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25Aug 09

What Is Up With All These Girly Games?

Before I say anything else, I just need to point this out: I'M A GIRL!!!

So, a few days ago, I saw a commercial for a new PSP bundle: a lilac PSP with a Hannah Montana game. Now, as a girl, I'd personally like a lilac PSP (if I ever decided I wanted a PSP), but this concept confuses me. Honestly, can you picture a ten-year-old Hannah Montana fan playing on a Playstation Portable? What will she play after she exhausts her Hannah game? God of War? Now, granted, she could get Patapon, Jeanne de Arc, or Daxter, but I can't quite fathom a young girl wanting a PSP, and I'm not really sure why. I suppose it's due to the PSP's slight hardcore-gamer image, compared to the hardcore factor of the average Hannah Montana fan (I imagine that a Hannah fan's hardcore-ness is pretty low).

Now, after I had finished this train of thought, my mind naturally went to the recent glut of frilly, girly games on the market, most of them for the Nintendo DS. This does make sense: the DS is a friendly handheld console that can appeal to more casual gamers without alienating its more hardcore audience. But why? Why make so many silly games that are solely marketed to girls?

Well, that's easily answered: even though the number of female gamers is rising, there are still more male gamers. So, game companies see a market that has not yet been fully catered to – young girls, probably between nine and, say, thirteen (that's just a guess). How many girls of that age range do you know who play video games? Probably not many. Since they don't typically play normal games, it seems that companies often release games that reflect the life goals of many girls to attract them (babysitter, doctor, fashion designer, whatever). I bet these games are pretty boring, at least to our standards, but since the target audience doesn't play games on a regular basis, they can't tell, or they actually do enjoy the game. Of course, that's just the way I see it.

It seems to me that the developers simply think, "Hey, these girls don't play anything! Let's just whip up some girly game and put it on the DS! They'll love it! Plus, we'll get more money!" I doubt there's any effort to make a great game - decent is good enough.

Hannah Montana Image from GameSpotinFamous Image from GameSpot

Be honest - which would you rather play? ... I thought so.

Frankly, I'm somewhat offended by all this. There's no way on Earth that my local Wal-Mart will carry Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, but I know for sure that if I walk in there, I'll see several Imagine games or whatever is currently being marketed to girls. I'm a female, and I want a copy of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor! What's wrong with that? (Well, I know MegaTen is probably too mature and specialized for my local Wal-Mart to carry, but that's beside the point.)

Now, I suppose there is a good side to this: by making these games, the developers are introducing girls to video games. I feel that games are a fine thing to enjoy, like books, art, sports, or television, as long as you don't overdo it. Plus (and I think any fellow girl gamers out there can agree with me), it'd be nice to have more females around who share a harmless and healthy interest in video games and video game culture.

Still, I find myself wishing that, if developers are going to make games to market to young girls, that they'd attempt to make them actual games, instead of electronic toys! These games assume that all girls like babies and fashion design, and yet I see no games that assume that all boys like monster trucks and dirt! (No offense meant to boys.) Is it gender discrimination? I really can't tell you that. But, I can tell you that it's very annoying.

  • Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:02 pm GMT
  • Category: Editorial
  • 346 Comments

346 Comments

  • LithuanianGamer posted Aug 25, 2009 5:31 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    LithuanianGamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:31 am GMT (hide)

    I rather play Hanna Montana LOL

  • LithuanianGamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:32 am GMT

    Nice blog.i like girl gamers

  • Cwagmire21

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:51 am GMT

    A lot of people on here don't understand why the Wii and many "girly" games are so successful. It's because not every gamer loves Halo and GTA. Good blog.

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:52 am GMT

    I suppose the hardest thing for a games publisher to do is get the girls to play the games. This doesn't mean that girls shouldn't play God of War, Halo, Final Fantasty etc. I just think it is hard to get a girl into games, thats why these developers make really girly games like Hanna Montana so that the potential casual girl gamers will buy their games, systems etc.

