[MUD-Dev] Girl appeal (was: Boys and Girls)

[Freeman]

>From Matt Mihaly:

> But John, that's all this argument is. Everytime I see this tired
> Boys vs. Girls argument brought up here, all I see is everybody
> saying "I know some girl gamers, and they play like this." It's
> all anecdotal. I personally think everyone is talking out of his
> or her respective ass when he or she says "Girls like X type of
> games." I have no problem with sweeping generalizations, but in
> this case I feel like the jury is just not in yet.

Every time this argument comes up it makes me feel insecure and
girly.  The games commonly described as "girl games" are the sorts
of games I prefer.

The consensus seems to be that we know how to make games for boys,
but not games for girls.  But considering most of the random folk
that I bump into on a daily basis don't play any sorts of games at
all (and certainly not MUDs or MMO's), I'm not altogether certain we
know what sorts of games boys like either.

I know a girl gamer that liked BG2, but hated Pool of Radiance so
thoroughly that she had to go lie down for a while.  Wasn't too keen
on BG1, for that matter.  Liked Serious Sam a *lot*, but doesn't
care for Ghost Recon at all (in fact, installing the Ghost Recon
demo hosed her system so thoroughly that it made her cry).  Never
got into crafting in UO, but made armor in DAoC... and then quit
doing it when the profits dried-up.  Doesn't care for Diablo2 ("too
much loot").  Liked the scenery and whatnot in Fighting Legends, but
disliked the interface.  And targetting gave her a headache.  Almost
immediately developed a dislike for the Sims when one of the little
fellows peed on the floor ("When I want to babysit, I'll invite my
nephew over.  At least he doesn't pee on the floor." - and this is
the kid that once brought a COW to her house).  Plus which, that's
supposed to be the very living, breathing definition of chick-game.

The first question she asks when I mention a new game is "Can we
play it together?"  Questions along the lines of "Well what sort of
game is it?"  come later, but only if the answer to the first
question is "Yes".

The only real firm conclusion I can draw from all this is that girls
don't like games that make them cry.
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