Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Prime World charges women less to play, 'protects' them in mixed groups [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/prime-world-charges-women-less-to-play-protects-them-in-mixed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/prime-world-charges-women-less-to-play-protects-them-in-mixed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/prime-world-charges-women-less-to-play-protects-them-in-mixed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Prime World
It's ladies night at Prime World, and drinks are on the house. The upcoming MOBA is offering unique incentives to rope in real-world women to play, including discounted heroes and special buffs if girls team up with guys. The game is connected to players' Facebook accounts, so women looking for special treatment need to actually be a member of that gender.

Nival's Creative Producer Larisa Nuretdinova hopes this will expand Prime World's potential audience: "The idea is to introduce the MOBA genre not only to hardcore players who already love it, but to their friends who might be more casual, and of course to their sisters and girlfriends who may not be as hardcore."

To encourage both sexes to group up together, Nival has devised a special defensive buff that is only activated when a woman playing a female character is part of the team. According to Prime World's About page, "this bonus helps encourage beginning female players, who feel more helpful when fighting in a mixed group."

Prime World offers six heroes for free, three of each gender; additional heroes can be purchased with actual money. It's here, too, that real-world women have an advantage, as Nival is offering a discount for the ladies who go shopping in the game.

[Update: Kotaku reports that Nival later clarified that it is offering discounts for both genders purchasing the same gendered character.]

MassivelyPrime World charges women less to play, 'protects' them in mixed groups [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfemalefemalesfree-to-playgendergender-biasLarisa-Nuretdinovamobanivalprime-worldsexismwhat-is-this-i-cant-evenwomenTue, 03 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you upset with how MMOs handle women?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While this year's BlizzCon didn't feature any shocking revelations about World of Warcraft, it still contained some shocking revelations for a few people during one of the question-and-answer panels. A question about the game's treatment of female characters wasn't just brushed off, it was mocked by the development team. This has been picked up in a couple of places, with the uniform opinion not just being that it was a bad way to respond to the question, it was a bad sign that developers can essentially brush off the question altogether.

It's not an unfamiliar debate, one that runs through every media in one form or another. Whether you're a man or a woman, you might be of the mind that there's a serious problem with how the genre treats a substantial portion of its audience... or you might be of the mind that people get way too bent out of shape over a bit of extra skin on female characters. So where do you stand? Are you unhappy with the way that women are represented in MMOs, or do you think that it's much ado about nothing?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you upset with how MMOs handle women? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2010controversyfeminismgendergender-relationsmaturityopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwomenwomen-in-gamingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-hello-kitty-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-hello-kitty-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-hello-kitty-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Hello Kitty Online is the first of our Parents Guide selections that's aimed squarely at teens and young adults rather than the kiddie set. Say what? We were surprised, too -- but given the mind-bogglingly persistent popularity of Hello Kitty among grownups with more discerning taste (and expansive wallets), it stands to reason that developer Sanrio would want HKO to reach as broad an audience as possible.

What HKO brings to the keyboard, then, is less a kiddie game than a crafting-oriented, sunshiny, Hello-Kitty-themed version of an MMO. Sure, it's 2-D. Sure, it's free-to-play. But despite the precious proliferation of pink, you'll find gameplay that's more in line with traditional, fully developed MMOs -- a purrfectly friendly MMO choice for your teen daughter.

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online

MassivelyMMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chat-filterchildf2pfamilyfamily-friendlyfamily-funfamily-gamingfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgirlsHello-Kittyhello-kitty-onlinehkokid-friendlykidspoint-and-clicksafesanriosanrio-digitalsanriotownteenteenagerswomenTue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Online Entertainment announces winner of G.I.R.L. contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-announces-winner-of-g-i-r-l-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-announces-winner-of-g-i-r-l-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-announces-winner-of-g-i-r-l-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's almost taken for granted that game design is still a field that's largely oriented toward a male audience. That's changing over time, and the MMO genre has attracted a huge number of female gamers, but there's still a great deal of room for improvement. That's why Sony Online Entertainment has sponsored the G.I.R.L. program, a $10,000 scholarship for women majoring in creative and applied arts with an ultimate eye toward game design. And the 2010 winner of the scholarship has just been announced: Sylvia Liu, an entertainment design student attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

The G.I.R.L. program (the acronym standing for Gamer In Real Life) has been running for three years now, with Liu as one of over 200 applicants in this year's contest. Each participant was tasked with creating original concept art for a new creature and area in either EverQuest II or Free Realms, as well as submitting an essay about women in the video game industry. Our congratulations go out to Ms. Liu for her winning submissions. Those interested can take a look at the official site for G.I.R.L., which has her concept art on display as well as a short interview.