    What they should do, is perhaps either make bundles which dont discriminate against Girls/Boys, which advertise maybe a girl playing Shin Megami Tensei etc. Like I said, it is hard for them to get girls to become gamers. That doesn't mean we cant have them, from what I have read in your blogs, you seem probably better/more intelligent at games than me! and about how their is no games marketed for boys... when I got my PS2 I ended up getting the deal aimed at girls/children because it was cheaper, their deal which seemed more aimed at boys was more expensive and its games that came with it didn't look that great. Now I have a copy of Singstar disney somewhere.... nice read

  • siLVURcross posted Aug 25, 2009 5:53 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    siLVURcross

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:53 am GMT (hide)

    Trying to attract a different audience. Especially since the "girl gamer" demographic is largely untapped.

    Course it'll never work.

    And I'd rather play that Hannah Montana, it actually looks kinda fun.

  • netsol2 posted Aug 25, 2009 5:53 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    netsol2

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:53 am GMT (hide)

    k song is crazy making a HM psp a ds will be ok but a PSP come on u are gonna go DOWN in the sales chart sony like that and not all boys like dirt lol i dont i am a neat dude

  • spoonybard-hahs

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:54 am GMT

    "These games assume that all girls like babies and fashion design, and yet I see no games that assume that all boys like monster trucks and dirt! (No offense meant to boys.)"

    I just slapped my palm into my face. No games that assume anything about boys? I don't know where you've been for the last decade or so, but there was a time when the entire game industry was nothing but boy-centric. And for the most part, it still is. (psst - Madden and WWE games come out every year).

    But, what I think you're getting confused about is not gender, but age. The Imagine line and Hannah Montana games are meant for the group that you said: girls. Not boys. Not men. And certainly not women. And these games are made because the 9-14 year old female demographic has - and always will be - extremely lucrative. The fact that Mylie Cyrus is still making money is proof of that.

    Your article is kind of a moot point. Girls will play Imagine This or That or Hannah Montana. Women will play Halo and Mass Effect. Oh, and the reason why Wal-Mart won't carry Devil Survivor is not because of content, but because enough would not be sold to warrant stocking it.

  • LithuanianGamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:56 am GMT

    My sister is ten,but she isn`t your average girl that likes games.I remember playing MK 4 on PSOne and she was like gimme gimme I wanna and she liked it especially the blood .One of her favorite games are GTA:SA,VC and LCS.She didn`t like GTA IV because it was too easy to die there.She doesn`t like those girl games on wii.once I showed her them and she was like eww,I don`t like it.

  • aswinsudesh

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:57 am GMT

    great blog, right about developers though they do make very embarrassing girl games.

    Hannah Montana? why do people like her?

  • aswinsudesh posted Aug 25, 2009 5:59 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    aswinsudesh

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 5:59 am GMT (hide)

    hey i would really appreciate it if you read an article I wrote about surrealism in MGS sons of liberty and commented on it, it is in my profile

  • groundgamer

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 6:18 am GMT

    Great blog.

  • MarioGirl64

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 6:21 am GMT

    Ah, my fellow girl gamer, bluegreen Why do you make such great blogs? I've been playing games from 5 years old, and i am still a serious gamer, and it is nice to see another girl gamer devoted to games also 8) And personally, I've always hated those girly games, especially hannah montana *shiver*

  • ebbderelict

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 6:23 am GMT

    I think you covered everything in your post, but there is one thing I'm not clear on: Are you saying that there should be more non-girly games marketed toward girls (or I guess women)? Or do you mean, just show more girls playing the games in the commercials, without any concern for which demographic to target?

    I know I'm still stuck in last gen, but I think that's what's nice about the PS2. They have games that my wife will play; Buzz! games, Lego SW/Batman/Indy, Aqua Aqua (puzzle game), Sims, Klonoa 2, and such. None I think are girly, but easy for women who aren't regular gamers to get into. Then there also lots of more engaging games with female protangonists as well, like Beyond Good & Evil that you've seen me mention, and that Kya game I mentioned at the end of my last vlog. I think there's a good balance there.

    That being said, my wife is enjoying her DS quite a bit, but again, she's not playing "girly" games.

  • infamous13579 posted Aug 25, 2009 6:38 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    infamous13579

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 6:38 am GMT (hide)

    INFAMOUS ALL THE WAY MAN.MY SISTER LOVES HANNAH MONTANA SO MUCH

  • bladex8

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 7:01 am GMT

    i really hate girly games! especially hannah montana
    brilliant blog by the way!

