Comments on: Girl Gamer Playing Dead http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:44:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-515 Bonnie Tue, 22 Nov 2005 21:14:20 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-515 Good point, qDot. I'll have to check out the casual gaming side of things more in the future. Good point, qDot. I’ll have to check out the casual gaming side of things more in the future.

]]> By: qDot http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-514 qDot Tue, 22 Nov 2005 07:32:25 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-514 I think you're looking for pink in all the wrong places. The whole "pinking" (God, I LOVE that verb) of games seems to reside mostly in casual gaming, or at least, that's what the Women's Game Conference led me to believe. Sure, there was a pro gaming panel, and my god, some of the female MMOers scared me BADLY (copperangel, I'm looking in your direction =D ), but it seemed like most of the industry thinks the next bejeweled is the big thing, and that's going to be pushed on cell phones and Live Arcade, not in the game stores. One casual games grow larger (and they will, nothing ever stays small forever) and make it into the chain stores, then the transition might start happening more, but if the companies aren't backing it, like hell the minimum wage clerks are. I think you’re looking for pink in all the wrong places. The whole “pinking” (God, I LOVE that verb) of games seems to reside mostly in casual gaming, or at least, that’s what the Women’s Game Conference led me to believe. Sure, there was a pro gaming panel, and my god, some of the female MMOers scared me BADLY (copperangel, I’m looking in your direction =D ), but it seemed like most of the industry thinks the next bejeweled is the big thing, and that’s going to be pushed on cell phones and Live Arcade, not in the game stores. One casual games grow larger (and they will, nothing ever stays small forever) and make it into the chain stores, then the transition might start happening more, but if the companies aren’t backing it, like hell the minimum wage clerks are.

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-512 Bonnie Tue, 22 Nov 2005 04:15:46 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-512 Ferrous, by "gaming bimbo" I just mean someone who knows next to nothing about games. My point was less to totally accurately play that role - which could exist in tons of variations - and more to see what clerks would recommend to a girly custumer with, essentially, no clue. But I hear what you're saying. If I ever do more bimbo spy work, I'll have to develop my character carefully :-). Ferrous, by “gaming bimbo” I just mean someone who knows next to nothing about games. My point was less to totally accurately play that role - which could exist in tons of variations - and more to see what clerks would recommend to a girly custumer with, essentially, no clue. But I hear what you’re saying. If I ever do more bimbo spy work, I’ll have to develop my character carefully :-).

]]> By: Brummbar http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-511 Brummbar Tue, 22 Nov 2005 01:29:51 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-511 "If I walked into EB with big saucer eyes and pink lipstick, would someone point me toward Barbie's Pet Rescue?" Never worked for me. They always call the mall security guards. “If I walked into EB with big saucer eyes and pink lipstick, would someone point me toward Barbie's Pet Rescue?”

Never worked for me. They always call the mall security guards.

]]> By: Katherine http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-509 Katherine Tue, 22 Nov 2005 00:29:19 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-509 A couple of days ago I walked into EB and I asked if they had any fun 4-player games besides mario party4/5 and guess what this guy said? " I dunno you might try Mario Party, it is pretty easy." I am not even making this up. I mean I know I am a thirteen year old girl, but he should have atleast listened to me! ~_~ Just felt like this related to your post. A couple of days ago I walked into EB and I asked if they had any fun 4-player games besides mario party4/5 and guess what this guy said?
” I dunno you might try Mario Party, it is pretty easy.” I am not even making this up. I mean I know I am a thirteen year old girl, but he should have atleast listened to me! ~_~

Just felt like this related to your post.

]]> By: FerrousBuller http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-508 FerrousBuller Mon, 21 Nov 2005 23:49:38 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-508 I don't expect the average sales clerk to know squat about videogames, any more than I expect the guy who works the seafood counter at the supermarket to know how to fix a killer lobster bisque. Sure, it's nice if they have that kind of knowledge, but it isn't a requirement of their position. That said, what exactly do you mean by "total gaming bimbo?" Ignorant, yes, but how ignorant? When they ask you what sort of games you're looking for and why, what do you tell them? Perhaps more to the point, do <i>you</i> even know what you mean by "gaming bimbos?" Have you ever met any or are you just trying to pretend to be a stereotype which doesn't exist outside your own head? That's not meant to sound accusatory - I ain't Phoenix Wright, yo - but rather me asking you if you've asked yourself these sorts of questions before you tried to play this part. Since you're not a total gaming bimbo, it's relevant to ask just what you think one is like - and whether you've ever actually met anyone like that. As with any stereotype, you need to ask yourself just why you feel it's somehow valid. I don’t expect the average sales clerk to know squat about videogames, any more than I expect the guy who works the seafood counter at the supermarket to know how to fix a killer lobster bisque. Sure, it’s nice if they have that kind of knowledge, but it isn’t a requirement of their position.

