Questionnaire about girl gamers

[Ayuki_Holmes]

Hey guys,


The reason why I'm creating this questionnaire is because I am writing an essay about gaming and its evolution to what it is today and I want to know what you guys think about it. If you don't mind, please put your answers underneath the questions so I know which questions belong to which.


Questions:



Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


Anyone can answer it, and I pointed out, it's only for an essay. I will acknowledge your answers online and the like and yeah, copy and paste the questions and write em down. So, enjoy!

 

[Shaz]

I've moved this thread to General Lounge (Video Games is for discussing video games). Please be sure to post your threads in the correct forum next time. Thank you.

 

[shockra]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


I first start playing games at...maybe three years old?  I'm not certain of my first game, but some I played early on was a Sesame Street learning game, Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Dragon Warrior.  Back then, I had to use cheat codes to...not die.  I dumped that habit when I realized it was boring that way.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


Nowadays, I prefer strategy-based games and RPGs.  Hearthstone, Duelyst, and Dragon Quest to name a few.  I'll play MMOs or single-player as long as the gameplay is good.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Some male gamers do treat female gamers differently.  The males that do, from what I've heard, tend to be highly egotistical and consider it a huge insult when they lose.  That insult is multiplied when they lose to a girl, and as a result, they...shall we say...vent.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


I think female gamers tend to be more accepting of those that are different, so they may not treat males differently.  In my experience, where males, on average, play to win, females, on average play to have fun, which in many ways is a better approach in my opinion.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


I know of some successful female game developers.  The creators of Centipede and the King's Quest series were women, and both games were extremely popular in early days of gaming.  I believe that men and women can work together on the same game.  Times are changing, and those that resist it can't stop it.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


People have come up with all types of games that defy old conventions.  Male and female developers collaborate to make even better games.  Having both genders involved with a project allows the team to see every angle when making the game.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


As time passes, more and more people are getting into gaming.  Indie gaming in particular has thrived since they're easier to make and don't require a huge team.  Undertale was mostly made by a single person, and that game was very well-received.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


I'm a male gamer.  I tend to prefer RPGs and strategy.  Some of my current favorites include Duelyst (a card game), Dragon Quest, and maybe Overwatch if I can learn how to aim half-decently.

 

[Allusion]

Questions:



Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


A: When I was 10--the first game I ever sat down and played was Tekken 3 on Playstation, which is a fighting game. I was incredibly impressed by the character's movements, colors, and the settings in which they fought--and my favorite part were the ending cutscenes (which were always in 3D.) I was hooked!


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


A: I still enjoy fighting games, with Soul Calibur being my favorite series thus far. (Though I've tried others like BlazBlue and Street Fighter.) My favorite genres are single-player hack-and-slash such as Devil May Cry, and of course RPGS.) 


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


A: I think it depends on the person. I'm sure there are plenty of male gamers who have never acted any differently toward a female MMO player, but those that do get more attention; negativity always gets more attention than positivity. 


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


A: I haven't played an MMO in years and back when I did, I had no idea who was really a girl or a guy, so I can't say how girls behave toward male gamers. I know I personally treat everyone the same--respectfully and with enthusiasm about the game/community we're part of. My female friends are the same way~


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


A: Robin Hunicke--a lead designer of one of my favorite PS3 games, Journey!


I'm not very well informed of how major game teams are put together, but my feeling is if women want to make games, then we will~ I think high-caliber games in general are becoming cost inefficient and lacking in many ways, making them difficult for many AAA publishers to turn out. Thus, indie games are becoming more of a resource for gamers. This means that anyone with an interest, capital, tools and time can sit down and make a game to be enjoyed by all. The Internet itself helps to eliminate otherwise difficult hurdles to overcome--so the playing field is as even now as it can get. If the Twitter community I follow (Girls Make Games) is any proof, then we can certainly expect to see females making a splash in the industry.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


A: Innovative ways of presenting ideas--capitalizing on everything games have to offer as an interactive medium. Becoming dynamic in that games are more easily made by anyone who'd like to make it, such as through the RM engine itself.


I think games would get by because of their ability to tell a story--and stories themselves are inherently timeless. I'd predict that both men and women would be behind them, yes. 


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


A: Virtual reality games seem to the 'next big thing' to be tackled~ I imagine in the far future, we'd have it ironed out to be pretty flawless. I'd imagine extensive knowledge in the equipment and software would be required, yes.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


A: I'm a girl gamer. Some of my favorite games are tough to pin down, but the ones I always return to are the Kingdom Hearts series of games, Soul Calibur and a phone app called Puzzles and Dragons. PAD is the only online game of the three.