  • zanizzle

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 7:26 am GMT

    Yet another reason why the PSP is heading into the gutter

  • Bluegreen17

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:05 am GMT

    Thanks for the comments!

    @ebbderelict
    Good question - I missed that.
    What I'm hoping for is a few less girly games on the market, and the ones that they DO put out are actually well thought out GAMES (not babysit-the-virtual-baby toys or cruddy "Girly Fashion Kart Racing"). They can be marketed to girls - I just wish they were good!

  • auron11022

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:08 am GMT

    I have a 5 year old sister and my girlfriend is 19. Both play video games. My sister's favorite games- littlest pet shop, princess something (Wii), Mario Kart DS. My girlfriend's favorite games- Final Fantasy X, Persona 3, Persona 4, Civilization IV, Oblivion, etc. I think a lot of what you write about has to do with age, not necessarily gender.

  • Blak_Pygmalian

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:13 am GMT

    I completely agree, I work at Game Stop and half of our DS games are the stupid "Imagine" titles. They dont seem to sell very well...lol

  • gameguy0697

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:13 am GMT

    @LithuanianGamer - of corse you would! haha....well i would much rather play infamous and lol my sister loves to play my locroco game and shes 16!!!! lol....well a lot of girl gamer like to play halo and COD....like you!....but some just bother there mom and dad for a psp or a ds when there only going to get one game haha

  • Bluegreen17

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:15 am GMT

    @spoonybard-hahs
    Thank you for the contrasting opinion. I'm not the best editorialist (I'm quite new at it ), but I do try my best. It's surprisingly hard to cover every aspect correctly. I just meant that I haven't seen many games that say "All dudes love monster trucks! Play this monster truck game!" the way that the girly games say "All girls love babysitting! Play this babysitting game!" I've usually interpreted commercials for wrestling/sports/whatever games as an ad for something that, while mostly enjoyed by males, can also be enjoyed by females.

    Actually, as I wrote that reply, I'm beginning to see the moot point in my article. Well, as I said, it's not easy!

    Plus, (and this is just me), I don't feel that football is male-only. I dislike football, but I know females that quite enjoy it.

  • fize4ever

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:37 am GMT

    gamer girls are special

  • ebbderelict

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:47 am GMT

    Cool. I totally agree with you.

  • FF_fan2004

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:47 am GMT

    I'm a girl gamer, it's just down to a matter of taste really. I wasn't into FPS until I was invited round to my friends place playing Halo 3 and I really enjoyed the game. Now I'm playing Saints Row 2, and I find it absolutely hilarious to the core.

  • dareough

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 9:07 am GMT

    Very well written and I do agree with you. My sister will play games on her ds such as Into the Blue, and Teenage Zombies(which is actually pretty fun) but there is no way she would go into my room and play Call of Duty with me. I think that many younger girls such as my sister that think gaming is too nerdy or geeky so even if they were to attempt to buy a psp and buy "actual" games for it I think that many would be too scared of what people think to actually become a "gamer".

  • karateboy199

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 9:41 am GMT

    they'd probably play soulcalibur after their done with hannah monatana read it here: http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/soulcaliburbrokendestiny/show_msgs.php?topic_id=m-1-50985394&pid=959863&tag=topics;title

  • Frame_Dragger

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 9:58 am GMT

    I think that, so far, most of the successful "girl games" have not been intended to be so targeted. Games such as The Sims definitely have a big female following, and maybe that should tell developers something. Guys don't just want to blow things up (anymore than we ALL do) all the time, and as you say, women don't want to sing with unicorns 24/7.



    IS there such a thing as a "girl game" then? I think so, but I don't know what it is. There's something in the social aspect of MMOGs that women seem to appreciate a lot, and a brand of action that many enjoy. I see it all as a boolean problem, in which both genders have tendencies, but more overlap than anything. inFamous is a game for boys, girls, men and women. "Barbie Sings The Blues: Starring Muddy Waters and his Unicorn"... well that KIND of idea... is really a game for girls only. Where are the mature adventures in the form of dramas with romantic subplots written for women in the way that obviously does sell (based on books and movies)? I don't know... maybe the devs just don't know how to write/code for women with the zeal they do for guys, or the public in general.

