[casual_games] Girls/women and casual games - a psychological study TBD.... input? ideas?

[Robert Eng]

You might want to look for psychological material on women and games in
general, not specifically video games. While less exciting and contemporary,
board games have been around longer so there might be more material. 

 

Robert Eng

Vice-President Operations

www.GameTableOnline.com

www.metagame.biz

413-303-0437

 

From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org [mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org]
On Behalf Of Andrea Lewis
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:42 PM
To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List
Subject: [casual_games] Girls/women and casual games - a psychological study
TBD.... input? ideas?

 

Hi all -

 

First, I did check the archives before  making this post and decided that it
would be worthwhile to poll opinion.

 

I am currently pursuing an MSc in CyberPsychology in the UK and would like
to do my thesis research on women and gaming, specifically casual gaming.
My main issue/problem is that I have yet to carve out a clear research
question... however, I know the issues that have led me to this topic and so
I thought I would share and see if others might have opinion or insight that
would help me to get closer to my topic...

 

1) I am tired of hearing that women/girls dont play video games

2) I am bothered that when I do hear discussions that acknowledge that women
play casual games, the next sentence often dismisses casual games as "not
real games"

3) I dont think that women only play "fluffy cute" games and are opposed to
killing, shooting, competitive games

4) I am curious about the biological differences in men and women that may
make one gender more inclined to a certain type of socialization, but I
think everyone is unique

5) I would like to uncover something profound about women and gaming culture

6) I would like to approach casual games and casual game play with a
seriousness that may have been overlooked in the past

7) I am interested in in-depth interviews with female gamers  as well as
with uncovering broader statistics

8) I am very interested in women and game addiction and how it might differ
from male game addiction (the predominant population currently studied).

9) While my access may be limited, I am definitely interested in
cross-cultural and cross-generational aspects of female gamers

10) I think casual games kick ass.

 

So far, that is my personal hot list of why I want to explore this area.  If
it sparks something in you and you are moved to reply, comment, argue,
dismiss... by all means please do so -- whether here publicly or privately
to me...   Also, if you have come across research, articles, books, please
share as I am amassing an enormous list of resources.

 

Thank you,

Andrea

 

ps - I am a digital media project manager and recruiter, lived in NYC and
worked in the media industry for 10+ years before returning for my
masters... Now living in the UK, just ran into some old friends at
www.gamecity.org <http://www.gamecity.org/> ... and, among other things,
games are a passion but I am by no means a "gamer" - I am a bit more
interested in the business and culture of games.  I also focus on women as a
population because, well, I am one.

 

 

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