 

[amaSenpai]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


Pretty young - I watched and 'helped' my mom play games like final fantasy 1&2 when I was about 4 years old. The first games I remember playing myself was mario kart, crash bandicoot, parappa the rappa, and beyond the Beyond. I was TERRIBLE at games. I loved story heavy and scary games, but I couldn't play them myself. So I made my mom play resident evil and American McGee's Alice while I watched.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


I'm an RPG gamer. I like to unfold a story and get lost in the characters and their motivations. Especially things that test morality and ways of thinking. Puzzles and mystery are fun, and I still love horror themed games (but I can't play them). Above all, they are always single player. I can't do MMOs oe anything that force you to interact with people to get ahead.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


I get bored with MMOs, but I like to try then out since a lot of them have fun customization. The only exp I have is a another character trying to 'woo' my female character in attempt to group up. Regarding FPS, I don't think I was ever able to keep a conversation with anyone.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


I think girl gamesrs can be apprehensive about making friends online because it can be a lot of work. I know others that hide their sex because they don't want to do the 'yes, I'm still good' dance. I know others who are more aggressive about letting boys know a girl best them.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


Back in the 90s there were a ton of excellent games by the company Sierra. All of them were mystery stories that my mom played -- and I believe all the CEOs were women. For modern companies I think the only game would be Bayonetta. I don't keep up with developers so I'm not sure.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


Aside from technology and VR type immersion, I would hope that we see more games with women or POC leads. It may seem like a silly complaint, but I'm sort of bored playing 'another scruffy white guy' as a story. Not just character swapping, I want to see changing stories about how the world reacts to that type of character.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


I think more realistic games are becoming popular. Modern zombie stories like Last of Us, human mysteries like Heavy Rain. Even fantasies like Dragon's Dogma had elements like party members holding down enemies for melee fighters to attack.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


Female gamer for about 20 years. I tend to stick to offline gaming.


It was hard to narrow it down:


(Big names)Final Fantasy 7/Legend of Dragoon/golden sun


(Indie) Journey/undertale


(Longest) Pokemon

 

[Ugouka]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


A1: I was probably around 10 or so. I got on my Dad's computer and played DOOM when he wasn't around. Horrified and hooked me.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


A2: I dabble in a little bit of everything, having a short attention span requires me to hop between games frequently. But the big ones at the moment are FFXIV:ARR, Fire Emblem: Fates, and The Witness. The original Fire Emblem was one of my big influences that opened up a whole new genre for me. It's definitely a single player, but I prefer MMO's IF I have people to play with.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


A3: Well. This one is kind of an odd one from my experience. It usually ends up that most people assume the female characters are male players. In most situations (Outside of Roleplaying) they are treated the same. If they vocalize that they're a female player, that can change and result in anything from a flame war of disbelief to indifference to digital romancing attempts . This depends largely on the player community, and varies from game to game. In WoW, for example, I've noticed a difference in treatment for the worse more than in something like FFXIV, in which I haven't seen player gender impact anything, personally.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


A4: This goes back to the question: Are they announcing the fact that they're a girl gamer? Generally, if they just come out and randomly say "I'M a GIRL~" -They're seeking attention, and are therefore likely to treat anyone responding to that prompt differently. If they're just playing the game to play? No. I doubt they treat male players any differently. There's no reason to. Digital worlds are a great Equalizer. You can't tell someone's gender unless they tell you, so it's rarely a concern unless you want to be treated differently, and try to use your gender to accomplish that.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


A5: I don't, personally. But that's mainly because I generally don't pay attention to developers. But yes, there are already girls developing games. The game "No Man's Sky" coming out soon has a few women on the crew of only 15, and they're pretty instrumental to the game's process. If the talent is there, gender shouldn't be an issue for a reputable company.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


A6: At this point, most of what we're striving for is finding perfect balance in games. Story vs. Gameplay. Action vs. Tactical. etc. etc. I imagine that balance will eventually be found for the better. I really don't see gender being a factor here: The only real block for women getting into game development is social acceptability. It's not "lady-like." People care less and less about that now-a-days, so in the future, I HIGHLY doubt it will be an issue.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


A7: Well, the genre's are pretty set now. I imagine there will be a few new original ideas that might sprout a whole new genre for us to play with. As for who? I dunno. I can't see the future. But I've known men and women that are more than capable of greatness if they put their mind to it. As for qualification? Probably. Amateurs often just don't have the budget to get too wide-spread, and without credentials, you aren't getting too far in the development process professionally.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


A8: I'm a guy gamer. Currently playing FFXIV:ARR and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn.  Three Favorites? I'd have to say Fire Emblem 6(Love the strategy and the characters), Warcraft 3 (The story in this game made me happy, and I replay it pretty often), and PokemonRAS. (Yup. I'm a pokemon fanboy. Still love it.)

