Girl gamer
Encyclopedia
A girl gamer is a female who regularly engages in the playing of video games
, role-playing games, or other games (colloquially referred to as "gaming"). This can be from the most casual interest to the most serious professional gaming.
, as reasons for the small interest of women into videgames.
, 25 percent of console players and 39 percent of PC game players are women. Also, 40 percent of online game players are women; however, these numbers also include casual games. According to another study conducted by the Entertainment Software Association in 2010, 40% of the game playing population is female, and women 18 or older now comprise 33% of all gamers.
Also, the percentage of women now playing online has risen to 42%, up several percent since 2004. The same study shows that 46% of game purchasers are female (Entertainment Software Association). In recognition of the importance of the issues of women and girls as game developers and players, the International Game Developers Association
, an association of companies and individuals in the games industry, has formed a special interest group
on Women in Game Development. This is an active field of discussion and a topic in many conferences in the video gaming industry.
Gamer
Historically, the term "gamer" usually referred to someone who played role-playing games and wargames. Since they became very popular, the term has included players of video games...
, role-playing games, or other games (colloquially referred to as "gaming"). This can be from the most casual interest to the most serious professional gaming.
Impact in gaming industry
The role of women in the games industry - as professionals and as consumers - has received extensive academic and business attention. Women represent approximately half the population but buy only a small share of all video game players. Finding the reasons for, and changing the content and how games are advertised to attract and change the percent of women buying games drives a lot of professionals to research and find solutions to improve the gaming industry. Many available articles argue for the improvement of the gaming industry to appeal to a more general audience and for females in particular. The majority of the people who work on game development teams are males. Critics also attribute to a misogynistic attitude that is frequent among the professional and hardcore gamers and to the negative portrayal of women in video gamesPortrayal of women in video games
The portrayal of women in video games has often been the subject of both academic studies and controversy. Two recurring themes are the level of independence of female characters from their male counterparts, and their objectification and sexualization....
, as reasons for the small interest of women into videgames.
Girl gamers as a demographic
According to a survey done in 2004 by the Entertainment Software AssociationEntertainment Software Association
The Entertainment Software Association is the trade association of the video game industry in the United States. It was formed in April 1994 as the Interactive Digital Software Association and renamed on July 16, 2003...
, 25 percent of console players and 39 percent of PC game players are women. Also, 40 percent of online game players are women; however, these numbers also include casual games. According to another study conducted by the Entertainment Software Association in 2010, 40% of the game playing population is female, and women 18 or older now comprise 33% of all gamers.
Also, the percentage of women now playing online has risen to 42%, up several percent since 2004. The same study shows that 46% of game purchasers are female (Entertainment Software Association). In recognition of the importance of the issues of women and girls as game developers and players, the International Game Developers Association
International Game Developers Association
International Game Developers Association is the professional society for over 10,000 video and computer game developers worldwide.It is incorporated in the United States as a non-profit organization....
, an association of companies and individuals in the games industry, has formed a special interest group
Special Interest Group
A Special Interest Group is a community with an interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members cooperate to effect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet, and organize conferences...
on Women in Game Development. This is an active field of discussion and a topic in many conferences in the video gaming industry.
See also
- Portrayal of women in video gamesPortrayal of women in video gamesThe portrayal of women in video games has often been the subject of both academic studies and controversy. Two recurring themes are the level of independence of female characters from their male counterparts, and their objectification and sexualization....
- Jade RaymondJade RaymondJade Raymond is a French Canadian video game executive currently working as the Managing Director of Ubisoft Toronto.- Biography :...
- Heavy RainHeavy RainHeavy Rain is an interactive drama psychological thriller video game created by Quantic Dream exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game is written and directed by Quantic Dream's founder and CEO David Cage....