Virtual Island Entertainment offers MMO for women

As much as a goodly portion of the MMO market is perfectly happy blowing up spaceships, killing untold numbers of rats, punching criminals in socially-awkward spandex, and generally behaving like a twelve-year-old boy... suffice to say that a lot of people have zero interest in those settings. Virtual Island Entertainment from enVie Interactive is aimed specifically at that category of potential player. Specifically, they're aiming for women, trying to create a virtual world that they claim "caters to women looking for an engaging online game that speaks to them."

The game's feature list is focused more along the lines of social environments rather than gameplay; players can engage in "episodic content, unique shopping experiences, high fashion, art design, and intimate encounters, all in a tropical island setting." Comparisons between the game and the 200-pound gorilla of virtual worlds, Second Life, are all but inevitable, and there is a small mention that the game hopes to support a certain amount of user-created content. Scheduled for release in the second half of 2010, it remains to be seen what kind of following Virtual Island Entertainment will draw and how the target audience will respond.

Reader Comments (49)

That's kind of gross. So from this article I get that men are really 12 year old boys, and women would just love a shopping mmo.

I don't see what the problem is.

I'm a girl gamer and have been playing online since I was 9 years old. And you have a point. Although there are some "fashion" games I do like, I hate when a game says it's aimed at girls and it's made to be about shopping and such. Shopping is fun because you actually get to get new cool stuff, see how it actually looks on YOU, and are out messing around with friends. To me it's like saying "We're making this game for guys" and the game is all about fixing up cars or something. Sure a number of people would like it, but it's still not really that fun trying to put it in game form. To hear a game is for girls because it has shopping and fashion just makes me cringe.

A good example of a real game designed by a woman and actually made to be for girls (but ended up fun for everybody) is Free Realms from Sony. They did a really good job in filling the game with lots of different things to do all over, many fun mini games and so much to do all over. That is a great way to make games geared towards the female audience, not to make the game about shopping...

As a woman gamer, I do have to admit I truly love lots of social features in my game as well as many many many customization options. With that said, the game above would be a perfect setting for me if it had hordes of zombies to kill off in between my "unique shopping experiences". ; )

^ That..

I'm guessing that there aren't a whole lot of women working for Virtual Island Entertainment.

While I appreciate their acknowledgment that men aren't the only ones interested in MMOs, I dislike the blatant display of chauvinism present in the game mechanics. Shopping? Fashion? "Intimate Encounters"? Is this all they think a woman could possibly have any interest in? It's an interesting idea, but it seems to be driven by a rather large (and rather inaccurate) generalization about women in general. I can see *including* these things in a more typical MMO, to attract the sort of women this is aimed at, but basing an entire MMO off of the concept seems to be a bit extreme.

I'm fairly certain that I'll be sticking with blowing up spaceships, killing rats, and punching criminals, thank you very much. If shopping and fashion design are the only things I can safely do in an MMO that don't involve "behaving like a twelve-year-old boy", then I don't intend to grow up any time soon.

Well... I never did get to play Mall Madness and Polly Pocket in grade school, which is probably what's wrong with me now and my misguided urges to skulk around in dungeons killing whatever moves (or doesn't move). *tears up* This might be my chance to set things right. ;_;

(In b4 dudes pretending to care about shopping and shit just to score chicks all concentrated in one location.)

If I knew that all it takes to score chicks, all in a concentrated place, was caring about shit and shopping... *boogle* my life is forever changed. :)

ps. I guess we've come along way from women not even being allowed to use the internets, to having their own games! Bravo!

I'm afraid it's too late for you.

This sounds more like an insult to all women.. Who the heck seriously believes this is what women cares about? I am one, and I would never touch this..

I hope they have housewife minigames like cooking and cleaning too.

So do I. They broads have to learn it from somewhere. They sure as hell aren't learning how to cook and clean at the workplace where the men belong.

this is hilarious.

Seems like their research into the demographic consisted entirely of watching DVDs of Sex And the City.

Damn. So wanted to be first and say, "inb4 women angry at sexist mmo"

I agree with evecook completely. What a ridiculously backward, chauvinistic, shallow view of women to present to the world! It's amazing they even got funding for this thing. This game appears little more than an insult, and the only 12-year-olds I can find are the males who created it. ;)

Good grief. The wonderful thing is that it will be an epic fail, and maybe that will teach them a thing or two about their misplaced conceptions concerning women, and how wrong it is to generalize half of an entire race in such a trite fashion.

this cant be real, belated April fools joke possibly?

Wow, Im willing to accept that theres a niche for just about anything...but this?

Features:

*In-Depth Crafting System: Select from over 12 different colours of yarn and knit scarves, hats, and booties!

*Dynamic PvP: Slap, hair-pull, and name-call your enemies until you both break down in tears and reconsole over a glass of pinot grigio!

*Player Housing: Extremely customizable player housing, with furniture from Pottery barn (r), Crate & Barrel (r), and Bombay Co.! Purchase all of your home needs in our handy cash shop...priced exactly as their real-world equivalents!

*Exciting Minigames: Bitch with other players at the Nail Salon! Drive your kids to soccer practise! Bake pies!

*Open-Ended Gameplay: Go to one of 3 exciting locations - The Mall, Starbucks, or The Bathroom!

*Mounts: Okay, we dont have those.

Finally, the MMO everyone has been waiting for.

"*Mounts: Okay, we dont have those. "

Well.... depends on how you want to look at it.

Ok i am leaving now :P

@Rich

Oooooooooh yooooooooou~

You're a silly goose. ;)

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Virtual Island Entertainment offers MMO for women

Reader Comments (49)

Posted: Apr 19th 2010 5:10PM toychristopher said

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Posted: Apr 19th 2010 5:54PM Rich said

Posted: Apr 19th 2010 9:36PM whateveryousay said

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