  • Kid_Black_Star posted Aug 25, 2009 10:05 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Kid_Black_Star

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 10:05 am GMT (hide)

    I RATHER PLAY Hanna Montana Pfff *wink* *Wink* Pfff more like wank wank i rather stab my eye balls then play that crap Infamous here i come

  • Frame_Dragger

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 10:21 am GMT

    @Kid_Black_Star: How is it that Disney gets away with pimping a (now) 16 year old girl while still being preachy and obnoxious? I realize you're probably in her age range, but I've been hearing guys talk about Miley Cyrus for a while, and sometimes you just wonder.

  • Kid_Black_Star

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 10:28 am GMT

    @ Frame_Dragger: cause Sasuke she is a stripper i seens her in a magazine cover dressing up like a whore unlike those fools i have dignity damn it! And all those sad gamers think i enjoy Hanna Montana and are excited jumping out of there computer seats saying ''A BOY LIKES HANNA MONTANAN MUSIC AND VIDEO GAMES OH JOY!'' shouldnt be called a gamer just a fan of poppy bubble gum evaluator music trash

  • jakethesnake159

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 10:47 am GMT

    wow, i dont really dont dont think about it that much cause i am a boy so i like shooting things up, but glad that they are trying to bring more girl to gameing.

  • kbaily

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 10:52 am GMT

    The major problem is most games are designed by guys so they assume that girls like shopping and babies and playing with pets and their publishers see a pile of cash and say make some pink girl game. These developers don't want to make a "girl" game so they half ass it just to finish it so they can get back to their space marines.
    However we tend to forget that not everyone playing games is a white male between the ages of 15 and 35 and I know a lot of young girls who like the pet sims and fashion sims. I had a blast with Nintendogs it mostly comes from hacks like Ubisoft who see something like Nintendogs or The Sims and just cranking out knockoffs instead of seeing WHY they're popular with a different demographic.
    I'm a girl to but I have no interest in gun toting space marines or sandbox thugs nor do I play all the Petz and Imagine games. Companies need to find a happy medium between the two...it's called Nintendo.

  • sirkibble2

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 11:33 am GMT

    The only thing I see a problem with in your thought is that if girls want to play games "real games", then all they have to do is buy what is already on the market. Having "girly" games is another option for those girl gamers who don't want to play what most of the market is playing.

    You may not see games that assume that all boys like monster trucks and dirt but if you look at the market, most games are geared towards guys anyway. Violence, war, racing ,etc. I'm not saying girls can't or don't like these games but there is a reason why girls generally don't play these games.

    Developers should make a greater attempt at making these girl games deeper in its gameplay. Definitely.

  • Ghoroo

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 12:34 pm GMT

    The thing I want to know is why does it seem that all of the girl gamers I meet in real life and see on the internet all play JRPGs. Sometimes that's all they play or mostly play. I'm sure not all girl gamers play JRPGs, but I have yet to meet one in real life or the internet. And this blog just reinforces that view lol

  • celtic1962

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    Kind of makes me think about all of the crappy videogames based on movies that keep getting put out. Developers know people will buy them for their kids regardless of the quality. I have both a 9 and a 13 year old daughter. They aren't quite as much into videogames as my son and I but they do enjoy racing games and tend to not care much for the overly girlie type games.

  • Yoshicookie1

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 12:42 pm GMT

    Lol, my little sister loves watching me play god of war. When i got to Pandora's box she wouldn't stop saying "OPEN THE BOX!"... that got sort of annoying.

  • thrubeingcool13

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 12:49 pm GMT

    The games you're describing, like Hannah Montanna, are marketed to girls, but they're also marketed to people who don't know better than to buy them. A parent who knows their kid has a DS, and knows she likes Hannah Montanna is going to buy that game, because they don't know that the game is a piece of crap. Its a quick fix to get on their kids good side.

    About your other point, I think most video games are targeted for boys/men. The main character in most games are male, and even if it's a female, she usually has large breasts, or thighs(the Dead or Alive games). Also, if the playable character is male, there'll be a few women fighting for his affection(guys think that every girl is in love with him). Of course there's the generic sports games churned out every year, along with wrestling, skateboarding, racing, etc. The largest difference I can see between male and female gamers is the genre of games that each gender would rather play. From what I can tell, guys would rather play an action game, while girls like puzzle or strategy games better(just a generalization, I know some girls who play games like resident evil.) Guys also seem to value competition more. Gender shouldn't really matter when developing, but statistically there are more male gamers. But thats no excuse to make horrible girl's games just because there are less girl gamers.

