So I had planned to write a sweet entry about poetry, but I spotted an entry at Popgadget yesterday and I had to respond.

Let me start with a confession – I’m not a gamer. It isn’t as if I have a personal vendetta against video games or anything. The truth – I don’t like games at all really. Card games, board games, even group party games – bore me. Now, it could be because of my deep rooted competitive nature or the fact that games can change friends against you. Especiallythe occasional Quiz Night at the bar, if the prize is a paid bar tab – my friends become assassins.

I didn’t really pay too much attention to the entry at Popgadget because I thought – I’m not a gamer, so this doesn’t mean anything to me, but then I linked to the article from Wired Magazine. It seems this is more about women’s role on the internet and in the technology community than it is about PacMan vs. Ms PacMan (although there is no comparison I believe few readers would say a negative word about the bow).

I did a little research and found a brilliant online community of women fighting the video game industry for a voice. When Google is searched for “women video gamers” the first hit is a freaking video character playboy centerfold. I just don’t have the heart to tell the readers of Playboy — she isn’t ACTUALLY a real women, but maybe that is a moot point. However, if you can bare to look down the list there are some really exciting articles on the issue and online communities.

Video games are a billion dollar business. Women purchase 66% of all home computer equipment in the U.S. and make up 39% of the gamers. In the UK, women are a quarter of the total number of gamers and a record 69% in South Korea. Clarinda Merripen of Cyberlore told an audience of almost all male game developers. “Women are the new powerhouse”, she said, quoting sales statistics from Fast Company.

Sounds great right? Well, then I read Lisa Sikora, of Microsoft’s Casual Games division who says:

“Violence, the use of force as a primary game mechanic, is an excellent way to keep women from playing your game. Negative emotions aren’t attractive to women. They don’t like heavy, adrenaline-rich, head-to-head sports. I play Half-Life 2, but if I get shot at, I run.”

And don’t forget Game designer Gano Haine’s comment about what is important to women:

“Persistence is attractive to women — there’s something about having your stuff, arranging your stuff and having it be there when you come back — the whole collecting-slash-farming mechanic. I don’t explore the dungeons very much, but I’m good at building my profession and finding herbs.”

Just to be clear — apparently, we hate competition but we love video games that resemble the Home and Garden channel.

For the record, I don’t condone violence. I don’t want anyone, male or female to play games that encourage the player to shoot hookers, steal money, or kill “terrorists” (who look a lot like every Middle Easterner I’ve ever met). What I don’t like is the condescending tone that women – because of their sensitive lace covered nature – only want kitten wars and lipstick shopping sprees.

Video game companies seem to spend a lot of time devaluing women gamers and separating them into small stereotypical categories. Do they spend the same time categorizing male players?

Do executives sit in the boardroom giving presentations:

“Well, we’ve done the research and it looks like male video gamers are either – anti-social losers with violent tendencies or grown men who still live with their parents. That’s about it. Have a good day everyone.”

Of course not. That’s a silly stereotype that doesn’t do justice to millions of players who love the online community, the competition, and the animation of video games.

That’s where I take offense. I like technology. I am a woman who enjoys head-to-head sports and a sweet adrenaline rush. I believe I can be both a lady and a warrior. Just make a kick ass game and gamers will play – male and female alike.

End of story.

Some great sites for more information:

• Guildhall at SMU offers scholarships to women interested in video game development.
• Women’s Video Game Conference
• Video Games — A girl thing?
  
• Game Girl
• Womengamers.com Because women DO play