Attracting more women to play video games. (Xbox, RPG, characters)

[PeaceAndLove42]

Here's an interesting article I wanted to share:

Women Are Half Of Video Gamers, So Where Are The Female Video Game Characters? | ThinkProgress

According to a report released this week by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 45% of the entire game playing population are women and they comprise 46% of the most frequent video game purchasers. The study, 2013 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry, found that women 18 and older make up 31% of the video game-playing population, while boys 17 and under represent only 19% of today’s gamers. Another study released by Magid Advisors found that 70% of women between the ages of 12 and 24 play video games. The study also found 61% of women between the ages of 45 and 64 also play games, compared to 57% of men in the same age group.

Yet you don't see many female protagonists. Why is that? I am a woman that does play all sorts of games but mostly stick to MMOs because I can create a female character. Still, you don't see many of them online on Xbox/PS etc. How do you think we can attract more women and do we need more female protagonists?

[rainroosty]

It's a big plus to me if the game's main character is a female.

[bs13690]

Define many.

Off the top of my head there is Lollipop Chainsaw, the Alice in Wonderland games, almost all fighters have at least a couple females, Cooking Mama, Tomb Raider(s), Perfect Dark, Borderlands, Resident Evil, most RPGs have a playable female character, Portal 2, Beyond Two Souls, Fatal Frame, any game based on "girl" media (Buffy, Barbie, Nancy Drew, etc.) And let's not forget the original female protagonist, Samus from Metroid.

[bs13690]

I forgot about this one too:


Remember Me Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 - Rebirth - YouTube

[BrianH]

I play FPS and there are plenty of female players, even know some who others dont know are female. I think the biggest turn off for them letting people know or joining communities/teamspeaks is that a majority of guys gaming turn into 13yr old hormonal douchebags when they know a girl is on :|

[bs13690]

Originally Posted by BrianH

I play FPS and there are plenty of female players, even know some who others dont know are female. I think the biggest turn off for them letting people know or joining communities/teamspeaks is that a majority of guys gaming turn into 13yr old hormonal douchebags when they know a girl is on :|

For any women out there who get upset that dudes are being Delta Bravos to them, I can say only this: they probably treat everyone like crap. I've never been called the n word more in my life than when I play online.

[BrianH]

Originally Posted by bs13690

For any women out there who get upset that dudes are being Delta Bravos to them, I can say only this: they probably treat everyone like crap. I've never been called the n word more in my life than when I play online.

Yeah I hear you. The amount of people that come crying to me to be unbanned after dropping the n bomb (I have my bot set to auto ban) in my server is really high. Seems to get higher every year too.

[bs13690]

Originally Posted by BrianH

I play FPS and there are plenty of female players, even know some who others dont know are female. I think the biggest turn off for them letting people know or joining communities/teamspeaks is that a majority of guys gaming turn into 13yr old hormonal douchebags when they know a girl is on :|

I don't know what kind of sense of humor you have, but there is a good bit on College Humor about girls playing video games and acting like guys. Can't post it here, it is too NSFW but it is on their YouTube channel as well.

[sacredgrooves]

COD Ghosts has female soldiers now too.

[Dub D]

Total BS half of game players are female. I'd say 25% and that's pushing it. Just go to a video game store like Gameshop and tell me if half the people there are female. Go there 100 times and you'll see how wrong the survey is.