  • thrubeingcool13

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 12:50 pm GMT

    sorry for the paragraph, i guess my spacing didn't work.

  • Smokescreened84

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:01 pm GMT

    I feel the same way, it's like when it comes to 'girly' games, developers can't be bothered. They just slap the name of some teeny bop star on the box or come up with some mess of a game.
    It's quite saddening that gaming is still seen a male only thing when over the past decade, or more, it's been branching into a past time for both genders. I love Harvest Moon for example, but I don't mind the odd bit of action like Saint's Row 2 or Perfect Dark Zero. And I do enjoy puzzle games and strategy games as well.

    Until developers step out of the 'male only' mindset, then it may be a long time before female gamers are truly noticed as being as good as male gamers, and by then the balance of male and female gamers could be pretty well balanced.
    Also many female gamers tend to hide themselves, usually keeping quiet, hiding who they really are, in order to prevent any horny males, both teens and young adults, pestering them while they try to game.

    Aye both genders aren't perfect by any means, but female gamers can be just as skilled as male gamers, the gender means little, it's the person who truly matters.

  • Goeniko

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:10 pm GMT

    I honestly don't think it's about a female audience per-say but rather an age group. How many grown woman are going to care about a Hannah Montanna game on PSP? And it you look at a good number of games on the Wii and DS, these sort of games seem to be directed more towards a younger audience than it is woman. As far as woman gamers go, they're pretty much like anyone else. All they really want is a good game. Developers really don't need to worry about catering to woman gamers because woman gamers don't give a damn about that sort of thing. All developers really need is to develop good games that everyone can enjoy and female and male gamers alike will buy their products.

  • Berserkerz

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:15 pm GMT

    I think of Anime RPGs to be girl games. my sister loves those

  • FF_fan2004

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:28 pm GMT

    I'm a girl gamer and I have always liked RPGs. I never gotten into FPS until my friend introduced me to Halo 3 with his friends on local. Now it's my kind of game despite me shooting, like a girl (nutshots) and still be rubbish at. At least it was fun. Now I still shoot like a girl on Saints Row 2 and it's hilarious!
    As for games like... Hanna Montana? I'd rather have a job of wiping George Bush's a@# than play a "game" like that.

  • acskyway

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 1:47 pm GMT

    Meh, I found Devil Survivor at Best Buy.
    Big surprise, seeing as they usually don't carry Atlus games.

    Also, I went to Wal*Mart with my cousin last month and I had to wrestle the controller hooked up to the inFamous PS3 away from her, she was enjoying blowing stuff up for no reason.

  • Bluegreen17

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 2:11 pm GMT

    @kbaily
    Nicely put! ^_^

  • Bluegreen17

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 2:13 pm GMT

    @thrubeingcool13
    Very true. Some developers seem to think, "Oh, this large-chested lady we designed is the perfect role model!"

    @acskyway
    I did the exact same thing with an inFamous demo! It rocks!

  • thrubeingcool13

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 2:16 pm GMT

    I forgot to tell you the first time, Infamous is a spectacular game. The story, and gameplay are so well done.

  • ubergusterfan

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 2:25 pm GMT

    I doubt I could comment intelligently, as I am an extremely male guy (Give me football or give me death!), but I do agree. I am a gamer and am about to have a little girl enter my family. I would like to see her enjoy video games, but I don't want her to believe she has to conform to all the stereotypes of what girls are supposed to like and what they are supposed to do.

  • nicktarist

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 2:31 pm GMT

    Girls don't generally play games because society defines it as an unpopular activity; however, allot of the girls I'm friends with play videogames pretty extensively. Many of them don't play videogames unless they have friends to play with, because as I've said before, videogames are at their best when you play them in a group. (well... not ALL videogames).

    Those who aren't involved have never played videogames and the thought has never really crossed their minds. It's just not an interest of their's because they've never seen how fun it *could* be.

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