Turning Girls Into Gamers | Nicole Lazzaro | Big Think

TL;DR

Game design should consider a broader range of player preferences and not solely focus on gender segmentation.

Transcript

well I think that the experiences that are being designed are definitely much more casual uh in our research what's interesting is that it's not so much the mechanic the type of choice that you make in the game or the type of challenge but the theme tends to have more of a gender of a gender skew what's interesting with uh I'm glad you brought up t... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 The theme of a game tends to have a gender skew, rather than the mechanics or challenge.
• 👾 Not all males desire a Rambo fantasy or enjoy sports-themed games; preferences vary within genders.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Popular games like World of Warcraft and The Sims draw from both male and female players and are played in mixed-gender environments.
• 👩‍⚕️ Casual games often focus on interesting themes, and women enjoy working hard for rewards just like men.
• 🎮 Complexity in controls may deter some women from investing time in learning a game.
• 🎮 Casual and core game preferences correlate with the length of time playing games and frequency of play.
• 👾 Hardcore games have added more features over time and have perfected a set of core games.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the research suggest that gender segmentation in game design may be flawed?

The research shows that gender segmentation overlooks player preferences that may not align with gender stereotypes. By only focusing on gender, game designers are neglecting what players actually enjoy about games, which often transcends gender.

Q: Are women more inclined towards casual games with easy mechanics and themes like restaurant simulations?

Not necessarily. Women enjoy both hard fun and working hard in games, just like men. However, they may prefer games with simpler controls and invest less time in learning due to being newer in the market. It is important not to generalize preferences solely based on gender.

Q: What factors correlate more with casual and core game preferences?

The length of time someone has been playing games and their frequency of play tend to correlate with casual and core game preferences. Hardcore games have added more features over time and have perfected a set of core games, while casual games are more open to a range of experiences.

Q: What can game designers do to make games more appealing to both male and female players?

Game designers should focus on creating games that draw from the preferences of both male and female players, rather than solely targeting one gender. By considering a broader range of player preferences and experiences, games can be more enjoyable for all players.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Game experiences are becoming more casual, and theme tends to have a gender skew rather than the mechanics or challenge of the game.

• Not all males desire a Rambo fantasy, and not all males or females enjoy sports-themed games.

• Gender segmentation in game design can be limiting as popular games draw from both male and female players and are mostly played in mixed-gender environments.