MassivelySony Online Entertainment announces winner of G.I.R.L. contest originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontest-winnereq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifrfree-realmsgamer-in-real-lifegirlscholarshipsoesony-online-entertainmentsylvia-liuwomenwomen-in-gamingTue, 08 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Island Entertainment offers MMO for women]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/virtual-island-entertainment-offers-mmo-for-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/virtual-island-entertainment-offers-mmo-for-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/virtual-island-entertainment-offers-mmo-for-women/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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.

MassivelyVirtual Island Entertainment offers MMO for women originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>envie-interactivesocialsocial-gamestarget-audiencevievirtual-island-entertainmentvirtual-worldvirtual-worldswomenMon, 19 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Throughout this entire week, we've presented one question a day from an interview we did with the top women in MMO development. We asked them how they got into the industry, how public opinion on women gamers is evolving and what advice they have for female MMO players who want to make that leap into development.

Today is the finale to that interview where we ask our last two questions: "Do you see a change in attitude towards women developers, both from co-workers and the MMO community?" and "What words of advice would you have for women looking to make that leap from player to developer?". Keep reading below for their answers.

Continue reading An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 5

MassivelyAn interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 5 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredinfluenceinterviewmmo-developmentmmo-industrywomenFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/25/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/25/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/25/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Throughout this entire week, we're presenting one question a day from an interview we did with the top women in MMO development. We asked them how they got into the industry, how public opinion on women gamers is evolving and what advice they have for female MMO players who want to make that leap into development.

So starting last Friday and continuing throughout all of this week, we'll present one article a day with one of the questions we asked these key developers. Look for each post to drop at 5pm EST every day until Friday. Keep reading below for today's question.

Continue reading An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 4

MassivelyAn interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 4 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredinfluenceinterviewmmo-developmentmmo-industrywomenThu, 25 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Throughout this entire week, we're presenting one question a day from an interview we did with the top women in MMO development. We asked them how they got into the industry, how public opinion on women gamers is evolving and what advice they have for female MMO players who want to make that leap into development.

So starting last Friday and continuing throughout all of this week, we'll present one article a day with one of the questions we asked these key developers. Look for each post to drop at 5pm EST every day until Friday. Keep reading below for today's questions.

Continue reading An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 3

MassivelyAn interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredinfluenceinterviewmmo-developmentmmo-industrywomenWed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/22/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Throughout this entire week, we're presenting one question a day from an interview we did with the top women in MMO development. We asked them how they got into the industry, how public opinion on women gamers is evolving and what advice they have for female MMO players who want to make that leap into development.

So starting last Friday and continuing throughout all of this week, we'll present one article a day with one of the questions we asked these key developers. Look for each post to drop at 5pm EST every day until Friday. Keep reading below for today's question.

Continue reading An interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 2

MassivelyAn interview with the most influential women in MMO development: Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredinfluenceinterviewmmo-developmentmmo-industrywomenMon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with the most influential women in MMO development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/an-interview-with-the-most-influential-women-in-mmo-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's not often that we get a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes operations of an MMO, but when we do, we can appreciate the real people seen creating our favorite games. Included in this pool of development talent are more than just the stereotypes you would see on TV or film, depicting nerdy men with thick glasses and severe hygiene problems. There are nerdy women making these games too!

Ok, maybe not all so nerdy, but the fact is, there are many women in the MMO development industry as well. To showcase and celebrate this, we at Massively interviewed 12 of the most influential women in MMO gaming development. We asked them how they got into the industry, how public opinion on women gamers is evolving and what advice they have for female MMO players who want to make that leap into development.

Starting today and continuing throughout all of next week, we'll present one article a day with one of the questions we asked these developers. Look for each post to drop at 5pm EST this coming Monday through Friday.

But first, we'll kick it all off by getting to know these fine developers. Keep reading after the jump for a brief introduction to each participant and a bit more about their time in the industry.

