Xbox GamerchiX
A trip to the Women's Game Conference in 2005 was the inspiration for starting a group for female gamers that was open to women and girls of any age, any location, any gaming preference, any gaming platform, and any ability. TriXie, PMS Kitty, and DirtyDiva's months of plotting and planning came to fruition in early June 2006 with a single forum post: Looking for Xbox GamerchiX.
That one forum thread generated 54 pages of responses, and a LOT of controversy. It also generated an amazing group of over 4,000 women in 30 countries: Xbox GamerchiX. GamerchiX range in age from four to 75, and enjoy playing a wide range of games.
If you or someone you know would like to meet other women to play games with, send TriXie an email at xlmail@microsoft.com. Subject should be XGX and don't forget your gamertag!
Because of this group, I feel so much more connected
to the Xbox LIVE Community as a whole.
—chrissylas306
GamerchiX is NOT a clan, but we welcome women from all clans—we've got a bunch of ladies from both PMS and KSI, as well as other clans.
The best part about this unique group is … the 'chiX themselves. Here's what some of them have to say:
Before GamerchiX I never used my microphone. GamerchiX has given me so much confidence in female gaming that I use it all the time now, even if it is a public room. I am no longer worried about some of the comments made bysome of the male LIVE community. GAMERCHIX ROCK!!!
—LostnDelerious
GamerchiX has really given me an opportunity to meet some wonderful ladies. I've been online so much more than I was before and have become much more vocal when I game because I'm not afraid of getting talked down to. Because of this group, I feel so much more connected to the Xbox LIVE® community as a whole. I work in a game store and I get treated as if I'm some sort of oddity almost every day. It's so nice to come online and meet a group of women who are as obsessed with games as I am!
—chrissylas306
It is great to know that there are so many female gamers out there and that we can all come together to make friends and play games. While there are plenty of great guys on Xbox LIVE, there are also those that make a female's experience on LIVE a negative one. With the GamerchiX, girls of all ages and from all backgrounds have a safe environment to chat and play without fear of negative comments and remarks.
—CrysNel
One of my favorite things so far is the wide variety of games that each of us plays. I have met plenty of female gamers before, but usually in select games such as the Rainbow Six series. With GamerchiX I can post asking if anyone plays a certain game and I am bound to find someone who has been dying to play it but hasn't had anyone to play it with except random people. I do belong to a female gaming group (dominatingdivas) but one of the things missing was finding people that play games the same time of dayI do. With GamerchiX I posted asking who was a late night gamer and within minutes found new gamers to keep me company during the wee hours :)
—kiki kat
GamerchiX lets women be themselves, and have a more open mind about gaming in general. I hope GamerchiX becomes more popular and brings more women out of their shells and into the wonderful world of gaming.
—QOC
Thank you GamerchiX, for helping me to feel
even more accepted in the gaming world.
—Catalina PMS
Being a part of GamerchiX will not replace us being a part of thewider Xbox LIVE community, be it online, on the Xbox.com forums or as part of a clan. What it does do is give us an opportunity to occasionally have fun gaming with a bunch of people where you don't have to second guess the reaction from your voice or your gamertag.
—amba
I want to thank the vast majority of guys both here and on Xbox LIVE for being cool, and even putting peer pressure on the few guys who are reacting negatively or as if we're some kind of threat. I know several fellas whose women give them grief for playing video games, so hey, bring 'em to us! We'll "corrupt" 'em for you and maybe they'll enjoy themselves enough, with us girls helping them along, that you can enjoy your hobby with your GF/wife/mom and not have toplay in secret or while putting up with a bunch of flak! Even if they decide gaming is not their cuppa tea, they will still likely be more supportive if they realize their peers think it is a legimate pass-time!
—BlitheMellen
I feel GamerchiX has encouraged us ladies to become more vocal and active on Xbox LIVE without having to worry about being hit on, cussed out or kicked out of a game just because we are girls.
—Twylyght Myst
There aren't that many chances in a life time that you get to meet such great ladies in one group. These girls are wonderful and a great asset to the world of Girl Gamers, and they can truly show how devoted, generous, and heart warming they are by just meeting them for the first time. :-)
—xXBitterSweetXx
We've been quiet and in the background, not talking
and leaving rooms as soon as the game is over.
NO MORE! Thank you, GamerchiX.
—Catalina PMS
Xbox LIVE is a great service and I completely enjoy it. But the GamerchiX group enhances that experience. I have seen so many women come out of the "woodwork." I have also seen shy female gamers who were rarely vocal during game play come alive. I have never had so many laughs nor joked around as much as I am now with the GamerchiX. I havebecome so much closer than just a gaming buddy with several women. We become great friends and trusted allies.
