NPD: Girls increasingly becoming gamers
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Sep 25th 2008 at 7:00PM }
NPD's industry analyst, Anita Frazier, says that 50% of girls between 2 and 14 years old still play with "traditional" items like "dolls, plush, and arts & crafts" in this digital age. She notes that the growth in use of social networking and virtual world sites by women should be recognized by manufacturers who, you know, want money from the ladies.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
syrik zero @ Sep 25th 2008 7:03PM
Two years ago I worked at an elementary school and a lot of the girls there played games and would talk about them. They were mostly 3-5th graders so 7-10ish years of age. Lots of DSs
Cody @ Sep 25th 2008 8:08PM
They sure aren't playing Halo.
Morisato @ Sep 25th 2008 8:26PM
I think the title of the story should have been:
"Games are soon becoming less of a safe haven for boys afraid of girls."
The Doctor @ Sep 25th 2008 8:34PM
@Morisato
That's what DnD and Warhammer are for.
Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrection force) @ Sep 25th 2008 7:03PM
With TV and hollywood increasingly convincing girls that in order to be successful in life they need to be vapid supermodels, what else is there to do for the ones who don't cut the mustard other than to game away their time and money in a darkened room?
Jon2309 @ Sep 25th 2008 7:03PM
2 and 14?
Gahh, why do I have to be 4 years too old.
Josh @ Sep 25th 2008 7:51PM
What? I don't even know what you're saying.
syrik zero @ Sep 25th 2008 7:57PM
I didn't know what that meant either haha
Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 25th 2008 8:41PM
I think he/she is saying that he/she is 18 years old
syrik zero @ Sep 25th 2008 8:55PM
That makes sense... Now I feel slloowww
Josh @ Sep 26th 2008 9:59PM
Still doesn't make sense. How does the 2 come into that equation?
kavendano14 @ Sep 25th 2008 7:06PM
Uhh, guys, that's not a girl.
GoldenS1104 @ Sep 25th 2008 8:21PM
Yes, it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_DeGeneres
vidGuy @ Sep 25th 2008 9:16PM
I had the same thought, but apparently the joke was lost on Golden ;)
Bass Masterson @ Sep 25th 2008 7:09PM
Why the hell should anybody care?
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 25th 2008 7:09PM
I'd rather see WHAT they're playing rather than just know they're playing games. Doesn't do the industry any good if like 70% of them are playing games like Petz.
Mr Khan @ Sep 25th 2008 7:58PM
Sure it does the industry good. It doesn't do YOU good
or me, i don't really like Petz or Nintendogs myself, but its not like its to the core's detriment or anything
SMcD @ Sep 25th 2008 11:03PM
Mr. Khan: Nintendo has proven again and again that games like pets DO, in fact, negatively affect the core, in the sense that they don't give a shit about us.
Markez @ Sep 25th 2008 11:13PM
@ SMcD
You see the thing is, Rudy, is that the industry doesn't exist to make games that only people like you are interested in.
Nintendo has proven again and again? Nintendo didn't create Petz, but I suppose I understand what you're getting at.
"They don't care about us." Hypothetically speaking, if I WERE the gaming industry, I have no reason to care about YOU, specifically at all. Where's the logic in only caring about one single type of 'core' gamer with his nose up in the air about what the industry should and shouldn't be doing, Theo?
Big fail for saying 'core', because guess what, no single console manufacturer cares only about you.
SMcD @ Sep 26th 2008 5:18PM
I'm not saying that I hate the very thought of casual games, or that the gaming industry should cater to ME specifically. I'm saying that Nintendo should throw their long-time fans a few more bones, and I'm definitely not alone in thinking that.
Waffle Slayer @ Sep 25th 2008 7:15PM
That chick in the pic looks like Ellen.
Lone Starr @ Sep 25th 2008 7:40PM
No, that's Dory. She speaks whale.
SDeeperKyo @ Sep 25th 2008 7:32PM
Here's the million dollar question: Are increasing numbers of them becoming developers?
Metal_Gear @ Sep 25th 2008 8:03PM
We have Jade Raymond... that all we need.
Bass Masterson @ Sep 25th 2008 8:13PM
Again I repeat: why should we care?