Continue reading An interview with the most influential women in MMO development

MassivelyAn interview with the most influential women in MMO development originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredinfluenceinterviewmmo-developmentmmo-industrywomenFri, 19 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New study reveals insights into gender in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/new-study-reveals-insights-into-gender-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/new-study-reveals-insights-into-gender-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/new-study-reveals-insights-into-gender-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A new study has appeared over at the Virtual Worlds Observatory, the home of a team of social scientists interested in researching online games, and it delves into perceptions of gender in online games and the reality behind it.

Utilizing EverQuest II, the study uses a sample size of over 7,000 players to measure player interactions along gender lines and learn more about the gamers behind the keyboards. Surprisingly enough, while males exhibited predicted aggressiveness and achievement-oriented gameplay, it was the female gamers that exhibited more "hardcore" behavior. The top 10% of male gamers only played an average of 48 hours a week, while the top 10% of female gamers played an average of 56 hours a week. Yet, during the study, females under-reported their playing habits more than male gamers, as if unconsciously reacting to a stereotype.

The study is full of interesting details, and the full report is available for your viewing pleasure online.

[Via The Border House]

MassivelyNew study reveals insights into gender in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicculturedimitri-williamseverquest-2everquest-iigamersgendermennick-yeesoesony-online-entertainmentstudyvirtual-worlds-observatorywomenSat, 12 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/anti-aliased-boobs-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/anti-aliased-boobs-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/anti-aliased-boobs-and-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Well Happy Turkey Day everyone! It's Thanksgiving Thursday, but it's also that time of the week again -- the time where Sera gets to rant in her opinion column to her heart's content. Yes, that's right, it's time for Anti-Aliased.

This week's topic is one that's near and dear to my heart. Well, it's near to my heart, at least, and I mean that quite literally. It's also a perfect topic for today's holiday! I mean, who doesn't like to talk about large breasts on Thanksgiving? (Score one for the terrible synonym.)

During last week's column on Blade & Soul, the main topic that came up time and time again in the comments wasn't the game's combat, or the game's engine, or anything really related to the game at large. No, it seems that many of you were turned off of the game by the fact that the screenshot I used had a woman with huge boobs. That was the deal breaker for the game.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Boobs and you originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblade-and-soulboobsfeaturedfemalegendermaleopinionperceptionswomenworld-of-warcraftThu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively multiplayer online... boobs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/massively-multiplayer-online-boobs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/massively-multiplayer-online-boobs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/massively-multiplayer-online-boobs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Did you know that MMOs and breasts have a long history with one another? It's true, you know. From the time MMOs came onto the scene, so too did scantily clad women with huge hooters. Also, yes, this is indeed one of "those" articles. The article where we talk about breasts seriously, I mean.

Sanya Weathers, no stranger to the MMO industry (or breasts, for that matter) just recently took a pretty funny tour of how breasts work into advertising, whether we like it or not. From box art to marketing departments, she looks at some of the good, the bad, and the downright horrible when it comes to putting hot women on boxes to sell games.

If you're up for a laugh, go check out her article over at MMORPG.com. It's funny, it's insightful, it's historical, and it's full of what men want most -- awesome games. (Get your head out of the gutter if you thought that last line was going to be another boob joke.)

MassivelyMassively multiplayer online... boobs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blade-and-soulboobsbreastshootersknockersmarketingmmorpg.commmosncsoftsanya-weatherssillywomenMon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comment spam, lewd advertising, and stolen assets abound for Evony]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/comment-spam-lewd-advertising-and-stolen-assets-abound-for-evo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/comment-spam-lewd-advertising-and-stolen-assets-abound-for-evo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/comment-spam-lewd-advertising-and-stolen-assets-abound-for-evo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you've been on the internet for longer than five minutes then you've probably run into ads for Evony, an online free-to-play browser real-time strategy game. The game is a medieval MMORTS, but you probably wouldn't be able to figure that out from some of their recent advertisements, most of which center around lingerie and women.

The game's unorthodox marketing strategy has been a target of the blogosphere for some time, starting back when they were still called Civony instead of their current title. During that time the company was caught by bloggers for stealing images without permission from other sites and using them for their game's marketing. Since then, the name has changed and new advertising has appeared, including an overuse of blog comment spam.

Interestingly enough, the company has denounced the use of spam amongst their users of the iEvony codes, calling it a "unethical" and "abusive."

