[casual_games] Gender and casual games research

[Allan Simonsen]

Actually, I'd say totally the opposite. Traditional
media for females (books, film, etc) has always been
extremely character/mood focus, while male-oriented
media has been more action/violence/sex focused (this
holds true from the Illiad and Norse Sagas, to Dead or
Alive and Doom).

Women do care deeply about story; but not necessarily
about the 'epic' nature of it; a personal crisis can
be as interesting as The Doom Of Mankind As We Know
It.

If you look at the Casual Games that are doing well
recently, many of the features a strong lead character
with an back-story (usually not involving the Pit Of
Doom), and a problem to solve. They also feature a
really nice ambience/mood. 

What does seem to be different is the level of
involvement; while many 'hardcore' users like to
approach their gaming as if it was a sport (highly
competitive, highly engaged, mono-focused), many
casual user seem to approach their games for more of a
Zen-like relaxing experience (like a book, perhaps).

My wife (our #1 beta-tester) usually plays our games
while watching TV, pausing for a minute or two
whenever anything interesting is happening on screen
(and going back as soon as adverts resume). I can't
quite imagine doing the same kind of gaming if I was
playing Halflife2.

Random thoughts,

Allan

> >
> > Perhaps because Women and older people don't get
> the same immersion  
> > effect as young males do, they don' t care about
> "characters" and  
> > "story" and controlling a single entity, that
> casual games fit them  
> > better?
> >


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