 

[Henryetha]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


Can't remember quite well, as it was before I was in school, I assume about 5 years old.


First game was Pong on Atari, but soon later Mario Bros on NES. I played these times alot with my Dad.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


There was not such as multiplayer before, so my first MMO I played when I was already ~20 years old, which was Ragnarok Online. I've spent quite a few years with multiplayer games by then. Just since the last 2-3 years I focus more on SP again.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


From my experience yes, it's full of prejudices - tho not always, but often enough. They focus more on socializing than on the game itself - is my experience. I usually don't tell right away that I am a woman, only when they ask me. Usually people get to know about my gender, once they add me on Facebook.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Not sure... speaking for myself, I hardly ever played with girls, so... nothing to "treat diffferently" here.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


I think both are qualified. It really depends on someone's overall experience, skills and general love for for videogames.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


At least in our country (according to latest statistics) half of the gamers are female yet. I don't see why in future this would be different for game developers.


I see none of them less qualified than the other. They just might have different qualities.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


For sure VR Games. These Games are just starting to come out and I'm pretty sure there's much more to come.


But due to the increasing age of the average gamer I also see classical games (or game concepts) and/or remakes of them.


Also there will be more Indie Games aswell as more and better platforms to share them. Of course also better Engines which provide more possibilities. Such qualifications like mentioned above might become less important, especially for windows/android games. 


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


Girl? Rather woman (I am 33) ^^ Most of my time I actually spend in developing my own Game.


Online Games I enjoy: League of Legends (very casual), Diablo 3, generally mmorpgs 


Offline Games are always changing, mainly Indie Games. But besides these.. I love The Witcher 3.


Oh and my Faves (off all time?) might be..


- Ragnarok Online


- aaaand... not sure if I can actually call the others as "favourite", would be too many.. so I'll leave this blank

 

[Makio-Kuta]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


VERY YOUNG. Certainly before I started school. I can't remember the exact age, 3 or 4 I suppose. My first games were The Lawnmower Game and some downhill skiiing game on the commodore64. The Lawnmower Game (not the actual name I think. Not sure it had an actual name) was a horrifying thing that drove my parents up a wall because the 'game' made this humming sound for the running lawnmower. Anyway, my experience gaming that young was fascination. Wonder. Interest. I was captivated by the idea of video games. And as we got fancier computers (ah yes, the amiga is truly 'fancy') and fancier games my interest only grew more and more.  And my interest in attempting to replicate the experience on paper for my little sister grew with it.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


My favourite styles of games are visual novels, sRPGs, RTS, and VN-style adventure games. I also enjoy 2D fighters and old school 1st person shooters. (the newer spin on FPS does not interest me much. Shining Force 2 is what hooked me on sRPGs, One Must Fall and Dead or Alive got me into fighters, but Blazblue solidified my love for 2D fighters most. Phoenix Wright is what kicked off the VN/VN-adventure game love. I've always enjoyed single player games over MMO-style. Our internet sucked as I was growing up, so I didn't have much chance to experience MMOs until later. (though I played some Quake online.)


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


It's hard for me to answer this, as for the most part I only played with my friends or their friends and we were all pretty chill. Sometimes I would run off and do my own thing, but I'd never state my gender, nor ask anyone else's gender. Outside of a few strangely patronizing conversations where I was treated like I didn't really know what I was doing in the game, I can't recall any other interactions that would count. And that wasn't in MMOs, but in person in arcade. Being underestimated and then kicking someone's sorry butt is always a nice feeling.


As for my thoughts in general, I think there are enough studies floating around to prove that male gamers certainly treat female gamers differently. And that it's not really getting any better.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


One again my experiences with online games aren't strong enough. As a girl though, I didn't give two flips who was on the other side of the monitor gender wise. Girl, guy, other, meh! I was just there to have fun. (oh and smoke our rival guild in Dofus. Dofus was taken very seriously.)