When did the feminist organizations' party line become dogma? It doesn't matter if women become game developers or rocket scientists - it matters that if one wants to, they could. And they can. There are zero systemic barriers to entry in any field based on race, gender, and so on. So all people have to do now is monitor numbers and bitch about their pet group being underrepresented. Don't fall into the trap of caring about their special interests.
Markez @ Sep 25th 2008 10:36PM
Hey Bass - Why should anyone care? It's a gaming blog, variety of articles, food for thought, that kind of thing?
"Don't fall into the trap caring about THEIR special interests?" , "When did the feminist organizations' party line become dogma?"
It's an article about girls, getting into gaming. That's pretty much it. Are you some tool box, unfortunately unmasculine guy that's just a woman hater? Can't get a date? How does this turn into an anti-feminist rant for you? Sweet christ almighty, settle the fuck down.
MrSpaceCowboy @ Sep 25th 2008 7:56PM
Sweet, now I can have girls hurl racist and homophobic remarks at me over Xbox Live too!
Mr Khan @ Sep 25th 2008 7:59PM
Embracing the other 50% of the population is sure to help further legitimize our hobby.
Bass Masterson @ Sep 26th 2008 1:20PM
No, it won't. All it will do is homogenize gaming to the point that it becomes as crappy as mainstream television and movies.
sure... @ Sep 25th 2008 8:06PM
I don't understand why this is important at all.
Why can't we all just be gamers?
From the Frag dolls to whatever other female only gaming groups are out there, we've increasingly become bombarded with how "cool" it is that there are more and female gamers.
As stated before me, I think the question of how many of them are developers is a better question because a fair minded,(Femi-Nazis need not apply)intelligent, imaginative woman is an AWESOME thing to have in your life, bringing amazing ideas and points of view that I would LOVE to see implemented in a game.
I know when I'm talking to my wife or my female friends about games and such, they have great comments and ideas that if only we could have more of them on the development side vs. the advertising side, we would all be better off as gamers as a whole.
IMO groups like the Frag Dolls are doing almost the same thing as other industries do, they try and make them sexy and hot but look, they play games as well!
I'd MUCH rather have woman on the development side representing the woman out there who have more to offer to gaming.
Duke @ Sep 26th 2008 10:21AM
Yes, we are all gamers. Yet the point of this is that its becoming a more popular hobby for women as well as for men. That is a good thing to hear, as it leads to more games being developed and more people playing games together instead of seperate.
I don't understand the logic in rathering to have woman on the development side. To me it seems that you are segmenting. If you want us (men and women) all to just be gamers, shouldn't women's increased numbers as players fulfill that goal, as opposed to them just being developers.
Groups like the frag dolls are not representative of women in gaming as a whole - they are a small group who is selling themselves. Exploiting themselves and the men who care to pay attention to them. In reality, most women play games like us men do - without trying to get attention because of their gender.
Yes, more women in development is good - but that doesn't diminish that lots of people like to see somewhat equal statistics in every aspect of life. Its good knowing that gaming is gathering more steam in the female sector and that such a trend leads to more couples playing together.
sure... @ Sep 26th 2008 11:04AM
@Duke,
I understand your point, and agree with some if them, especially about those that exploit themselves. However, I fail to see the correlation between there being more female gamers leading to more games being made unless your talking about them being developers. Otherwise were going to be flooded with crappy games aimed at females that are steered by focus group and marketing executives that don't know anything to begin with.
In our society we have this rampant desire to make everything as "equal" as we can between the sexes, races, economic class, you name it, we'll try it. I don't think that's necessarily a good thing. Some of the worst things done started from good intentions as current (and past)history shows us. Is it a good thing more females are playing games? Who cares just play them. Having a large influx of female gamers doesn't mean anything, it's not like were talking about women's suffrage here.
Men and women are equal yes, but this is because we both bring different things to the table that the other is lacking. A Yin and Yang principle if you will. The skills I possess my wife lacks and vice versa and because of that the 2 of us complete one another. This whole idea of "I am woman, hear me roar" is nonsense and has helped IMO to destroy society, brainwashing men and especially women into believing that you can do anything and you can do it by yourself.
