The New Gamer Girl
At A Glance
- This is the new generation of female gamers.
- Gamer girls are influencing game development.
- Communities of gaming girls are forming all over.
Since I restarted my adventure in the world of gaming, I have been facing a reality that is completely different from the one I confronted about 20 years ago when I had my first contact with the video game world.
I remember very well that back in the early eighties, in some circles, a girl had the chance to ride a bike or play video games only if she had brothers who owned such toys. All the others had to do with dolls and toy appliances whose only purpose seemed to be to stimulate our "housewife abilities."
Gamer Girl Beginnings
Even though I didn't have siblings nor was the child of a rich family, I managed to convince my mother to buy me a video game console when I was around 10 years old. It all started after a family reunion.
It was a Christmas celebration, and we were all at a relative's who proudly showed us his brand-new Odyssey 2. Needless to say, that meeting with Pac-Man was true love at first sight. It looked so challenging, colorful, and funny that I couldn't talk about anything else for a long time. It was a victory earned thanks to my persistence.
In this evolution, it is impossible to ignore groups
like the PMS Clan and the Frag Dolls. Yeah!
They are pretty, and smart, and know how to play.
With my beloved console, an Atari 2600, I got two games: Frostbite and Enduro. The first one was an action game released in 1983 that allowed one or two players to build an igloo and fish while escaping from dangers like birds, crabs, and bears.
The second one was a racing game. The variety in the environment was my favorite feature. You could race during daylight, with a beautiful sunset on the background, at night, with fog all around, and even in the snow (the most challenging of all). After winning a certain number of races, you earned a trophy and that was the best part. No one could beat me!
Harry the Hero
A classmate of mine who lived nearby had the same console and we started exchanging games. She and her young sister had the greatest success of all: Pitfall! This platform game, which preceded Super Mario Bros. was the story of a Indiana Jones-like hero named Pitfall Harry. His mission was the collection of gold and silver bars, as well as diamond rings, while running, jumping, and climbing in order to escape pitfalls, lakes, crocodiles, and other dangers.
For the rest, all I got were cartridges with multiple games that were less known and less exciting. The lack of variation led my gaming experience to an end. (I didn't know then that it was just a long and unpleasant break.)
"Not Meant for Girls"
At that time, I had much less contact with that classmate of mine and even she didn't have her console anymore. None of my other girlfriends had ever been interested in games; apart from my cousin, nobody I knew had or could afford maintaining an updated collection. For years, video games were not present in my life and I almost began to believe that they were "not meant for girls anyway."
During all this time, a lot of things happened in our society. As a whole, the status of women changed. Our working places were not just classrooms and hospitals any more. The nineties brought more and more women to different sectors of the active economy. We became doctors, lawyers, managers, and anything else we wanted to be.
There will be no more faces when a woman
proudly states that she is a "gamer girl."
At the same time, the first generation of gamers were reaching their twenties and thirties. Many of these old school aficionados didn't stop playing simply because some wrinkles had started appearing on their face or because they had started to lose some hair. Their passion proved to be deeper than some kid's stuff. It was even better because they had their own means to support their hobby instead of waiting for "parental contributions."
And that included the female gamers.
Girls Get Power
Now, they were married, with children and careers, independent, and knew what they wanted for themselves. They purchased their own TV sets, computer, and videogame consoles.
Suddenly, women began to figure in research studies and statistical analysis, and to influence new releases. Real-life simulators like The Sims quickly became a female preference, along with MMOs like World of Warcraft. Even though we still have more casual than hardcore representatives, figures show that female gamers grow in number every day.
In this evolution, it is impossible to ignore groups like the PMS Clan and the Frag Dolls. These girls earned every single compliment they receive. Yeah! They are pretty, and smart, and know how to play. By getting together and organizing themselves in strong and respectful groups, they contribute positively to the image of the gamer girl universe. They are helping create a sort of safe environment for future gamer girl generations, free from harassment and prejudice.
The Internet has also great examples of sites, clans, and guilds put together and maintained by female gamers. They exchange information, share knowledge and give support to beginners and experienced players.
Unfortunately, it is not difficult to find those who insist in using profanity when they realize there is a girl around. Some male gamers act like it's a dating service. Others reach the point of excluding women from their matches, even before giving them the chance to show their skills.
The Next Generation
We can't deny that there is still a long way to go before women are considered equal (especially in the gaming community), but I stay positive. We will get more women in game development. We will continue to game together because that is what we like doing. There will be no more faces when a woman proudly states that she is a "gamer girl." It doesn't matter how long it will take.
The new generations of female gamers is beginning much younger than before. These girls are serious and they are good at what they do. You can find them online or shopping at the local game store. They go to tournaments, participate in the same competitions of their fellow male players, and prove that they are getting closer to the top.
So, the next time you bump into a gamer girl online, remember: We are here to stay!
Article by Barbara Mayo (BM2 Love Angel), Xbox Users Group
