Columbia Home & Lifestyle - January/February 2009 - (Page 26) Gameon Female gamers talk about their fascination with video games The “boys only” atmosphere of video game culture is fast becoming a myth, according to five local women. While men still tend to be thought of as the dominant demographic for gamers, new devices and modes of play have opened up the hobby to everyone. And even though recent developments have brought new women into the fold, many say there’s always been room for both genders. Jessica Donahoe, 24, an assistant manager at a local game store, has been a gamer for years. “I got a Super Nintendo for my 10th birthday, and Super Mario was a fantastic game. It was something that I was good at, that was entertaining, and that gave me something to talk about with other kids my age.” Donahoe says she's not a stereotypical female gamer. “I have systems other than the Wii and the DS, which I think is what most people think of when they hear that someone is female and a gamer,” she said, referring to the Nintendo console and handheld systems. While she is a fan of the DS, her favorite system is Microsoft's Xbox 360. “It seems to have the most games and the greatest variety of games,” she said. “More of the Triple-A titles come out exclusive to 360. The online service is second to none.” A system like the Wii tends to appeal to a more casual player, with more games consisting of a series of mini-games that can be played in short bursts. “There's nothing wrong with that,” Donahoe said. “It's just not where my tastes run.” Donahoe said the gaming experience tends to split more along experience lines than gender. “I think that new gamers tend to be the ones that Nintendo is going for and what they're making products to appeal to, and that once that people have been involved with video games for a little while they start to seek out a richer experience, something more equivalent to watching a movie or reading a book,” she said. Donahoe prefers role-playing games, action titles and first-person shooters like “Call of Duty 4,” where players take on the role of modern-day soldiers. For casual experiences, she prefers puzzle games like “Luxor,” “Bejeweled” and “Puzzle Quest,” which combine both role-playing and puzzle elements. Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), which Donahoe said have a very broad appeal, have been a major factor in getting more women into gaming. Of the 300 pre-orders at her store for the latest installment of the “World of Warcraft” franchise, a fantasy online roleplaying game with millions of devoted players, almost half were from female players. techno chic By Heath Hooper 26 January/February 2009
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