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


Many people have already mentioned the co-founder of Sierra, Roberta Williams. Considering she is credited with creating a genre I would say she had a huge impact on the gaming industry and is living proof that all genders contributing to game development will not only create games of high caliber, but also help innovate gaming. Composers Michiru Yamane and Yoko Shimomura both have strong presence in the video game industry with Castlevania and Kingdom Hearts respectively, among many other titles. Ayami Kojima is another female linked to Castlevania as the concept artist. (and surely Castlevania games without her art simply do not feel like Castlevania games to me.


Here's a some more: Carol Shaw, Reiko Kodama. Dani Bunten, (a transgender female dev!). These three, and several others (seriously, do a little research and you will see a lot of female devs in the 1980s), show that females have been important to game development for a long time. Their inclusion in the industry has always existed, just sadly they aren't the names you see most often. Even though, given the era of game dev they worked in, they were all innovators!


Their legacy is buried under the idea that game dev and gaming is for men.


High caliber games aside, I think having a strong mix of gender representation in development will go a long way towards innovation. Our gender plays a role in our lives whether we like it or not - it makes us experience society and life from different perspectives (it may play little or big into how we act, but it undeniably plays BIG into how others act towards us), and that has a different impact on our experiences and in turn our creative voices. I think that THAT is what will go towards making better, more creative games.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


Of course. There have been developers of all genders for years already, the future won't change that. Even if the future tries to say "games are for dudes" and squeeze us out of the industry, it won't happen. People with a passion for game dev will find a way to game dev. Indie gaming kicking off more and more only helps assure that. I think the future will hold a lot of exciting things  from indie development, especially from marginalized voices beyond just that of gender.


(Particularly because the gaming industry has always been oddly cyclic in nature and I feel like the indie scene is pulling us towards an innovative bubble like the 1980s game dev scene. At least, that's what I hope! AAA are copying and stuck on franchises, someone's gotta break us out!)


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


I'll probably still be developing RPGs and VNs. They, for me, are the strongest genres for storytelling, and that's what aspect of game development I find most fascinating. How a game can tell a story while also being a game. If these are games that I am developing, then the people responsible for developing them are me and my posse. That simple. The only qualification to joining my posse is that I think you're cool. If only all things in life were that easy.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


I am a female gamer. Three games I enjoy very much: Might and Magic 6, 999, Final Fantasy Tactics. Though there are many, many more.


EDIT


Forgot current games


Offline: Fire Emblem Fates -Birthright-, Stardew Valley, Shining Force 2


Online: None

 

[LaFlibuste]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


My memories of that age are a bit blurry, so I'm not 100% sure which came first. 
My father was an electronic repairman. I remember him bringing back a computer he was repairing to test it out with me sometime, I remember playing The Incredible Machine. I thought it was awesome.
I also remember him having to repair a SNES sometime and the person had lent him an FF2 cartridge to test the machine. I remember having my mind blown at the same time as being extremely disappointed that the game wouldn't let you go into the airship from the opening cutscene to explore the thing inside-out. 
Finally, my parents got my sister and me a SNES for christmas when I was ~5 years old. The first game I played on that console was of course Super Mario World, but I got to play tons more. When I was good during the week (which was most weeks, apparently) I got to go rent a game for the weekend.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


I never play online. It's often far too costly to my taste and I don't really dig the online crowd. I especially hate PvP. 
As for what I prefer playing, it largely depends on my mood but on average I'd say some sort of mix between open-world sand-boxy games where I can build stuff and be generally creative and story-driven RPGs. Yeah, that's pretty specific. I'm not to strict on the genre and am pretty open to anything that can loosely fit somewhere in there.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Well as I've said, I'm not much of an online player. My only experiences are loads or StarCraft when I was in highschool and some Ultima Online RP Servers. I'd think there ought to b somewhat of flirting from the guys knowing they are playing with a girl, especially in RG environments where you actually incarnate a character. Do they give them more chances, are they more patient or at the contrary are they more stingy etc.? Couldn't really say. I know I tended to be drawn more towards female players when I played, but then again I was a teen full of hormone, so...


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Well I'm really speculating even more than for the previous question here but I'd tend to think gamer ladies are maybe more cautious around gamer guys as reactions can be very varied, unpredictable and maybe unfun? I know if playing with a specific demographic tended to them being *****y and calling me all kinds of things at the drop of a hat, I'd be cautious around them and try to avoid them.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


The funny thing is programming was at first considered to be a woman's thing because it was seen as drab redaction like a copywriter, stenographer or whatever would do, it was seen as unglorious. Then video games came around, interested guys in computers and it was seen as something creative and it became a guy thing. That being said, I think it's mostly a social construct. I guess a lot of girls are less interested in video dames and video game related careers because they are seen as men's careers and interests, but really it's social construct. Are there any woman developpers? Probably. Do I know of any? No. Then again, I don't know of any developper, male or female, so it's not really an indicative of anything.