Maybe if we taught each other to respect each other and respect the fact the we are different and that we are designed to complete one another we wouldn't have so many problems in marriage etc., in our society.
We'll never truly be equal until we accept the fact that we are different.
The Doctor @ Sep 25th 2008 8:36PM
At my school we watch this pseudo-news program "Channel 1" that featured a study last week saying that 99% of male teenagers play videogames, while something insane like 98% of female teenagers play videogames.
Like most things said on it though, it appears to have been an utter lie.
Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 25th 2008 8:42PM
its good that your school is telling you lies
The Doctor @ Sep 25th 2008 8:48PM
Ah, see its not the school telling us lies, its the network that pays for the tv's in every room that requires we watch their fake news program everyday under penalty of removing the tv's.
vidGuy @ Sep 25th 2008 9:19PM
Ah, Channel 1. There's nothing like blatant commercialism and selling out one's educational safe-haven for a few free VCRs.
Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrection force) @ Sep 26th 2008 3:15AM
Corporate sponsorship mixed with the education system is a recipe for success!
This message was brought to you by Privatise Schools Now! fund.
Joeshie @ Sep 25th 2008 9:30PM
Yes, we know. Female gamers. That's great.
You'll find that I stopped caring after I was bombarded with this fact after the 500th time.
Racoow @ Sep 25th 2008 9:39PM
Women, in my vidya?
I refuse!
Efren @ Sep 25th 2008 10:21PM
Who's the dude in the MC costume?
Minime283 @ Sep 25th 2008 10:24PM
Makes sense. PAX had a surprising number of girls at it this year.
Sean Newton @ Sep 25th 2008 10:28PM
It is a wise policy to only get your wife/gf/whatever hooked on games, once you have decided you will buy a second gaming system for her if there is an issue.
Right now, my wife has yet to decide I must surrender the PS3 to her. She's still happy with Final Fantasy games on the PS2.
Dartmerc @ Sep 25th 2008 10:52PM
I'm just lucky I'm still happy with Final Fantasy games on PSP
Mr.Ironic @ Sep 25th 2008 11:32PM
I don't know, it's great that's it's all becoming more acceptable now, even in conversation with girls.
But I think they should stick to learning how to be pretty when they're young so we want them later.
Lekko @ Sep 25th 2008 11:56PM
uh... dur.
Where do you think all the Wii keep going? To men?
Ashdude @ Sep 26th 2008 2:48AM
It's a common misconception that the Wii is a gaming system. So girls that play the Wii don't count.
Mr Khan @ Sep 26th 2008 8:42AM
Wii is the only gaming system. PS360 are multimedia computer entertainment systems, just ask Sony and MS
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Sep 26th 2008 8:28AM
Keep in mind fellas, just because there are more female gamers doesn't mean you are any more likely than before to get laid as time goes on. In fact, that core hope may, nay is, the repulsive force holding you back.
sure... @ Sep 26th 2008 11:18AM
@khan,
The reason that Sony and MS refer to their respective consoles as "multimedia entertainment systems" is because gaming has evolved over the last 20 years and therefor offer much more to their customers.
The Wii may have more consoles sold, but as a gaming platform it doesn't hold a candle to the offerings of MS or Sony now or in the future. Even Wii fanboys are trippin about the lack of good games, hell, games period. Remember the E3 press conference? You mean to tell me that is what gaming is?
If anything this only goes to show that Nintendo was genius to cater to people who don't know anything about games that will buy anything if it's gimmicky and cheap. My hats off to them for fooling millions of people. To each his own, have fun playing Wii sports for the millionth time or Animal crossing. I'll be playing games that are actually fun this holiday season.
Mr Khan @ Sep 26th 2008 11:21AM
Between my Wii and DS, i have a full plate between now and the end of the year, and that's with me having no plans to buy Animal Crossing
Wario Land now, Megaman 9 and Bomberman Blast after that. Sometime in October or November Disaster will probably be announced, and following that will be the Wii version of Sonic Unleashed. For christmas, Sonic Chronicles
Sure it doesn't have the heavy hitter exclusives like the other guys do, or the sweet multiplat titles, but to argue that it has nothing is preposterous, unless you're one of those people who think their opinion defines reality