What women want

[Pirotess]

Earlier in the week Newsweek ran this article asking "What women want in their games". The conclusion? No one really knows because gaming companies dont even know how large their female player population is nor have they put significant research into finding out their interests. In light of that fact, we thought we'd do some research for them. We'd like to hear what women enjoy most about gaming. What they feel games lack and what they'd like to see in the future. Lets hear it!

[Meegaan]

Earlier this week, I was just thinking about the same thing, i.e., what do I as a woman player want to see in computer gaming? Hmmmm...where should I start?

First, before I started playing Everquest in the summer of 2001, I was an avid fantasy reader. I especially enjoyed stories with female protagonists, who traveled far in magical lands, conquered all their foes and were able to outwit wily male foes. Hence, in my early EQ games, the druid traveled far and easily overcame her enemies!

I was introduced to computer gaming by my son, whom I saw playing Tribles online. I started playing The Sims about five years ago, and eventually became an EQ player. As a neophyte computer gamer, I remember it took me many months to figure out how to work the EQ interface, forget about mods or add-ons, placing this or that into files, it was all I could do to figure out how to make my first "toon" attack or walk. Hehe!

But, eventually with persistance and numerous hours logged in, I became enamoured with EQ and own personal storybook heroine...Meegaan the druid.
I created her story in the world of Everquest. Some of the story was dependent upon the creation of the game developers, but most of her story was the result of my interaction with other people that I met in the online world. I am the only one who really knows that story! Teehee!

All things change, as the saying goes..and so did Everquest. I miss being the druid everyday. I took up Warcraft for a while. But, that was too puerile and there was a sameness to all the quests..."same quest...different zone". I grant you, though, that it was an Easy Game to play. I also found that with Warcraft, there was an incredible amount of players who would not look to find the answers to the game themselves. I literally had books and books of information printed out from internet websites about EQ.

Can you make a game that just appeals to the over 21 crowd? Because realistically you are dealing with more and more people in their late 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s who have the time, money and inclination to play these computer games.

My recommendations to computer developers at Microsoft about developing Vanguard is the following. Make it very sophisticated! I liked looking for answers to the quests and recipes on the net.

Design quests that are female oriented. After all, there are an incredible number of female gamers now. Start a storyline that would appeal to a female players. Surely, there are female game developers. Read some of the latest fantasy fiction and incorporate those ideas into the Vanguard story line. Its not all about killing a mob and gaining a level!!!!

I am currently playing Sims2 and Fable the Lost Chapter. Interesting games, but they have their limitations. And how many times can I design a house and see who can make Woohoo before that gets dull! I sure wish that the Fable hero/villian could be a female and have the guys fall in love with her!!!

My biggest concern with EQ at the end was time constraints. I also run a household with husband and children. I could not sit on the computer for hours at a time without getting some interuptions. Large raids and many peopled events were time consuming, lengthy and dragged along.

So, there you go! My take on things! Hope it makes some sense.

[geckzilla]

I actually enjoy everything the guys seem to enjoy, minus hot elf chicks. I'm indifferent toward the hot elf chicks. The male night elf voice in WoW was great, though.

If there's anything they could do for character appearances to get me to like them more, it'd be to let me have some normal sized boobs. Other than that, yeah... I do tend to collect clothing items in game... But that's just a tiny side thing. I love a good romp through a creative and challenging dungeon or exploring the region and stomping mobs.

But, whatever. I'm quite not as girly as most girls so you won't find me wanting to primarily do interior decoration or focus on shoes and clothing. Cooking, however, I think is a lot of fun in game. HAHA. Even if it is the most useless skill in existence.

In conclusion, sure, I somewhat like minor little side girly things, but leave the primary gameplay intact. I like it the way it is.

[Aredhel]

ok, so ya caught me. I'm female.

Growing up, I was more "guy" than the guys! SUCH a tom-boy!!! When I started playing games, EQ was probably my first computer one. Before then, tho, I had gently explained to my son's friends that girls can wipe a guy (or a group of guys) off the map playing laser tag, Doom and other delights, so they still have a healthy respect for any girl playing ANYthing! Battle Tanks? Love it!

In EQ, I was the "sleeper" of the group. Everyone thought I was more into talking and social things, and I can be! But, when it came down to getting the job done, I was right there in the middle of it and often leading the raid/group! At one point, it was our little laid-back, do-nothing guild that went in and smacked around some really cool mobs in some fun zones, or even rescued the high and mighty when all muscle and bravo failed and skill and knowledge was the key!

On the other hand, the only thing I like about EQ2 is the housing and decorating my flat! Other people's, too! That's about as much fun to me as anything. I really get tired of having to level up by repeated activity, regardless of which mob. It's all the same thing and a demand to do so or not "win" the game. There are zones I'll never see, which is a dang shame, but there are so many that are driven to get higher, bigger, better faster, that I just can't keep up with them. Shoot, there are other things (or were in old EQ) to nose around and see/do besides having to do quests to get your toon new gear or class or even an access key to some spiffy zone.

