Apparently, pretty girly. 'Cause, you know, women only care about cute packaging and accessories. Tee hee!
It's hard to understand why someone would write a piece like this on GameWorld Network. Who's likely to read it -- a gamer who happens to be female, or one of the super girly-girl types whose only encounter with Nintendo occurred during third grade? The article seems to be written toward and about the latter, but the former is more likely to read it, considering the site ... and it seems a little, what's the word here -- oh yes. Insulting.
Sure, the Wii is "girly." It's girl-friendly. Why? Because it's fun. Because of the intuitive nature of the controls. Because even the games that involve what are considered male things -- like shooting, though there are many women who will burn your ass in any FPS -- make sense, with logical control schemes and interesting actions. That's what makes a game appeal to girls. Fun. If you want to pull in more non-gaming women? Great, hand them a Wiimote. If the game takes advantage of the new-gen controls, it probably won't matter what you have inside, whether it's Trauma Center or Madden. In fact, it's likely that non-gamers are going to be more taken in by the unusual controls, because while some of us gamers view the whole process with a raised eyebrow (we have to ... move?), the Wiimote is less daunting than a traditional controller.
The Wii is likely to be something that will, in fact, interest your non-gamer friends -- yes, even the girls. But don't limit them to "girly" games. You never know what will interest someone, or what they'll be good at, and it seems somewhat limiting to assume only certain Wii games will appeal to non-gamers, regardless of gender. Maybe all grandma needed was something to aim with, or she'd have been beating you down all these years.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-17-2006 @ 2:27PM
:P said...
Isn't that the truth! Games are about having fun. I always made any of my non-gamer friends try a new game when they comeover as a rule. Doesn't matter what sex the person is, if the game it fun they will at least want to give it another shot. As far was what has helped me bring some of my non-gamer friends into the gaming fold: Nintendo DS ,Katamari , Super Smash, and Resident Evil FTW.
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10-17-2006 @ 2:51PM
Spaz said...
Wow. Nintendo just shed the "kiddie" moniker, and now we've got "girlie"? Sheesh.
Personally, I welcome the girl gamers. Microsoft and Sony fans can scoff all they want, while Nintendo will be laughing its way to the bank by scooping up and catering to the 70% of the world that is NOT playing games currently. If guys want to feel macho and play Saint's Row, safe in their "masculinity", more power to them. I'm going to be jumping around the house with all my friends playing the Wii.
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10-17-2006 @ 3:19PM
mnugghuhx said...
Anyone else like the fact that girls will be playing? I love it. If my girlfriend would play w/ me as opposed to getting pissed that I wanna play instead of do something interesting, like "cuddling" or "gossiping", that would be fantastic. If my gf wanted to play Red Steel multiplayer w/ me instead one watch the godforsaken E! channel, I might just need to change my underpants right then and there.
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10-17-2006 @ 3:19PM
nzdsgirl said...
Well I'm a girl, and Wii will be the first console I ever bought. I got a DS cos of the cool games like Nintendogs (yes I know, cliche) and I would call the DS a 'gateway drug'. Now I can't wait to get Wii cos I'll be able to play with anyone, even my non gaming family.
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10-17-2006 @ 3:42PM
Erich said...
Hell, this is the first game console I've ever felt comfortable bringing up in conversation (reservedly I admit). Upon further discussion the female gender is ussually almost as, or just as, enthusiastic as myself about the concept. Which leads me to believe I will be able to convince more girls to come play some video games with me, heh. Hell this whole post sounds majorly nerdy, but the point is, that in a month from now that barrier may very well start crumbling away.
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10-17-2006 @ 4:15PM
nitefire said...
I'm sick of Sweet Valley High's anti-Sony stance.
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10-17-2006 @ 4:55PM
poo said...
Hahahahaha.
That should be reason numba one for getting a Wii.
It's ironic that this console's name is quite phallic, because while some people I know will be at the nearest sausage fest centered around a PS3/Xbox 360, I'll be letting the local chicky babies touch my Wii.
Hmm... I guess in that case it's not ironic.
Hahahaha.
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10-17-2006 @ 4:59PM
Marc said...
Im glad that girls are also gamers, but it scares me a little.
For example, a friend of mine has never played a video game in her life. She tried out "Super Smash Bros. Melee" simply because I asked nicely, and it's Nintendo.
She ended up murdering me, consistantly, and without fail. Now that was with a Gamecube controller. What is she gonna do to my score in FPS when she can actually *aim* at me?
*shivers*
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10-17-2006 @ 5:01PM
kenny said...
@5...
the old "bait & switch" techniquie, eh?
