
Isn’t the point of a game to entertain? So what does it matter as long as the person playing it is enjoying it?
I think cell phone games came to an end when portable systems really started to shine. I can take my PSP anywhere and hook up to other PSPs on the fly, unlike my cell phone where it’s hard to find anyone playing any game on it. I think Japan is bigger into the cell phone gaming thing, but gaming is like a way of life over there. Or at least that’s the impression I get.
Gemma, I tried to get Ngage on my phone, but hated me and never worked. Otherwise, I probably would have gotten a game.
I’ve tried a few cell phone games, but besides the ones already on my phone, I’m not that interested. It’s the same thing for games on my iPod. I use it for music and sometimes pictures and stuff, but never for gaming. I’m way too afraid I’ll drop it and break it!
” don’t like the thought of different games for different genders.” I agree with that… cell phone games pfft… i don’t take the time to get into them nor do i download any that is money i could spend towards xbox
plus PSP or DS work great!
I want to play quality games. I don’t think designers should “force” desinging by going out of their way to make a “girl” game that would probably hinder some creativity because they have restricted themselves. Hey just make a fun multiplayer game and I’ll buy it.
i feel like when i play a game on a cell phone i don’t get the experience of playing the game. like i don’t feel like i accomplish anything when i win. maybe because it’s so…….small haha
i don’t feel patronized at all by “girly” games. everyone is different, and i’m sure there are some girls who enjoy playing them. to each her own, i say!
i guess i’m into the same sort of games that guys are, in general, because it seems like they’re more fun. i do love viva pinata because of its adorable factor + gardening, but i think i enjoy shooting enemies just a liiiiiitle bit more.
The only game I play on my cell is Texas Holdem*LOL* so I guess I don’t have too many problems there
“viva pinata” LOL i have a confession…i played that game =O hehe it wasn’t my fault!! I just wanted to demo the game but stupid pinatas kept joining the garden and they tricked me into caring for them… i finally was saved by a game invite yessss!! and once i snapped out of the pinata world i haven’t looked back hehe
I would consider myself a fairly hardcore gamer chick. I have been playing games most of my life, and I have a large library of current-gen games as well. This said – I don’t care at all for mobile games. Not even a little. Every once in a while I will play snake on my phone, because it’s there. . . but most of the time when I’m not at home (which is where all my good games are) I’m somewhere where I wouldn’t want to be using the phone (concert, bar, exercising) or somewhere that I can’t (work). I just don’t think there’s any mobile content that would interest me.
And to comment to the above poster . . . I have a tendency to lean towards violent, kick the shit out of things kind of games but I played the hell out of Viva Pinata. I have no idea why. Seriously. But it was kind of fun.
“but I played the hell out of Viva Pinata. I have no idea why. Seriously. But it was kind of fun.”
LOL!! Yah I know!! its like a drug or something.. they get you started on the pinatas and then addiction kicks in and you just play but have no idea why?
I think this is good therapy.. telling someone hehe
I know, right? Something like AA except for Viva Pinata. “Hi, my name is Advent, and I’m a Viva Pinata addict.” *hangs head in shame.* (Everyone in unison): “Hi, Advent!”
LOL!!! “Hi I am Smiles, and I am a recovering addict of Viva Pinata” *shaking and twitching violently*
Hahaha exactly. I haven’t picked up that game in months. But when I bought it, geez. I spent an unhealthy amount of time playing that game.
OMG what is up with everyone and Viva Pinata*LOL* I have been seeing more and more people playing that game lately
I just demoed it! I didn’t mean too
Come on Rav aka “Mr. Macho” you NEVER played it? Not even demo it?
“I just demoed it! I didn’t mean too
) is that kinda like” Officer I swear I didn’t inhale*LOL*”. No I can’t say as I have had the pleasure of a Viva Pinata experience at this time*LOL*
Mr Macho though…I like the sound of that OHHHHH YEAH–ok big props to anyone who caught that one
LOL!! funny officer saying …I dare you to demo it Rav and see if you get hooked or not… double dare you! …come on Rav EVERYONE is doing it…
Even my boyfriend tried Viva Pinata a little bit. And he -hates- stuff like that. There’s something that seriously will pull people in, even if it’s just for a little bit.
oh you just did not double dare me Smiles. Ok I will demo the game and see what its like. Though I have the feeling I will go the way Advents Bo went and move on to greener pastures*LOL*
We all moved on to greater pastures, Rav. Haha. But for someone that likes achievements. . . haha. Just saying!
