Gender in Gaming

            Not that I’m a sexist person who believes in male dominance, but when I was kid I couldn’t see gaming as an interesting hobby for girls. I usually saw girls interested in gossip, clothes, or celebrities. However as years went by, I have noticed a change gaming dynamics amongst males and females.

            In the past, video games were more associated to males. Males themselves considered gaming as a masculine activity. According to the article by Jo Bryce and Jason Rutter, “Most research has examined barriers to female access to technology, ICT use, and associated technologically mediated leisure activities such as computer use and computer gaming…From this perspective it has been argued that these technologies are associated with a highly gendered and masculine culture”[1]. Females were not tech savvy and didn’t consider technology as a true leisure activity.

            Hitting into the new millennium, females became more recognized as gamers. “…mid 1990s suggest that a large percentage of females of a comparable age range report playing computer games for approximately 1-2 hours a week…Colwell and Payne (2000) provide evidence that 88% of those 12-14-year-old females surveyed played computer games on a regular basis”[1]. As indicated, the percentage of female gamers and increased along with the hours these gamers play.

            With advancing technology, more ways of becoming socially active became available. One of the ways is virtual game space. Virtual game space is the online community of gamers who want to enjoy chatting and pairing off with friends. The space also had an increasing amount of female gamers. “For female gamers, the anonymity of virtual game spaces provides the opportunity to compete against male opponents free from markers of gender, and reduces stereotypical behavior towards female gamers”[1]. Females now had a reason and the chance to game like male gamers.

            Gender separation had been a problem in the past. Males and females had their own agendas. However, as video games were evolving, female gamers rose to the challenge of fighting to be as good as male gamers. In essence gaming, socially helped develop the female gender and put a crack in gender separation.

References

 [1]. Bryce, J., Rutter, J. (2003). Gender Dynamics and the Social and Spatial Organization of Computer Gaming. Leisure Studies 22. Retrieved from http://web.nmsu.edu/~jalmjeld/onlineidentity/readings/gender_dynamics.pdf

PC & Social Websites

            Do you like using a PC? Do you like going to social websites? Do you love playing games on these websites? If yes, then consider yourself part of the gaming population. When you think of video games, the first thing most would think of are the current generation consoles: PS3, 360, Wii. However, the term “video game” also includes PC users and online users.

            PCs have many qualities and one of them is being highly efficient for gaming. As stated in Harz’s article, “67 percent of homes in America either own a console or PC used for interactive entertainment…”[2]. Majority of homes have some sort of gaming console which include PC. PCs also have the unique quality of surfing on the web. As users surf on the web, they may eventually stumble across numerous websites, one of them being social.  

            Social Websites are a popular way to find people around the world, express opinions, and build relationships. Yet, websites like Facebook also contain social games. Social games are unique in that not only are they a way of entertainment, but also a way to play with other people online across countries. According to Davis Kho’s article, “The term ‘gamification’ refers to application of gaming techniques and mechanisms…integrating these techniques into online interactions appeals to a range of fundamental human desires, including rewards, status, achievement, self-expression, competition, and even altruism”[1]. Social games provide the same feeling of success as with console games, but developers of social games find it a need to combine success with social interaction.

            As I think about it, that sounds right. I sometimes go on Facebook and play different games, like FarmVille or CastleVille and invite players to join my game. Usually afterwards, the players and I have a better friendship. As stated in Davis Kho’s article, “Good game design must inspire a larger purpose or meaning for the user. ‘It may be increased status, social impact, more knowledge…Those types of intrinsic rewards are even more important than prizes and other extrinsic rewards’”[1]. The reward for these games is more than points or medals, but to build your social skills and learn more of society.

            PCs are a path to online worlds filled with social interaction. Social Interaction is made possible by popular websites filled with casual people, businessmen, and even gamers. Gamers playing online social games have greater benefits than winning games, but winning a part of society. 

References

[1]. Davis Kho, N. (Mar. 2012). Getting Gamified. EContent. Retrieved from http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/Editorial/Feature/Getting-Gamified-Publishers-Score-Big-With-Online-Games-80935.htm

[2]. Harz, E. (2010, July). Everyone and their Mother’s a Gamer. Adweek. Retrieved from http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/everyone-and-their-mothers-gamer-102798

Industry Promotion in Gaming

            Video games have a high popularity value, which industries find the value necessary for their growing success. Industries connect to the public and find unique ways to promote themselves. Some ways of promoting may seem more effective than others, but no matter how industries promote, they share an overall goal. Industries want to gather attention.