That said, what exactly do you mean by “total gaming bimbo?” Ignorant, yes, but how ignorant? When they ask you what sort of games you’re looking for and why, what do you tell them? Perhaps more to the point, do you even know what you mean by “gaming bimbos?” Have you ever met any or are you just trying to pretend to be a stereotype which doesn’t exist outside your own head?

That’s not meant to sound accusatory - I ain’t Phoenix Wright, yo - but rather me asking you if you’ve asked yourself these sorts of questions before you tried to play this part. Since you’re not a total gaming bimbo, it’s relevant to ask just what you think one is like - and whether you’ve ever actually
met anyone like that. As with any stereotype, you need to ask yourself just why you feel it’s somehow valid.

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-507 Bonnie Mon, 21 Nov 2005 22:20:32 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-507 Ah, that makes more sense :-). Thanks! Ah, that makes more sense :-). Thanks!

]]> By: MD² http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-506 MD² Mon, 21 Nov 2005 19:01:19 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-506 Sigh. My philosophy teacher was right I <i>need</i> to learn not to write into alusive mode, as if everyone new whatever is going on in my head. :) Anyway, what I meant was that I have often observed that a lot of the people we tend to think stupid are generally quite intelligent in their own right, but have left a whole part of what we consider being intelligent out of their experience. Consider intelligence as a force-flow. Intelligence as flowing water. You can learn to channel and direct it. It takes times and dedication though to acquire and use the set of tools necessary to fit your needs, and you can only do so if said tools are actualy available to you. Dams, terraced rice-fields and aqueduct do exist, but they're a collective process already dependant on external factors. For most people, the only available solution is to let the flow follow the slope, or let the powerful collective stream drive it, in both cases limiting to one main direction. What we often believe to be a lack of intelligence is just intelligence without control, going in a direction we do not agree with, or do not see the point of. (Sorry for the unnecessary rambling, but I just too much enjoyed writing that answer old-sage-in-a-cave-up-the-mountain way) Sigh.
My philosophy teacher was right I need to learn not to write into alusive mode, as if everyone new whatever is going on in my head. :)

Anyway, what I meant was that I have often observed that a lot of the people we tend to think stupid are generally quite intelligent in their own right, but have left a whole part of what we consider being intelligent out of their experience.
Consider intelligence as a force-flow. Intelligence as flowing water. You can learn to channel and direct it. It takes times and dedication though to acquire and use the set of tools necessary to fit your needs, and you can only do so if said tools are actualy available to you.
Dams, terraced rice-fields and aqueduct do exist, but they’re a collective process already dependant on external factors. For most people, the only available solution is to let the flow follow the slope, or let the powerful collective stream drive it, in both cases limiting to one main direction.
What we often believe to be a lack of intelligence is just intelligence without control, going in a direction we do not agree with, or do not see the point of.

(Sorry for the unnecessary rambling, but I just too much enjoyed writing that answer old-sage-in-a-cave-up-the-mountain way)

]]> By: Bonnie http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-505 Bonnie Mon, 21 Nov 2005 18:02:01 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-505 Hey Carl, that's a good point. Thanks for mentioning that. I don't mean to stereotype the clerks as much as see what their suggestions would be for a stereotypical girl. In that sense, they don't need to play along. All gamers, male or female, have to start as newbies; they could suggest worthwhile things... MD^2, I hear you on the acting. I don't claim to actually be any good at that :-) (Somehow I don't think I picked the hardest audience or the toughest material.) But I'm not quite sure what you mean by this: <i>I guess it has to do with the fact what we consider stupidity is all too often nothing but misplaced (from our point of view) intelligence specialisation.</i> Hey Carl, that’s a good point. Thanks for mentioning that. I don’t mean to stereotype the clerks as much as see what their suggestions would be for a stereotypical girl. In that sense, they don’t need to play along. All gamers, male or female, have to start as newbies; they could suggest worthwhile things…

MD^2, I hear you on the acting. I don’t claim to actually be any good at that :-) (Somehow I don’t think I picked the hardest audience or the toughest material.) But I’m not quite sure what you mean by this:

I guess it has to do with the fact what we consider stupidity is all too often nothing but misplaced (from our point of view) intelligence specialisation.

]]> By: MD² http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-504 MD² Mon, 21 Nov 2005 17:48:55 +0000 http://www.heroine-sheik.com/2005/11/21/playing-dead/#comment-504 As I was saying this very morning about recently deceased actor Jacques Villeret:"You need to be very intelligent to act the part of an idiot, and it takes great mastery of the acting craft to stay credible for more than an instant. That or you must be enough of an idiot yourself". I guess it has to do with the fact what we consider stupidity is all too often nothing but misplaced (from our point of view) intelligence specialisation. As I was saying this very morning about recently deceased actor Jacques Villeret:”You need to be very intelligent to act the part of an idiot, and it takes great mastery of the acting craft to stay credible for more than an instant. That or you must be enough of an idiot yourself”.

I guess it has to do with the fact what we consider stupidity is all too often nothing but misplaced (from our point of view) intelligence specialisation.

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