Damn Advent not you too, poor me everyones always picking on me*LOL* sitting over in the corner having my own pitty party*LOL* Ok I downloaded the demo last night to much abuse from friends–you owe me smiles. I didn;t get a chance to play it though. Too busy playing Micheal Myers on COD4*LOL* Now that is freakin hilarious
ok I played for 30 min during lunch today–I will just say I am not a fan of the game–I got up tosome deer looking pinata and at that point I was about ready to bash in my 360*LOL* ok in all fairness I am not a sims player. There was a PC game back in the day named Caesar. Where you built a city and defended it against barbarian hordes and sometimes other Romans*LOL*. My cities were horrible but I could kick ass in a fight even outnumbered. Now my friend on the other hand could make a city that ran smooth and made lots of money, but he couldn’t defend his towns for the life of him. So he would make the towns and I would defend them*LOL* and attack other towns to make them ours*LOL*
Speaking of addictions though I wonder how many addicts will be playing UT3 tonight? I took off work tommorrow so that I could have a UT3-athon tonight. Ok I also have to build the ladder system and Rules for Nxgamers tonight as well but thats besides the point*LOL*
You definitely have to be a fan of sims games to enjoy Viva Pinata. I loved the games like Age of Empires and especially the Civilization series (very excited that it’s coming to console). Granted, sims aren’t my favorite type of game, not even close. But I do enjoy them from time to time.
Psst. Want to know a secret? I have never played an UT game. *runs*
Nice poke at the achievements Advent
LOL UT3-athon… did u discuss taking of work with your pimp Rav? Oh oh or is that the “other” job your taking off
*Smiles runs after Advent* Never played UT game!! Game fly it! and let us know whatcha think
Haha I will, especially since I already have two months paid for. I’m pretty much tired of GTA IV so I need to know what to get next. And, can’t help but poke fun. . .but who doesn’t love upping their gamerscore?
Yah I find myself taking a break from GTA4 too… gets a bit repetitive for me..
Yes yes we all enjoy uping our gamerscore but not at ANY costs like some people I know *COUGH COUGH* Rav and his Bambi killing and fish tickling (poor Nemo getting assaulted like that)
If you come across any great games Advent be sure to let us know in here so we can try them too
well yesterday was the first day I played UT before as well, Im not fully prepared for a Rav Report on it yet. I want to get some more game time in on it. Hey and I am not the only person here with questionable games on my Achievement list–(cough cough Doll)Miss Crab Fisher extrordinaire*LOL*. Yeah I played GTA for a bit as well but I just couldn’t get into it like I did Saints Row(another game where you get to fully customize your character) And the protect the pimp game in that is hilarious. The pimp can only protect himself with the Pimp Slap*LOL* it kills in one hit and is sooo freakin funny to watch.
I would play the Cabelas games if they fell into my lap. But you won’t see me buying them, that’s for sure. I’m really excited for Soul Calibur IV. I always have fun going through the “missions” in the Soul Calibur games.
I didn’t play Saints Row but since I heard it was similar to GTA games that’s kind of what kept me away. I haven’t sincerely enjoyed a GTA game since GTA II. The overhead GTA’s were the bomb. Haha.
well I rent cabelas *LOL* you can only do soooo much virtual hunting before you get bored*LOL*. I looked at the back of the box on SC4 and saw Yoda on there fighting with someone, looks like they are taking it intergalatic this time*LOL* should be the shit…now where is that force choke when I need it*LOL* Saints Row was pretty freakin kool actually, fully customized characters and while the missions were GTA like there were some differences. Enough that I played through the game and played the online a time or two*lag was a big issue for multiplayer though*
I would have bought the limited edition if x-box was the one that came with the black t-shirt and darth vader character. . . but no, that’s for playstation. Sigh. I will just settle for the regular 360 game when it comes out, and I’ll probably end up renting.
