2old2play did a Q & A with DruishPrincess a while back to get her perspective on game marketing.
Q: Do you believe there is anything in game design that could be improved to attract more girls into gaming at an early age?
A: I started playing at the age of five. That's when we got our Atari 2600. I remember wanting to play Pac-Man and just had to have an Atari. I believe the main reason for getting it was for my parents, but they could tell their friends it was for us, the kids. Watching my mom play really helped me get into gaming. She was great. I think it's partly environment that attracts young girls and the types of games that are available that interest them, e.g. Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, Bob the Builder-some girls like him too. Of course those are pre-school types, but you get the idea.
Q: Women seem to head into the direction of puzzle games like Myst, 7th Guest, or RPG games. Is this because of the storylines or something that draw in females where the guys are just happy killing things?
A: I can't speak for other women gamers, but I have always liked puzzle and RPGs because they're leisurely and a more relaxing type of atmosphere than say a FPS. I usually don't know much about a storyline before I play a RPG. I just start playing and if it grabs my attention then I continue, if not, I don't.
Q: Do you think that games are advertised on TV and in magazines towards men more than women since they're dominating the market and companies want to target the majority?
A: I believe games are definitely targeted towards men, but that's because they don't know that women have fun playing games like racing, sports, and shooters.
Q: Does the fact that games like fighters and even sports, "volleyball", games containing women with large breasts or half nude hinder a girl’s/woman’s chance to play that game? Do you think it really doesn't bother women because they just want a game that interests them regardless of the sexy eye candy that's probably made for men to find interesting?
A: Again, I can't speak for other women, but it doesn't make me want to go right out and buy a game where the whole game is nothing but half-naked girls playing volleyball or wrestling one another, but that's just me. Now if a volleyball game or wrestling game had a few half-naked girls and it also had guys in it too, then I wouldn't mind playing, if it's a good game that is.
Q: Do you believe there is anything in game design that could be improved to attract more girls into gaming at an early age?
A: I started playing at the age of five. That's when we got our Atari 2600. I remember wanting to play Pac-Man and just had to have an Atari. I believe the main reason for getting it was for my parents, but they could tell their friends it was for us, the kids. Watching my mom play really helped me get into gaming. She was great. I think it's partly environment that attracts young girls and the types of games that are available that interest them, e.g. Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, Bob the Builder-some girls like him too. Of course those are pre-school types, but you get the idea.
Q: Women seem to head into the direction of puzzle games like Myst, 7th Guest, or RPG games. Is this because of the storylines or something that draw in females where the guys are just happy killing things?
A: I can't speak for other women gamers, but I have always liked puzzle and RPGs because they're leisurely and a more relaxing type of atmosphere than say a FPS. I usually don't know much about a storyline before I play a RPG. I just start playing and if it grabs my attention then I continue, if not, I don't.
Q: Do you think that games are advertised on TV and in magazines towards men more than women since they're dominating the market and companies want to target the majority?
A: I believe games are definitely targeted towards men, but that's because they don't know that women have fun playing games like racing, sports, and shooters.
Q: Does the fact that games like fighters and even sports, "volleyball", games containing women with large breasts or half nude hinder a girl’s/woman’s chance to play that game? Do you think it really doesn't bother women because they just want a game that interests them regardless of the sexy eye candy that's probably made for men to find interesting?
A: Again, I can't speak for other women, but it doesn't make me want to go right out and buy a game where the whole game is nothing but half-naked girls playing volleyball or wrestling one another, but that's just me. Now if a volleyball game or wrestling game had a few half-naked girls and it also had guys in it too, then I wouldn't mind playing, if it's a good game that is.