The company may have more to worry about than just poor taste in marketing, as many sites are also noting that the game's art assets and writing assets have been ripped from other real-time strategy games. Things such as text from Civilization 4 to the castle sprites from Age of Empires have been found in the game, creating the feeling for some users that this developer, whoever it is, is not entirely on the legitimate side.

MassivelyComment spam, lewd advertising, and stolen assets abound for Evony originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingblog-commentscivonycommentsevonylingeriemarketingmmortsplagarismshadyspamwomenMon, 13 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New AoC trailer promises gender equality in ass-kicking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/new-aoc-trailer-promises-gender-equality-in-ass-kicking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/new-aoc-trailer-promises-gender-equality-in-ass-kicking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/new-aoc-trailer-promises-gender-equality-in-ass-kicking/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"They say it's a man's world -- is it, baby?" - Keaira, as she ruthlessly plunges a blade through a man's heart. A new trailer called "Femme Fatale" shows off the lethal women of Age of Conan, and why you will want to stay on their good side. Keaira is the star, and she and other Hyborian lasses do their part in making sure no one underestimates the fairer sex in AoC. Check out the embedded clip above (rated M for Mature), or visit the community site to download the trailer at a higher resolution. The time to shred the veil is here!

MassivelyNew AoC trailer promises gender equality in ass-kicking originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfemme-fatalefuncomkeairateasertrailerwomenWed, 14 May 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Women of the Agency]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/women-of-the-agency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/women-of-the-agency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/women-of-the-agency/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John sat down with the female members of SOE's The Agency team to talk about not only their upcoming MMO (which looks hot), but what it's like to work in what John calls a "male-dominated field." While it's true that much of the videogame market is still dominated by men, there has been quite a bit of inroads made in terms of female developers in the MMO genre-- DDO's Senior Producer Kate Paiz jumps to mind, but from NCSoft to Bioware to Linden Labs, there is now quite a bit of female representation on MMO and RPG development teams.

Most of the talk centers around "G.I.R.L.," short for "gamers in real life," which is a program set up by Sony to "educate and recruit women in the videogame industry." They do say that they don't feel they've faced many challenges because of their gender, and considering that the gaming audience has changed quite a bit in the past few years, that's not really a surprise. But they have had to make a few woman-specific calls as developers, like making sure a female outfit in The Agency didn't show off a characters' bra line.

Interesting read, if only to see how far women have come into the field of videogame development, and yet how much farther there is to go.

MassivelyWomen of the Agency originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaregamers-in-real-lifegirlkate-paizmale-dominated-fieldmmomtv-multiplayerncsoftrpgsoethe-agencywomenThu, 06 Mar 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Study shows men's brains hard-wired for games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/study-shows-mens-brains-hard-wired-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/study-shows-mens-brains-hard-wired-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/study-shows-mens-brains-hard-wired-for-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


When it comes to gaming, the popular perception is that it's a man's domain. (Of course, you'd be hard pressed to make that point around Massively HQ, as many of our most prolific writers and senior bloggers are of the fairer sex.) Traditionally, this has been pinned on sociological factors that discourage women from developing as close a relation with computers as men. While there is still probably a kernel of truth to that, a new study out of the Stanford University School of Medicine points to biological factors hard-wired into the brain as the cause. Reportedly, MRI scans taken of both men and women while playing a simple game showed a marked difference in the areas of the brain responsible for feelings of reward and addiction. Men simply got more of a buzz out of games than women, by and large.

What amused me was the description of the game they used in testing, which they described as having no real prescribed goal -- the test subjects simply clicked a series of images depicting balls as they slowly approached a wall. The more quickly they clicked the images, the more ground they gained. Without any instruction, the men in the study "appeared more motivated to acquire terrain." No real prescribed goal? Players motivating themselves to acquire terrain? Feelings of reward and addiction? If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they were using an MMO for that study! At the same time, short of casual Popcap-style games, MMOs probably enjoy one of the highest female to male ratios in the industry, so I'd stop short of saying that sociology has nothing to do with it. Still, very interesting stuff.

MassivelyStudy shows men's brains hard-wired for games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biological-factorsbrainsmennew-york-timesnytimessexstanfordstanford-university-school-of-medicinestudywomenTue, 19 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST