Girls and Games

I was just chatting with a guy friend when the subject of video games came up.  When he discovered that I’m a hardcore gamer (or at least I would still be if I actually had some real free time), he nearly flipped.  

Why is it that guys still act so surprised when I say that I love video games?  I often receive the strangest reactions when I say that I like more than just puzzle games, Wii Tennis and The Sims, and that I play games like Oblivion, Mass Effect, Halo and Everquest.  Why the shock?  Surely I’m not the only girl out there who enjoys deeply engaging, exciting and challenging games.   

Thinking about it some more though, it does seem like I am always either reading or hearing women complain about their men playing games, or hearing men complain about their women complaining about them playing games. 

So now I’m really curious. Why DON’T more girls play games?  It is almost as much of a mystery to me as boys and books.  There’s plenty of things for a gal to love about electronic gaming:

• There’s TONS of sexy, powerful, hunky and heroic male characters in games
• Good adventure and roleplaying games often have interesting characters and exciting stories (some even with romantic elements)
• Platforming games can help improve reflexes and spatial reasoning (which just may help with the driving and parking skills that men claim we ladies are lacking  ** giggles **) 
• Action, fighter and first-person shooter games can help relieve stress (just pretend it’s your annoying co-workers you’re sniping at, or your dirty-socks-on-the-floor-leaving-husband that you’re pumping bullets into)
• Multiplayer games allow you to interactively enjoy this pastime together. You can team up with your gaming sweetheart and take down some bad guys in a co-op game, form a virtual band together and rock out in your living room, or show him who’s bad by kicking his butt in a fighter game.  I especially recommend that any frustrated ladies out there who feel they get less attention from their men than his controller or keyboard does, try joining him.  Let him associate doing something he loves with you and you’ll never feel as invisible while he’s playing again.
• And all that button pressing is good exercise for your fingers.  Okay, so you are probably wondering just how in the heck are stronger thumbs beneficial.  Well see, they are great for – heh, nevermind.  Some things you just have to experience for yourself.  ** winks **

I’ve heard people say that most games are only geared towards men and that is why so much fewer women play, but I’m not so sure.  Plenty of games allow you to play a female character, and I think fun gameplay is fun regardless of your gender.  I consider myself a girly girl but I still enjoy games of every genre.  The only games I don’t get into much are sports, but I’d be willing to dunk some virtual hoops with the hubby if he’ll agree to give the latest romance novel I’m in love with a try.

That’s fair game, right?

Tagged as: Relationships