On a side-note, you say "It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game", but really, we could say "It's widely know that if there's almost any kind of business, the chances are a guy is the one in charge of whatever the business does" Our society is just sexist that way, it kinda sucks, but I like to think we're working on it and it's getting better...


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


I guess monthly-suscription online games (with possible pay-to-play or pay-to-win stuff) will keep thriving as they are so profitable. Also, casual games, they reach quite the audience. I guess high-level sand-boxy simulations will also be on the rise, seeing how out hardware is more and more capable of handling them?


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


I feel like I just answered that? I guess having lots of degrees and qualifications is and will keep being something for big AAA studios, but hobbyists and indie devs will keep existing too. Who could force an indie dev to have a degree anyway?


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


I'm a guy. I'm not really playing anything right now... a bit of Mario Kart with my wife now and then... The last games I really played were the Shadowrun Returns series.

 

[shushcat]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?

• I can remember watching other people play NES games when I was little, but Duck Hunt and Mario are the only ones I can identify now.  It wasn't until my grandfather came into my life and showed us a few SNES games he had that I really became of the age to play and enjoy them.  I remember Drakkhen being one of the games along with Super Mario World and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.  I'm sure there were other games he had, too, but I don't remember them.  I guess 5 would be when I actually started to play?  I remember trying to become more of a proficient reader so I could read and understand the creation tale that was included in the Zelda booklet.
  

Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?

• I prefer games with more of a story, and I definitely like to play alone.  The whole concept of playing online with other people still seems weird to me.  I mean, the only way to play console games with other people growing up was to go to their house or invite them over (we didn't get a computer until 1996, and I didn't even start PC gaming until about 10 years ago, so I have no idea how it was online).  That said, I do like playing with another person who is physically in the room, even if it's a one-player game.  I've noticed in the past several years with a lot of Xbox and Playstation games is that they will allow for a second player...remotely instead of locally.  For example, I was visiting a friend, and we were trying to do 2-player for a new Resident Evil game since that's what one of the features was, but it wouldn't let you select controller two for the second player - it had to be a friend online.  Disappointing!
  

Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)

• I am absolutely a solitary gamer.  There is only one MMO that I've played, and that's Elder Scrolls Online, which I do still enjoy.  I've somewhat interacted with others, but only incidentally.  The main reason is actually because I use a gamepad and have no idea how to start chatting (and I don't have a microphone).  So honestly, I have no idea how male and female gamers treat one another online.
  
• However, I do have male and female friends and family throughout the years who play games!  I would definitely say that on a whole, the guys tend to be more competitive.  I remember in college playing a Street Fighter game with a male friend and him getting mad not only because I was beating him, but because I was beating him by repeatedly mashing A (or whatever button it was) while he was trying to employ button combinations and strategy!  And that's just one instance along with others in playing/observing guys in Halo and Smash Bros.  But I also won't say that males are the only ones to be competitive and strategic!  My best friend in middle school was basically like that as well, especially when we would play Perfect Dark or Golden Eye 007.  It's probably a personality trait, and it's probably brought out more in males.
  
• As far as the girls are treated, I only have my own experience.  I absolutely admit that I'm not the competitive type nor a completionist, so I don't really care about any of that.  When it came to playing with guys, just an obvious overall lack of those traits made them think of me as not a threat or competition at first.  And a lot of times, I wasn't, but occasionally I would sneak ahead and start to dominate     Even then, I think it was treated more like a novelty or pleasant surprise for the moment.
  
• But overall in my experience, the guys tend to be dismissive of girls who play games.  It's not in a rude way, and a lot of guys will help girls improve, but it all still has this slightly insulting slime to it, haha.
  

Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)

• Again, I don't have any MMO experience, but in real life I do believe there is more of a hesitation for a group of women to let a guy join a game than it is the other way around.  But, again, I believe that stems from just wanting to play a game for fun rather than competition.  When a guy doesn't claim to be the best or is hardcore about beating everyone, then he's a lot more fun to play with!
  

Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?

• I have no clue about this question.  I had a male friend who ended up working with Microsoft for games and a few female friends who worked for some other developers, but it's been almost ten years since I've spoken to either of them, so I can't really answer the question further than that.  I know there is a major issue with women who interact with the fans in community/marketing relations - lots of sexism there - but again, I can't comment on the development side.
  

Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?

• Likely??  Again, I'm not really hip to the development side of things.  
  

Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?

• More quick and casual games along with an expansion into the VR market, though I don't see that taking off in a major way aside from mobile uses until there are more advances.  Mobile is definitely a huge market right now, and I don't believe there is going to be a lot of "qualifications" involved.  Instead, I think the people who just learn it and do it on their own (or learn it on the job) will have the best success.  I went to an art school, and game development and theory classes were offered, but on the whole, I think the higher education side is still lacking.
  

Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.

• I'm a female gamer, and I'm currently playing Fallout 4, Skyrim (...still, lol), and Elder Scrolls Online (can you tell I am an open-world Bethesda fan haha) in addition to playing with RPG Maker VXAce!
  

 

[Olivier]

(Psst I'm non-binary but i was BORN female so i'm still qualified to take this survey...right? right? Right. ok. cool)


Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


I was in preschool--maybe 3 years old. My family had a NES. In the 2000s. We're old school. So, I can say that my first game was Super Mario Bros. Oh, I was OBSESSED with that game. It was all I would talk about. They even had me evaluated for autism at 4 years old because all I could talk about was Mario and nothing else. I pretended I was Mario and all. It's cringey.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


I'm a huge Skyrim junkie. I also enjoy Zelda games, as I always have. I was an active member of two MMOs, Wonderland Online and Luna Online, but Luna got shut down and no one plays WLO anymore :/


When I was 8 years old I got my very own console, a N64 (keep in mind this was the mid 2000s when the Wii was already out). I was so happy. I remember playing Ocarina of Time and writing stories about it throughout the 2nd grade. I still play Zelda today. This influenced my choice for games because I simply cannot play a game if the plot is lame...Zelda plots always interested me as a child.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


They certainly treated ME differently, that's for sure. At first I'd always play as a boy character (in my defense, I thought the boy characters were cuuuuute back then <3 ). But during my middle school years, with all the peer pressure to be normal and fit in and all, I decided to create my first girl character. People started treating me WAY differently, after that. Guys would always offer me help for free in-game, but would almost always ask for something else in return (most likely nudes, "be my girlfriend" or even the occasional "wanna get married?"). I appreciated the free help and items and all but UGH that was annoying.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


From what I've seen, yeah, they kinda do. At least, the "girl gamers" that I've played with. A lot of them are fake and willing to show their privates online for free in-game currency and they act super flirty to these boy characters and UGH so annoying...


There are the 'good' gamer girls too, but they always leave ._.


Playing as a "real" girl gamer meant I got bullied a lot by those fakers...saying I'm probably ugly since I refuse to show anything inappropriate online :/


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


I don't know any developers at all (I probably do but I'm forgetful of names). I DO know a college professor in my area though, she told me a story about how she wrote a paper on women in the gaming industry during her college years. I really hope that girls and guys can work together to create games, it really helps to have both opinions.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


I don't think I'm qualified to answer this question but...


Mobile in-app purchases might (i don't really know) keep the industry thriving. Gaming is going mobile, don't deny it (okay deny it if I'm wrong i don't really know). Even Nintendo is going that route :/  Hopefully, HOPEFULLY, there will be more girl developers. I'll never know for sure. We'll just have to wait and see, I guess. I don't know.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


In the future I honestly won't be surprised if there's some kind of virtual reality MMORPG out already...hopefully we'll live in a society where women and men are equally involved in the gaming industry. There'll probably be a lot of game designers but you need programmers to make a game...work, so, I don't really know :/


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


I'm not a girl gamer. I'm not a guy gamer. Heck, I don't even think I can call myself a gamer. After living 10 years of my life with a false diagnosis of Aspergers, I have learned to despise labels of all kinds. I'm just me, and I just happen to like playing games. That's it!


I'm currently a Skyrim addict (I tend to get obsessed with games 5 years after they're cool). If you consider Neopets a game, yeah, I play that too because I enjoy making profits and collecting coins and rare items and all, hahaha...


And last but not least, I'm currently playing Wind Waker, hoping to complete the game 100%. I'm usually lazy and don't do any of the side quests but I'm starting to get out of my comfort zone


(if I missed a question or I kinda answered one but didn't really, pls let me know because I tend to forget that stuff lol)

 

[Ksi]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


I was about 8-9. My first game was Alex the Kidd, a classic side-scroller on the Sega Master System. It was fun, but the only reason I played it was because it was the only game we had access to at the time. Later on I expanded the games I played.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


RPGs, story-based stuff. The occassional non-story-based stuff. Single-based games mostly. Not a big fan of MMOs.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Yes, in some games they do. One of the few times I played an MMO (Runescape), my brother wanted me to play with him which was fine, but then some people online started making comments when they realised I was female. In contrast, playing Rust today finding out I was a girl meant nothing to the players, which was cool and how it should be. No 'Hey, you got a cute girl!!! You wanna cyber?' or "I've got excess items, do you want them? Here have x hard to get item."