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10-17-2006 @ 5:26PM
GregZ said...
@8,
My roommate's girlfriend is much better than him at smash bros. too - I can still beat both of them regularly, but she puts up a fight. I'm not sure I could handle losing regularly to my girlfriend (if I had one) though, it could get ugly!
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Wii isn't going to do anything to get anyone a girlfriend/date. Might be something fun to do if you manage to talk that special someone into spending an evening with you though.
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10-17-2006 @ 6:02PM
rudimentalist said...
Wow, reading the article now. I would have never guessed the article you are critiquing here was actually written by a girl. Although with the points you're trying to make I doubt you even read the article through to the byline.
Doesn't this article support every point you made? Girls will enjoy this system because it's fun. Just like boys will. The author obviously agrees with you. Where's the part where she says it's a "girly" experience? Looked for it, it's not there. She does say it's a more PEOPLE friendly experience. As in some games may appeal to more than just the stereotypical male adrenaline junkie.
You're right about the audience this article is intended for, girls who don't play video games aren't likely to find this article on their own. But boyfriends will probably show their non-gamer girlfriends. Male readers will see Wii in a new light as a people experience. Gaming dads might show it to their young daughters.
It's clear you're just fishing for an article to blog about what you enjoy going on about, girly stereotypes and the like. This is a pretty bad article to do so with. If anything you're the one insulting females by being sensationalist and reactionary. Luckily there are other female bloggers out there who can make much more clever observations without sounding oversensitive and righteous. Can the "what's the word..." and all that other snotty stuff.
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10-17-2006 @ 6:10PM
truplaya said...
This is the reason I've always loved Nintendo. Because it was fun. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be a hardcore gaming girl.
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10-17-2006 @ 7:44PM
xen ix said...
Do you honestly believe Nintendo made the Wii "girly" to make it more likable by girls? Wow, time to learn more about other cultures.
Why many things, like the Wii, is seen as "girly" is because Japan like cuteness and it is accepted by all genders. We in the west has prejudges against cuteness. If a guy like cute things, he is either gay or a pedophile, or just not normal.
So get over yourself. Nintendo didn't make the Wii cute for just you girls. It made it like it is because this is the type of design people want now. Simple and minimalistic. If you think that is cute, good for you, just don't believe it is just for you.
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10-17-2006 @ 9:21PM
IpaX85 said...
yes, for single guy like me this girly thing sounds like one extra reason to buy wii.. There is still not enough girls playing videogames these days. ^^)
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10-18-2006 @ 4:34AM
zune said...
woowooowooowooo~! I can see 2 hot chicks there...
http://www.zuneiscool.com
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10-18-2006 @ 9:16AM
neeecole said...
@14
fancy seeing you here! haha.
Anyway:
I am a girl. I own SNES, 2 N64's, a GC, a PS2, GB Micro, NDS, NDS Lite, and I was #5 in the Wiiorder Line.
While I prolly won't spend too much time playing Red Steel, I will throw my girly little heart into Zelda, Mario Galaxy, Pokemon Battle Revolution, Melee, Wii Sports and anything else that catches my eye. I won't play because it's girly, I do not own any GBA Bratz games, I will play for the same reason as all the guys I know.
And I will love every minute of it.
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10-18-2006 @ 11:39AM
L said...
Like poster #11, I don't really see anything insulting about the article, and I am a woman who jumps on anything sexually biased. The author used the cliche "putting together an outfit" metaphor, but it's just a stylistic technique I'm willing to overlook.
Only the first page of the article directly addresses female readers, perhaps because of the belief that women are more likely to find the article than the other big non-gaming market, older generations. In general, the article seemed to be aimed at ALL non-gamers. The list of games shows a varied selection that goes beyond those action games that everyone already knows about. I also think the author did a good job of summarizing the Wii's features... without a hint of aiming it specifically at women, even in ths description of the shopping channel.
The closing paragraph makes it clear that the author is REALLY trying to address the wider demographic of non-gamers, though she does make a point of mentioning women in particular. While I can't really vouch for the style (I'd like EVERYONE stop with the "technology is like stylish clothes!" comparisons) or effectiveness of the article (why restate one of Nintendo's primary selling points for the Wii?), I certainly don't think it's insulting towards female gamers... unless you REALLY HATE those cliche wardrobe references.
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10-18-2006 @ 4:21PM
Frank G. said...
... how can u all say that the wii is girly!!! just because it has hot girls on the pic. dosent mean its girly but if a guy gets the pink ds lite then he has issues
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10-19-2006 @ 12:41AM
I, Robot said...
Very girlie... yeah baby! I'm still buying one.
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