11 of 12

Write now Article Tools

Boys and their video games. The two seem inseparable; from the first video game platform they receive as young teenagers (and sometimes as young children), to the one they take to college, to the upgrade they ask for on their bridal registry. What is it with them?

But men aren't the only ones who enjoy gaming. The numbers of female gamers is one the rise. Women are competing alongside their male cyber-buddies, entering in WoW competitions, hosting Halo parties, and camping out days before the release of the next edition of Half-Life.

Women gamers are an untapped consumer market. Because many video games rely on violence as a plot platform, women traditionally aren't as drawn to them as men are. But that doesn't mean that they don't play.

Role-playing games are very popular for women, as are games for the PC. While a sorority isn't as likely to host a bring-your-own-playstation party as their fraternity counterparts, members are likely to spend a few hours playing games on their laptops.

Her Interactive is a gaming company that has the girls in mind. With a whopping seventeen Nancy Drew role-playing games, the company shows no time of letting up steam. In each game, Nancy has a crime to solve and through role playing and collecting clues, it's up to the gamer to crack the case. The Nancy Drew series has introduced a whole new generation of young women to gaming.

Womengamers.com is an online community designed for women who game. They offer a forum for women to connect in, product reviews and editorials that comment on the male-dominated world that they dabble in secretly. One editorial discusses a sexist gaming contest that degrades women while an advertisement offers a book for girl D&D players. There is also a discussion on the site about the reoccurring and disturbing theme of women as sex objects on video games. Clearly, these gamers want to be treated with respect.

Men aren't the only ones who enjoy gaming in their free time. If more companies followed the example of Her Interactive and reached out to women gamers, they would find themselves playing a completely different game.

Learn more about this author, Caitlin Muir.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Women ignored as video game players: Consumer market untapped?
We want to hear your view. Write now!