—LIL MIZBEHAVIN
GamerchiX, for me, is a great start to solving the issue of allowing women to feel comfortable admitting they game. In my daily job, I see the hesitation at admitting they're buying games not for a male in their life, but for themselves. It isn't about segregation, but about allowing these gamers to find their niche in the Xbox Community, without any fear of reaction—until they're ready to take that next step, and stand out on their own …
—PMS Kitty
GamerchiX is somewhere women can dip their toe in the water for online gaming within an environment they are happy with. Not all of us feel comfortable launching straight into a heated Halo® 2 deathmatch with seven other ultra-aggressive players.
—Tripodcat
I'm new to Xbox LIVE, and was hesitant to jump right in and start chatting with strangers. Being part of GamerchiX has really made it easier for me to feel comfortable in that environment. When I see other GamerchiX online, even if I'm not playing with them at that moment, it makes me feel more comfortable … like when you're at a big party and you spy someone you know across the room. Just knowing they're there makes it easier to mix and mingle with the folks you don't know.
—Maj1013
It's actually got me excited about playing again.
—Fairyn Boots
I love this community! One of my favourite parts is being able to see all of the ladies from OTHER gaming communities and forums all come together in one home. It's really neat to see girls I've met from events, like PMS Em, PMS Kitty, DirtyDiva, and even TriXie herself. It's a place to communicate, share, plan and game with alarge group of some of the most well-known online female gamers there is. (:
—Sagacious
Unlike other female groups, I can have fun hanging out with GamerchiX and remain loyal to my clan, Renegade X. It's a chance for people who are spread out in small pockets across LIVE and share a certain quality to get together and share gamertags. We're neither promoting nor fighting against any of the big words of social science: discrimination, segregation, oppression of the sexes, sexism. XGX is group for girl gamers to meet, enjoy playing with one another, and provide role models for up-and-coming gamers. XGX promotes positive gaming on the part of its female members, an element that will not only improve Xbox LIVE for female members but also all other gamers.
—RX MissFire86
I know of so many females that wish for an opportunity to play with a group that will accept them and help them, and this is definitely it.
—MEESA80
Even though I am in an all female clan (PMS) the GamerchiX allows me to meet a whole new group of female gamers. WE LOVE TO GAME! There I said it. We love to game and we love to game together. I love the fact that there is such a diverse group of women who have come together to support one another. We come from across the world and from different walks of life. We vary in age, color, religion, size,and marital status and we interact and connect with one another. We're not just here to game or talk about gaming but we are here to form a bond and to provide support when needed.
I've heard many times that there aren't that many female gamers on Xbox LIVE. Guess what? There are a lot of female gamers; we've been quiet and in the background, not talking and leaving rooms as soon as the game is over. NO MORE! Thank you GamerchiX for helping me to feel even more accepted in the gaming world. I am Catalina PMS and I am a GamerchiX who happens to be a 45 year old married mom of three … and yes, my kids all game too.
—Catalina PMS
Girls of all ages and from all backgrounds
have a safe environment to chat and play without fear
of negative comments and remarks.
—CrysNel
KSI Sirens might be an all girls clan, but coming here gives me a brand new perspective on girl gamers. GamerchiX support each other and have fun in many, many ways, and welcome you with open arms so you feel comfortable about being here.
—KSI Destiny 7
I love the friendly community. Also it's great to meet GamerchiX my age. I think it's great for us all to get together. It's actually got me excited about playing again. I love to hear about what the other girls are saying and what's going on in their lives. I am just so happy getting to know more GamerchiX!
—Fairyn Boots
When I bought Xbox 360™ I have played the game Tiger Woods online, but not for long 'cause in the three games I played, I was intimidated by some guys, all trashtalk, so I didn't go online anymore. Now I joined GamerchiX and I hope that the online gaming will be more fun.
—xx DUTCHY xx
I can't express how proud I am of the way GamerchiX has turned out. I have seen many friendships made that were simply not possible before. It used to be difficult to express ourselves like the women we are without being ridiculed, but now we can behave like the goofballs we are. It was also hard to find other women who shared the same ideas but now there are so many of us that it's almost impossible not to find them. My view of gaming with guys being just as fun hasn't changed but it's nice to have somewhere to come back to if it gets too heated on Xbox LIVE.
—DirtyDiva
I am a 48 year old grandma who plays Halo®, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Project Gotham Racing®,MX Unleashed™, and Lara Croft Tomb Raider LEGEND as well as some other more tame games … but I'm a fighter, always have been. Fighting for equal treatment in sports, in life, in respect for women everywhere! I love seeing girls online and united. GAME ON!
—MX GIMP CHICK
Wanna join Xbox GamerchiX? All you need are two X chromosomes! Send an email to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject line: XGX.
