Video games are primarily targeted at guys but many gals are gamers too!
- Paul Wong
- Residents of Kabul ride bicycles past a northern alliance tank with a soldier standing on top in the Afghan capital yesterday afternoon, a day after the Northern Alliance entered the capital after Taliban troops fled.<br><br>AP PHOTO
Girls, too, can strategize, duke it out and bring a vilified city to its knees.
Make no mistake, girls have got what it takes and have fun doing it. LSA freshman, Nancy Zou said, “They are fun and stimulating especially when I play with a bunch of people to make it more fun, the more people the more fun it is.”
She is not alone in this belief. When asked why she likes playing videogames LSA senior Dani Gatewood said, “They are a lot of fun and bring back good memories.”
“Sonic the Hedgehog and NFL and hockey stuff are cool to play,” commented Embei Vannoy an LSA sophomore.
For some gaming gals, they”re simply a good way to create competition amongst friends as well as a cool challenge. “It gets my blood rushing and adrenaline pumping,” said Gina Chong an LSA senior. “They make you stay more awake and alert and have good reflexes,” said Zou.
For others it”s a chance to live vicariously through the adventures of the characters and the themes of the game and also to take on an entirely different personality. LSA senior Valerie Waldron said,” I am quiet sometimes but not when I play “cause I get to kick butt.”
Many girls expressed a growing admiration for videogames after repeated play, even if they did not conquer and defeat the entire game. “No matter how much I play, in general, I suck at the shooting games but I like them,” said Chong.
According to Gatewood, “It”s fun to try different short-cuts and stuff to get to the last boss. I get to the last level then quit.” So the basic idea is not to win the game but to play. Gatewood continued to say, “I haven”t beaten most of Paperboy, “cause I never finish.”
Some girl gamers find videogames to be an escape from reality and from the mundane activities of school because they”re a good way to vent aggression. They are a form of stress relief or a natural high.
An adventurous fight in dark castles against interesting looking bad guys with unique weapons and extraordinary rewards helps satisfy some girls” hunger for physical combat. Videogames provide action, violence, brief drama and enough sexual imagery to quench any such appetite for days. Thus, in a market targeting the fulfillment of male fantasy, females reap some suitable perks too.
And still for other female players, videogames allow for the mental ass whooping of someone they may be unable to whoop physically.
Videogames are fit for all ages but like most entertaining programs, actually having a game system is essential. According to Chong, “Accessibility of the games is important because you can play games by yourself, but it”ll be weird to go to your friend”s or someone else”s house and play by yourself.” She also said, “Older people play games to socialize but younger people do it differently.”
Supporting the idea that girls can like videogames just as much as any guy and get more enjoyment from it was Waldron who said, “I think most of us like it just as much as they do, we just don”t admit it.”
Some women make game playing apart of their schedule by visiting neighborhood arcades. For instance, Chong stated, “At Pinball Pete”s, I play “House of Dead,” “Ghosts” and other stuff.”
In an explanation of why she believes she started playing video games, Chong said, “I grew up playing videogames because I grew up with all guys”. LSA sophomore Embei Vannoy said, “I played because my brothers made me. I liked getting to the next stage so I kept playing.”
unable to whoop physically.
According to Chong, “Accessibility of the games is important because you can play games by yourself, but it”ll be weird to go to your friend”s or someone else”s house and play by yourself.” She also said, “Older people play games to socialize but younger people do it differently.”
Supporting the idea that girls can like videogames just as much as any guy and get more enjoyment from it was Waldron who said, “I think most of us like it just as much as they do, we just don”t admit it.”
Some women make game playing apart of their schedule by visiting neighborhood arcades. For instance, Chong stated, “At Pinball Pete”s, I play “House of Dead,” “Ghosts” and other stuff.”
In an explanation of why she believes she started playing video games, Chong said, “I grew up playing videogames because I grew up with all guys”. LSA sophomore Embei Vannoy said, “I played because my brothers made me. I liked getting to the next stage so kept playing.”