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Maybe, I don't know. I think for the most part we treat people just as people because we tend to just expect male gamers so just treat them as like, oh another person, meh. I know that there's some girls who find it odd to meet with another girl on a game and tend to be very 'holy ****, let's stick together' which is understandable in certain games where the male players are very vocal and reactive towards women players.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


I couldn't name successful game creators - men or women. I mean, there's the mario guy and... nope, I'm not really one for knowing that kinda thing. Hell, I barely remember names of companies. >.<;


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


Of course there are female developers. There always have been. Seriously... -.-


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


Probably all kinds and types just like now. Maybe more indie games will hit it big, maybe more VR and visual-based ones. It will depend on technology.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


Girl. Uh, a ton. Um... recently? Fallout 4, Slime Rancher and... Rust. There's a lot more but those are the ones I played today so...

 

[kaukusaki]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


Playing video games or other types? My family played a lot of board and card games. I also had a lot of other electronic games (Tiger electronics, Merlin, Classic Football/Basketball/Baseball, etc). As for video games, I played on the Apple2 in school (Oregon Trail - argh,  and other educational games). I also played on the C64 - my fav at the time was Black Hawk or Apache I think it was...Anyways,  I got a Sega Genesis at 12 and I was like 'wow, this is awesome'. The game that moved me was Comix Zone. I already enjoyed reading comics, but to actually play as a dude who draws them suddenly sucked into his world he created and having to defeat his villainous creation floored me. Also, the graphics and sound were awesome (for the time - much better than on the Apple2 lolz). That's when I learned one could actually go to school for such a thing. I was hooked. Later, when I was 14, I had a part time job and saved my money for my first PC game, Hexplore. The storyline and graphics were great (this is 1999 on a Compaq Persario Pro running Windows 98 SE), but when I got to the end (God destroys your party for getting the book of Hexplore rumored to have the power of creation and destruction) I was not happy with that ending. Why spend that time picking your party members, go on insane quests just to get zapped by god's pinky finger? No sequels, no answer as to why. So determined to rewrite the game myself, I found it was written in Direct X and then my journey on games programming began. The library was my friend, lolz.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


I still love RPG's (I played DnD as a kid, lolz but I enjoy all the subgenres under it - strategy, action, etc) and I also play a lot of other genres - sports, fighting, shooters, action/adventure, puzzle, interactive fiction (aka visual novels) and I own a few racing titles. I've always played single player (I have no real friends, lolz) and I don't care for MMOs. At the time I still had dial-up and it was very expensive. The few times I've played MMOs the experience sucked and I didn't care for getting whacked by PK's (player killers). Basically, if you don't join in when the game first comes out, you're screwed.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


I used to play at LAN parties (namely Prince of Qin and Civ2). Once actually going online, I hate how male gamers treat female gamers like crap. Even if they're getting trounced by skilled female players, male gamers (given my personal experience and observing in action) don't like losing and go balls out to give female gamers a hard time. If your voice sounds female, it really gets creepy. (My voice is alto range, so luckily I could pass.) Also there's so much racism and misogyny that makes playing online as a brown female avatar (if they have that option) difficult. I played as male characters but after a while, I got tired of pretending to be someone else I didn't like just to advance. Especially if the default is a pasty dude.  I have my own story to tell, why not reflect that? So I don't play online anymore despite being able to afford it now.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


I wouldn't know, because I never met any female players and given my many negative experiences online if I wasn't playing a pasty dude, I avoid it.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


I don't know much about female video game developers aside from knowing they're a rarity in the business (like the woman who wrote King's Quest series for Serria and the woman who developed Bayonetta. Sorry I can't recall their names). Over a decade ago when I was going to school, I was given so much static being the only brown female there by the majority pasty dudes that I had to sabotage computers and work just to show I had just as much skill and knowledge as those jive turkeys. I constantly got into it with my instructor so I left that school and went to another one. It was slightly better, but after I got my degree, no one wanted to hire me despite my credentials and skills. So I became independent and my goal was to produce games with more female protagonists and characters who weren't the default Caucasian/Japanese. I doubt the industry will ever change, because at the end of the day, it's still run by pasty dudes who have no social skills. They assume if you work there, you had to sleep to get in and if you work your way up, you slept to the top. I didn't want to deal with that kind of irksome office politics, hence venturing on my own.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


