Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Science says: Men's brains get more 'reward' from gaming]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/science-says-mens-brains-get-more-reward-from-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/science-says-mens-brains-get-more-reward-from-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/science-says-mens-brains-get-more-reward-from-gaming/#commentsFiled under: ,

Developers and executives that are struggling to develop games that appeal to women now have a new excuse to fall back on if and when they fail. According to a study by Stanford University's Alan Reiss, men are hard wired to feel more "rewarded" playing games than women.

The study, which looked at 11 men and 11 women, asked participants to play a simple territorial point-and-click game while hooked up to an fMRI machine. The men in the study showed much great activity in the brain's "mesocorticolimbic center," which is associated with reward and addiction.

Interestingly, the amount of activity for men went up as they did better at the game, while the amount of activity for women stayed roughly constant, regardless of achievement. "The females 'got' the game... they appeared motivated to succeed at the game," Reiss said. "The males were just a lot more motivated to succeed." Yeah, yeah ... tell it to the Frag Dolls.

JoystiqScience says: Men's brains get more 'reward' from gaming originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionfrag dollsFragDollsgendergirlsmenrewardsciencewomenTue, 05 Feb 2008 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Frag Dolls, Seagate collaborate for game competitions, mall tour]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/frag-dolls-seagate-collaborate-for-game-competitions-mall-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/frag-dolls-seagate-collaborate-for-game-competitions-mall-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/08/frag-dolls-seagate-collaborate-for-game-competitions-mall-tour/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Frag Dolls have garnered the attention of hard drive manufacturer Seagate, which will collaborate with the Ubisoft-sponsored clan of gaming ladies over the next year for a series on online and in-person video game competitions, as well as a mall tour, making us close our eyes and wax poetic as we imagine being schooled by the likes of Tiffany and Debbie Gibson.

The troupe will make three guest appearances during the apparently larger 'Seagate's Mall Tour,' which is expected to begin on October 19 at Minneapolis' Mall of America, hopefully nestled somewhere near the Lego Imagination Center. The girls will of course sign autographs and give high fives before 'pwning' their fans in gaming tournaments for Seagate-branded prizes, which may or may not be given out to the tune of 'I Think We're Alone Now.'

[Via press release]

JoystiqFrag Dolls, Seagate collaborate for game competitions, mall tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fragdollsharddrivemalltourseagateubisoftMon, 08 Oct 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do pro gamers resemble boy bands?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/why-do-pro-gamers-resemble-boy-bands/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/why-do-pro-gamers-resemble-boy-bands/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/07/why-do-pro-gamers-resemble-boy-bands/#commentsFiled under:


Professional video gaming has an image issue. The best known pro-gamer is Jonathan "Fatal1ty" Wendell, but he's really not getting any Sports Illustrated covers or receiving much mention in gaming mags, which focus more on games than professional gaming. Then we've got the fully-manufactured FragDolls. They bring on the sex with the T&A quotient, but don't get respect (although they are very capable gamers) due to their Spice Girls/ Pussycat Dolls status. It's time to find the image for the masses.

Wonderland wonders how pro gaming, which is getting increased television time, will translate and market itself. The picture above encapsulates everything wrong about pro-gaming's image. Even when it tries to be serious, it comes off looking like a boy band. It's the type of image that looks like it's meant to appeal to 12-year-old girls, and frankly, they aren't the demographic. And as far as sex appeal goes, other than pedophiles, it only works on gay 13- to 17-year-old-boys comfortable with their sexuality, and that's not really a big demo either. The image just doesn't work to any adult demographic -- well, the aforementioned pedophile demo, but they're even smaller than the other stated demos.

So, how does pro gaming market itself? Talent, image, sexuality, envy and money all play a roll in professional sports. How can companies market pro gaming to gamers without making male, female, gay, straight and everyone else over the age of 18 not cringe at the sight of pro gaming team photos?

JoystiqWhy do pro gamers resemble boy bands? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 May 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fatal1tyfragdollsprogamingtelevisionMon, 07 May 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Frag Dolls pwn Rainbow Six CPL tourney, first pro win]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/21/frag-dolls-pwn-rainbow-six-cpl-tourney-first-pro-win/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/21/frag-dolls-pwn-rainbow-six-cpl-tourney-first-pro-win/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/21/frag-dolls-pwn-rainbow-six-cpl-tourney-first-pro-win/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

vegas squadThe Frag Dolls won their first pro-circuit event last night, beating "The Unknown" to earn first place in the 4v4 Rainbow Six Vegas competition at Winter CPL. Aside from being the Frag Dolls' first big victory, it appears that this is also the first time an all-female team has won a (co-ed) pro-circuit tournament. Valkyrie, Seppuku, Calyber, and Psyche (all pictured) proved to be the winning combination for the Ubisoft-sponsored team.

