amok: Nope, not at all But same as all men do not have the same tastes in videogames, neither does women. Do you really think that out of the 47% of women gamers only 1% prefer core games? When it comes to film, there is a lot larger variety, even within action films. It is also different as you do not get so immersed in a film as in a game.

There is a large, broad and cash strong group of people here which is not catered for because there is this incorrect view that a gamer is white male between 15 and 25. This is the demographics which they make games for, and they have sold because this is the games being made. They sold, therefore the logical conclusion is that we need to make more of them. Or is maybe not another conclusion that they sold because it is only this type of games being made?

I do not think it is coincidence that many of the AAA games are not selling as much as expected right now, because there is an emerging market catering for the other half of gamers. My partner want a good AAA game, but she do not need as she gets her fix from casual games right now. It does make me sad, as we do not play together as much as we did before, though. ( yes, I know I am stretching it a bit and that there are more factors, but I do think this is one of them)

JMich: Quick question about this, how did they determine the gender of the users? Registration doesn't ask for it. Was there a survey sent out or something?

Leroux: Well, that was the point, kind of. The whole world will appear like a sad place if you're not able see further than the end of your nose and put yourself into someone else's shoes, adopt a different perspective than your own for a change. The whole concept of fiction is based on this ability, whether video games, books or movies.

roninnogitsune: Again, it's up to them to make themselves seem viable, and right now the evidence is pointing away, The new Tomb Raider failed to meet expectations despite having one of the better Female Protagonists, Mass effect gave a gender choice and only 13 % chose femshep even though the male actor couldn't emote himself out of a wet paper bag. Not enough people are supporting good female characters.

The problem is that instead of them making themselves look like a viable market, they're trying to play the morality card and say that there's a moral obligation to present women in such a way, but the companies look at them selves and realize that in a free society with freedom of speech, they don't have such an obligation because they're selling entertainment. They have a right to sell to who they want to and the only obligation they have is to make money. Sorry that's life.

roninnogitsune: Mass effect gave a gender choice and only 13 % chose femshep even though the male actor couldn't emote himself out of a wet paper bag. Not enough people are supporting good female characters.

langurmonkey: Easier said than done.

HMDK: Just because YOU lack empathy, doesn't mean it ain't inherent in most of us homo sapiens. (Seriously, what are you even arguing at this point?)

Starmaker: Ur stoopid. Godwin is for unwarranted comparisons involving Nazism, not for actual historical Nazis.

langurmonkey: You obviously aren't really reading my posts. I never said my attitude is a %1 attitude or expressed this... And straight male gamer isn't %1 BTW. More like 99%. And I've experienced what it is like to be a minority many times in my life.

langurmonkey: They are just stories in games that are catering to the majority of gamers, straight males. And straight males usually like playing as straight POWERFUL males. Power shared is power lost so therefore, females have to be made weak. Otherwise, the straight male wont feel as powerful in the game he just purchased for $50 and therefore make the experience much less enjoyable for him.

JMich: Quick question about this, how did they determine the gender of the users? Registration doesn't ask for it. Was there a survey sent out or something?

HMDK: Bing, bing bing... you just hit all the right buttons. Anyone using the term feminazi without irony is a spoiled little Limbaugh baby.

langurmonkey: I lack empathy for calling you a feminazi due your man hating words? OR do I lack empathy for explaining to people how things work under capitalism? OR do I lack empathy because I enjoy playing as a powerful male character because it is easier for my brain to accept this as reality? I also enjoy playing as straight male character because I'm straight and I'd much rather have a female lover in a fantasy than a male lover. I guess that means I lack empathy too.

BlueMooner: I am reading your posts. I'll repeat the section you said before.

BlueMooner: This is what I'm hearing you say Langur. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Straight males gamers (SMG) like to feel powerful, so women have to be weak for this to happen. If we gave women any kind of power, that would take away from the SMG, and that would be bad. SMG with 100% power and women with 0% power is good. Women with 5% power means SMG with only 95% power, and 95% is worse than 100%, SMG shouldn't have to get only 95%, they should get it all, 'cause SMG deserve it all, so SMG should get 100%, and women should get 0%. SMG having all the power and women having none is a great thing, and how games should be.

Is this correct? Do you feel games should cater exclusively to what SMG want?

And may I ask, in what way(s) have you suffered as a minority? You don't have to answer.

Piranjade: For me that doesn't work. Maybe it's because I'm a woman.

The woman turning into a monster and then her loving man puts her out of her misery is overdone, and for me it's nothing more than a symbol that here should be a horrible, emotional plot moment but the designer had no creative idea what to do.
It's like the guys joining my Shadowrun P&P group and when you ask them about their character they start with "He's an orphan..."
Yes, it makes things easy plot-wise.

But really, I would like to see it the other way around from time to time, meaning the husband/boyfriend turning into a monster. And I wonder if video game designer then also come up with "put him out of his misery" as the only possible solution.

BlueMooner: You hear Rush Limbaugh in Denmark? I'm so sorry.