No need for a time machine, as the indie scene is exploding at a fast clip, and anyone with a decent machine and time can learn to create games. Games development will be more equal, and it wouldn't be focused on 'girl games' and 'guy games' especially having only the Caucasian male protagonist. The more original stories floating around, the more folks will see that one can cater to others than the teenaged suburban Caucasian male.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


My mission when I created my company Majestik Multimedia, was to help outsider artists get their stories told, as well as produce games, novels, and comics that had more tanned and female protagonists. We exist too and have unique stories to tell. I want to give them a voice. I don't know for sure what new games will be popular, as it's completely random, and it seems cool that VR is taking off, but you don't necessarily need a degree to develop these days like you did back in the day. Time, money, and persistence (like doing tonnes of research) is the only qualifications you need lolz.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


The only online games I throw my CC on is anything by Artix Software. I've been playing their stuff for over a decade and I enjoy it because it's cute, fun, and different than the stuff I've played back in the day. As for my favorite titles, I have too many games I like to play, so it's hard to narrow it down. and I'm not a dude.

 

[LightningLord2]

Q1: At what age did you first start to play games? Also, what was your first game (please describe a bit of the game) and how was the experience overall at that age?


I got to play myself when I was around 6. The first game I actually played was a 32-in-1 bootleg that actually had only 5 games - a Pinocchio platformer, Dr. Mario, Tetris, a Bowling Game and a Super Mario bootleg. I mostly focused on the puzzle aspects of Dr. Mario and Tetris. I wasn't into the other three games as much.


Q2: Now, going back to the present, what games do you enjoy now and what games influence your choice of games? Were they MMOs or single-based player games? Which one do you prefer?


I much prefer single-player games with emphasis on strategy. Many action games don't really make me think and just press everything really fast. Preferences right now heavily lean into Pokémon games at the time of writing.


Q3: Going online (in any MMO), you know that there are guy gamers as well as girl gamers who can play games just as well as they can. However, they treat them differently. Do you think guy gamers treat girl gamers differently, and if so, why? (And please, be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Since I barely go into online multiplayer due to lag, I don't see that much social interaction first hand. In the few times where I queue up to ladder in certain games, there's no social interaction at all in most games. I don't think I'm in the position to treat girls different from guys since I don't even know my opponent's gender.


Q4: Okay, let's have the good ol' role reversal from the previous question. Do you think girl gamers treat guy gamers differently when they play together online, and if so, why? (Again, please be detailed AND constructive without flaming anyone!)


Similar to above, I can't really make a statement since I avoid online games with larger communities very much.


Q5: So, with that in mind, let's think about the developers. It's widely known that if someone develops a game, the chances are a guy would be the one responsible for developing a game. Do you know of any developers (successful ones) who are actually girls? Also, do you think the gaming industry will eventually allow inclusion for both girls and guys to work together to create games of a high caliber? If so or if not, why?


From the top of my head, I can't really think of female game developers. Like in many professions, women rarely make it to the top positions through various reasons I don't feel like elaborating on right now. But I do predict a more positive development towards gender equality.


Q6: In the future (just imagine a time machine or something like that!), the gaming industry has thrived in many ways. What ways do you think the gaming industry has thrived by? And who would be the people developing those games? Were there girl developers as well as guy developers? If so or if not, why?


The game industry, as it always has been, is influenced by games with critical acclaim and lots of sales. Everyone wants to use stats and levelling after Final Fantasy took off. Crafting and gathering items became a hit with Minecraft's success. Perhaps Undertale's high popularity will drive more moral decision systems. As for gender distribution, it's probably perhaps a little less male-centric.


Q7: Also, in the future, what sort of games do you think are developing? Who are the people responsible for developing them? Will they have a qualification in game programming or game design in order to make games?


Honestly, most of the Triple A franchises aren't going anywhere for the time being. Maybe as the medium matures, there'll be more studied experts and less people who basically built this from the ground up.


Q8: One last thing... please indicate if you're a girl or a guy gamer and the games you are currently playing online as well as offline. Just three favorite games that make you enjoy playing them.


I'm a cis male gamer. I currently play, among other games, Hyrule Warriors Legends, Pokémon Yellow and Thea: the Awakening.