I haven’t heard too many positive opinions of that game. . . it also went down in price very quickly. Maybe I will try it.
if your bored its not bad, gives ya something to do and some of the missions are fun as hell.
Well that’s cool, I might have to pick it up then. Any other cheap suggestions that are not only good for achievements? (No Cabela’s suggestions, here).
hmmm let me think(hey where did all the smoke come from*LOL*) anywho–though it won’t count on points Star Wars Battlefront 1&2 were awesome and should be cheap
Yeah, somehow I missed those also I sold many copies back when I worked at Target. I’ve been advised to KotOR also.
Yeah I quiet enjoyed the Starwars battlefront games as well as the KotoR games–now those kicked ass. The 1st one was better than the 2nd one in my book–one of the robots was hilarious cause it would bash on you from out of nowhere calling you a meatbag*LOL* I think your a bad guy who got amnesia and went from there….Somehow I never can turn bad by nature, though I ride the line pretty good*LOL* I took a starwars test one time and it said I was Anakin Skywalker just on the edge of being Darth Vader
Starwars battlefront games ROCK! I have soo much fun playing those.. They should soo come out with some for 360
I am terrible at being bad. In Fable I had a halo. In Mass Effect I got the achievement for being good way too quickly. While my brother was mass killing scientists in Goldeneye I was yelling at him. Evil is tempting but I just can’t do it in games. Haha. Maybe I’m too evil in real life. . .
LOL for some reason I doubt your evil in real life advent, I’ve noticed that people who normally can’t play evil in games. Normally are the same way in real life, so I bet you run around with a little halo on your head there as well(except for your zombie director fetish*LOL*)
That’s actually fairly true. However I am very skilled in the art of verbal warfare and really know how to hit people where it hurts. Thankfully I normally keep that talent to myself.
Hey its a talent, Im pretty good at it myself to tell the truth. But I get to develope my talent with some of my XBL friends–I swear sometimes we go after each other harder than we do people we don’t like*LOL* but when your with those kinds of friends you learn not to take anything said personal. I try not to unleash the beast too much though…I have had to a few times on the NXG forums…to the extreme suprise of a few people*LOL* yeah I am normally the quiet guy on the site
Haha. Oh really? What have you had to do that for? What is it that actually made you angry, hm?
I don’t get angry often, I have a very long fuse but when I blow up I am loud usually*LOL* but I calm down quickly as well. Anyway lets just say someone said something in the forums about a particular person that I didn’t appreciate. We tried a thread on NXG where you could say whatever you want with no incriminations. Yeah didn’t work out so well, it got out of hand quickly. Anyway I ripped into this kid really bad because of what he said. Ok the bad thing is I didn’t know the kid was like 14 or 15 until after I ragged on him bad enough he stayed out of the forums.
Wow. Defending someone’s honor, eh? Well. It’s tough. It something is instated where you can say whatever you want. . . what is the line? People will always try to ride the line if there is one. The only way something like that works is if there is no line. That people can really say whatever they want.
Well lets just say I am very fond of my VV girls and when someone steps out of line with one of them i tend to get my feathers ruffled abit. And they just made the mistake of picking on one of my favorites which made me have the Red Rings fo Death in my eyes*LOL*
Yeah the thread didn’t stay up long one of our sponsors saw it and didn’t like the idea*which I wasnt that crazy about either* and the owner took it down
What are VV girls?! I think I’m more than unfamiliar with the forum you’re talking about.
I know this may be a little after the fact. Just reading past logs here.
But I work in a school, not teaching, just a part of the IT department since all the girls have laptops, and on pretty much *every* computer that comes in there are games. From simple flash based games like Mario Kart, Icy Tower, Neopets and the likes, to the more complicated Sims ect….And yes, from what I’ve seen they will also load something onto their phone if they can.
I’m afraid My Ingham is sorely out of touch with kids in schools today.