            One unique way of promoting to the gaming society involves the use of mobile games. Mobile games are joyful to gamers, but industries don’t want to stick ads directly on the games. As stated in, “Gamer vs. Gamer,” “People are wary of marketing, especially on mobile devices. TV commercials can evoke emotion, but mobile ads just butt in on a good time”[1]. Ads that pop up in the middle of mobile games are annoying and make gamers lose interest.

            The solution to promote industries on mobile games is to have industries offer rewards to gamers. Industries recognize the gaming community and understand what gamers want. “Sponsors must become part of the games people already play…advertisers have to remember that they’re in the consumer world. A gamer chooses what reward to accept”[1]. Rewards are a useful way to get more gamers attached to industries and to keep them interested.

            Other ways of promoting can be as simple as being direct to gamers. Gamers are more likely to trust industries for coming up front by putting brands on the games. “So brand engagement is the easy part. It’s a natural. And games are a natural way to strengthen connections—people love contests and prizes”[1]. Video games help strengthen industries gathering attention of the viewers.

            I haven’t played many mobile games, but I have seen industries promoting themselves in console games. I have seen brands of the companies posted on the covers of games to promoting a website to the industry itself to offer additions to games.

            Video games and gamers have been the target for industry promotions. As gamers start to increase, industries try to find innovative ways to attract greater attention. Industries obviously find the gaming society an essential part of their marketing and success.

References

[1]. Feifer, J. (Oct. 2011). Gamer vs. Gamer. Ebscohost Connection. Retrieved from http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/65527154/gamer-vs-gamer

Why Gamers Exist

            Before we jump into the main purpose of this blog, let us take a look on why gamers even exist. Gamers occupy a large portion of the world and continue to grow. As a gamer, many reasons exist for why they continue to spend hours in front of a household console or in an arcade machine. According to the article, “Inside the Minds of Video Gamers,” “Thirty percent agreed strongly that ‘I play video games to relax.’ Twenty-five percent agreed strongly that they play ‘when I want to take a break’”[1]. The polling indicates that majority of gamers find video games a way to relax from the stress of day to day work.

            Not to say that gamers want to escape from reality, but there are gamers that play for other reasons. “Twelve percent agreed strongly that ‘playing video games gives me a sense of accomplishment’”[1]. Gamers find games a sense of challenge and completing them gives them a sense of accomplishment. As a gamer myself, I find completing tough challenges is rewarding and also acts like a bragging right for other players.

            Along with the reasons why gamers game, there are factors gamers consider for buying a games. According to the market research, [1], forty-three percent consider the price, twenty-seven percent are familiar with the series, and over forty percent see ads relating to the games. Two main factors according to list influence gamers, but the price is just slightly above the mark. The price factor makes sense since now days you can afford video games for as low as a few dollars. For example, I went to a game shop and found an old Playstation game for three dollars.

            Gamers come and go for years and surround themselves with many reasons for gaming. No matter what the reason, gamers will stick around growing in numbers, and become a part of our society.

References

[1]. Dolliver, M. (2009). Inside the Minds of Video Gamers. Ebscohost Connection. Retrieved from http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/38313955/inside-minds-video-gamers

Gaming Society Introduction

            This blog will focus on how gaming affects the general public and economy. This blog will go into depth of how gaming is beneficial to the public and is necessary for a growing society. This blog will attract those who are gamers, parents, psychologists, and in the business industry. Readers with access to this blog will find information relating to an economy influenced by a world of gaming.

            Video games continue to evolve day after day. Video games are staring to become a part of our lives. With these video games, gaming (along with the thousands of gamers) has become a part of the real world. Gaming, in general, has been a debate amongst countless perspectives for years. Gaming has also been a wide subject for blogs and articles. The problem with some blogs and articles is that they are outdated. For example the article by A. R. Galloway, “Social Realism in Gaming,” though was informative, it was dated in 2004. We live in the year 2012, and technology has improved. With the technology change, we find our opinions and perspectives to have change as well.

            Readers will find this blog to be more accurate and informative. Readers will see this blog containing the most recent information, personal opinions from outside sources, and examples all relating to the gaming society. Also I will present my own thoughts in this blog, as I have personal experience with gaming and in a sense a part of the gamers in the world. In the end, those who read this blog will know the benefits of getting their hands on a controller of the latest consoles and game.