JoystiqFrag Dolls pwn Rainbow Six CPL tourney, first pro win originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360Co-edCompetitionCPLCyberathlete Professional LeagueCyberathleteProfessionalLeagueFrag DollsFragDollsRainbow SixRainbow Six VegasRainbowSixRainbowSixVegasTournamentUbisoftXbox 360Xbox-360Xbox360Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:25:00 EST<![CDATA[FTC: Viral ties must be disclosed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/12/ftc-viral-ties-must-be-disclosed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/12/ftc-viral-ties-must-be-disclosed/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/12/ftc-viral-ties-must-be-disclosed/#commentsFiled under: ,

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission yesterday said that companies must disclose ties in word-of-mouth marketing campaigns. These fake grass-roots efforts -- dubbed "astroturfing" by critics -- hire people to endorse products as themselves, rather than as company representatives.

The FTC didn't announce any specific action or fines against this type of misleading marketing, although it may investigate campaigns on a case-by-case basis. The Washington Post covers the story.

Gamers see these sorts of campaigns all the time, from fake commentors who are actually paid marketers to the recent fake-PSP-fan weblog. While this kind of hidden corporate sponsorship makes us distrustful, we think better of companies, like Ubisoft, that disclose ties to its affiliates like the Frag Dolls. We most like the Major Nelson-type relationships, where a weblog spokesperson and a company are obviously linked.

JoystiqFTC: Viral ties must be disclosed originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>federal trade comissionFederalTradeComissionFrag DollsFragDollsFTCMajor NelsonMajorNelsonTue, 12 Dec 2006 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[More than one level in Red Steel after all]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/15/more-than-one-level-in-red-steel-after-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/15/more-than-one-level-in-red-steel-after-all/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/15/more-than-one-level-in-red-steel-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We were pleased to learn that Red Steel is actually a full length game (shocking!) and not just the same level we've seen dozens of times, with dozens of guys bouncing around a set and waving the Wiimote. Can't they find a woman for one of these? Where are your Frag Dolls now, Ubisoft? Or please, get the intense guy again. He was our favorite.

And while this new video is quite the sizzler, we're insulted by the fact that the actor left perfectly good sushi just sitting there in favor of picking the game back up. Find the pause button, son. It's all about priorities.

Keep going to check out the video.

Continue reading More than one level in Red Steel after all

JoystiqMore than one level in Red Steel after all originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Frag DollsFragDollslaunchNintendoRed SteelRedSteeltrailerUbisoftvideoWiiWiimoteyakuzaYouTubeFri, 15 Sep 2006 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Overheard at E3: You're all nerds! [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/overheard-at-e3-you-re-all-nerds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/overheard-at-e3-you-re-all-nerds/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/11/overheard-at-e3-you-re-all-nerds/#commentsFiled under:


For the "Women at E3" gathering today, a number of female industry professionals gathered to wear special "Girls FTW" shirts in a show of solidarity. Morgan Romine, aka Rhoulette of the Frag Dolls, led the crowd:

Rhoulette: Who knows what "FTW" means?
[Women cheer loudly]
Rhoulette: Thank God! You're all nerds!

[Update 1: "FTW" means "for teh win". Added at the request of at least one Joystiq staffer. For shame!]

JoystiqOverheard at E3: You're all nerds! [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 May 2006 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booth babesBoothBabese3e32006frag dollsFragDollsgirl gamersGirlGamersgirlspmswomenThu, 11 May 2006 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Girl gamer recruitment good reality TV?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/11/girl-gamer-recruitment-good-reality-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/11/girl-gamer-recruitment-good-reality-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/11/girl-gamer-recruitment-good-reality-tv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Recruiting a new member for a sponsored girl gaming team can't be easy. When Eekers (one of Ubisoft's Frag Dolls) left the line-up last summer, a nationwide search for her replacement rolled into motion, requiring everything from a gaming CV to glamour shots. Months later, when all but the hopefuls have forgotten the empty space to be filled, the shortlisted candidates have been announced and the final selection procedure outlined.

All eight of the finalists will be flown to San Francisco to "join the existing Frag Dolls in a weekend of playing games and interviewing", a party that sounds like good fodder for frazzled nerves -- especially when you add in the filming. For this is no ordinary interview -- instead, the whole thing will be covered by Internet TV site GameTrailers, providing a reality TV glimpse into the mysterious world of girl gamers.

Continue reading Girl gamer recruitment good reality TV?

JoystiqGirl gamer recruitment good reality TV? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Apr 2006 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitive gamingCompetitiveGamingfemale gamersFemaleGamersfrag dollsFragDollsgirl gamersGirlGamersgirlsinternet tvInternetTvpro gamingProGamingreality tvRealityTvrecruitmenttvubisoftwomenwomen gamesWomenGamesTue, 11 Apr 2006 07:27:00 EST