by Adriana Disano

Created on: August 26, 2010

As a “hardcore” female gamer, I have to say that the assumptions people make about girl gamers are completely off the mark and sometimes offensive. Most people have evolved past saying that girls want all sparkles and princesses in their video games, with girl gamers becoming more prevalent as players in the industry, but there's still a certain amount of bias toward our likes and dislikes when it comes to games.

Let's take violence as an example. Most people assume that girl gamers dislike gratuitous violence in their video games and prefer to play something more tame like a role-playing game or a simulation rather than a first-person shooter. That's an assumption based on very little fact. While girls are typically viewed as having more conservative views than boys, the reality of it is that we don't mind a little grit in our games. Girls are not typically raised in violent environments, which is why many of us avoid overly violent games. We don't find violence by itself pleasing. But the satisfaction of making a few heads roll for the good of our team? We won't pass that up any day.

People also assume that girls avoid games that curse “too much.” Personally, I curse like a sailor when I'm playing a good game. Girls can appreciate the placing of a well-timed curse in a tense situation as much as any boy. While girls in their younger stages of gaming tend to be sensitive to adult content, it's a matter of exposure; we're typically exposed to less than boys, so we're simply not comfortable with it yet. My sister went from being terrified of having nightmares after playing Left 4 Dead to asking me about every horror game in my library in a matter of weeks.

There is one thing that girls don't appreciate in their games, and that is sex. Women are portrayed as sex symbols so frequently in the gaming world that you tend to get used to it, but do we enjoy it? No. Guys may be pleased when the clothing flies off their female characters, but it just doesn't have the appeal to us. Some of us see it as blindly offensive for our own reasons, and that's all that can be said.

So what is it that really makes games “click” for girls?

First and foremost, girls want good gameplay just like any other gamer. They want something they can sink their teeth into. If a game really performs the way it ought to, there should be no reason for there to be a bias among female gamers.

Second, we want a challenge. Girls can be just as competitive as boys in this area. While we're not always playing for the leaderboards, we're constantly trying to beat our own high score. And we won't settle for any less. We especially like mental challenges over physical challenges, which is why puzzle games are some of our favorites.

One of the most significant things we look for in games is a good plot. That's why role-playing games are so popular with girls. They draw us in like a good book, get us emotionally invested in the characters, and give us a reason to play if nothing else about a game particularly attracts us.

Girls appreciate graphics and music in the same ways that boys do. While we tend toward the more fantastical side and boys tend toward the more hardcore side, in reality it depends on the individual.

And that's really about what the appeal of video games is about: the individual.

No true generalizations can be made about girl gamers. We're all different. Some of us will stick to our bunnies and glitter and some of us will tear out spines and lather ourselves in blood. It's a matter of personal preference.

The only thing that can really be said about girl gamers? We're coming for you, guys.

Learn more about this author, Adriana Disano.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.