I like it all! I'll agree, tho, that some of the quests could be for something more "female oriented", like some magic mirror for the house or a particular dress/robe that has sentimental value from the gods, or...who knows? It's also another reason I have wished for a tradeskill in floral work! (I'z a GUD gurl, I iz!)

And when it comes to Diplomacy, there are a lot of "girl things" that could be utilized. No cat fights, but the more gentle touch in dealing with things. All the "logic" in the world doesn't always get it! Common sense is a biggie, and for some reason, it seems a lot of gals have that more than the guys. (I did say "more"....that doesn't exclude guys in total!)

This is a pretty big topic, actually, and I'm hoping for more input!

Oh...and as just a note: MicroSoft isn't making the game. Sigil is with a handshake from the Gates Group's gaming side. Producing isn't developing, and Brad and Crew have quite a few gals running around in that capacity. Maybe we can get one of them to talk to us sometime.....!!!!

[Amoonsinas]

Design quests that are female oriented. After all, there are an incredible number of female gamers now. Start a storyline that would appeal to a female players. Surely, there are female game developers. Read some of the latest fantasy fiction and incorporate those ideas into the Vanguard story line. Its not all about killing a mob and gaining a level!!!!

That would definately be a great thing to see! I'm one of the biggest fantasy/roleplaying "Geeks" you'll ever find. So, that would be a definate lure for me too.

Producing isn't developing, and Brad and Crew have quite a few gals running around in that capacity. Maybe we can get one of them to talk to us sometime.....!!!!

Now that would be something great!

My thoughts as a "girl gamer". Hmm...

1. I agree with the "Gear something towards the female gamers" vision. But the one major thing is, not every woman is the same. Me, I like Mysteries, solving riddles/puzzles, logical puzzles and thinking, and general "I'm a woman, and I just wiped the floor with your male butt" accomplishment I like questing, getting the rewards for questing, and I love PVPing. Both my hubby and I are gamers, and the friendly competition between us (Male vs female wise) is always a bonus. (He always ends up with extra chores around the house)

2. That being said, I'd like to be able to do things as a "couple" in the game. Why not have something with a ying-yang (Male-female) connection. If you don't have one side, you can't complete your task. Sure, this might be difficult but.. we wanted a challenge, right? (Of course, I know how this might work with the 2-boxers and stuff. But it was a great thought.)

3. Differently designed gear. Why can't the men wear the Tarzan-looking thong?? My one pet peeve regarding wardrobe/armor in any game is that all the women expose WAY MORE then any man would. I mean, would a man go out and fight in a bikini? (For the record, my Priest in WoW does. Epic robes look like a bikini top and an ankle-length skirt) I think GU comics had made a comic about Women's fashions in WoW. I thought it was funny back then... oooh if I would have known back then it was true. Back to my point. If we could have a decent armor set that still showed a sense of style yet would logically keep a woman from dying, that would be great.

[Pirotess]

Originally Posted by Meegaan

Can you make a game that just appeals to the over 21 crowd?

You dont know how often I wish they could. It usually correlates with how many nights I log into World of Warcraft.

[Cobalt Katze]

Originally Posted by Pirotess

You dont know how often I wish they could. It usually correlates with how many nights I log into World of Warcraft.

Tell me about it... That's one of the main reasons I quit

[Aredhel]

Amoon....I totally agree with the dress thing. I about cried when I searched for some lovely druid elvish stuff, and when I actually found something (since woodelves can't wear robes/gowns ), they had some sissor-happy designer go crazy and my poor elf has been freezing ever since!

And I really hate the guy-oogling thing! Then they wonder why ppl complain about cybering ingame and such.

DUH!

Please...some really lovely clothing for our ladies who want to be ladies, and our gal warriors who don't want a sword slashing up all their exposed areas. I mean, what's the point of armor, anyway?

As far as the kids go....I have a lot of fun with some of them. Others, I'd like to throttle their parents for not paying more attention!

[Siencyn]

Though I am not a gal, I am married and play as a duo with my wife.

She is fairly new to the MMO world having recently (over a year now) moved over from playing console games to the "our" world.

After finally getting over that, "MMO's are boring and I will never play one" she has found that this is the life for her. We love playing together, currently we are playing eq2 and she finds that the crafting is boring, however, she love to come out and adventure. She hates raiding because of the time sink vs. reward factor that eq2 has to offer. I think overall she loves living out the fantasy world that we both spend so much time reading about.

Our guild has quite a few husband and wife teams and I have found it interesting to note that some of our ladies will log in more hours than their guys =p

Hopefully Vanguard will strive to immerse the women as much as they do the men.

On a side note, my wife plays a cleric and was very disappointed when she began playing eq2 and found out that she was a plate wearing class. She really wanted to wear the robes =p. I think that if Vanguard puts some effort into alternative clothing that that endeavor will not go in vain. (hey, even I want different outfits).

[Pirotess]

Character appearance is a huge part of character development and can really suck people into a game. I myself really enjoy a good looking robe or other piece of equipment and know it can definitely contribute to my overall feeling of contentment in a game.