I have to admit, it’s taken me longer than it probably should have to give a damn about the Wii. Funny name, funny controller… I just wasn’t convinced.
And then, one fateful day, gameplay footage game flooding in from E3 — and now I’m counting down the theoretical days until Super Mario Galaxy will be mine. All mine.
As the more astute observers — and Nintendo themselves — have been saying, the Wii (and all it’s kooky coolness) won’t be aimed at the mainstream Xbox360/PS3 crowd. Who will it be aimed at? People who love innovation, colorful graphics, and unique gameplay experiences.
In other words, girls?
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying, in any which way or form, that this is a girly system. I’m just saying, the direction Nintendo is taking seems to be much more female-friendly than that of it’s ammo-heavy, graphics-obsessed former rivals.
Maybe this is the just the open door that women need to make their full presence known in the “alternative” gaming scene — a welcome mat for the world’s non-traditional gamers.
June 2nd, 2006 at 12:52 pm
I guess I play games like a girl then, because the games I like are innovative, colorful, and unique. Like Harvest Moon, Katamari, and Chulip (which I’ve only seen Japanese ads for; does anyone know how I can get this game!? Search for it and watch the trailer if you want to be filled with excitement and desire).
But I also have enjoyed Bond, Halo, Perfect Dark, etc. But my favorite ones are the cool Japanese ones. Do other people agree that Japanese games tend to be more interesting, innovative, and enjoyable, while American ones are more similar and boring? That’s what I have found (no offense to the cool American games like Summoner: The Goddess Reborn).
June 2nd, 2006 at 7:26 pm
I guess I play games like a girl then.
Sorry, didn’t mean to imply that. I’m just pointing out that those also happen to be the kinds of games girls are often attracted to.
Do other people agree that Japanese games tend to be more interesting, innovative, and enjoyable, while American ones are more similar and boring?
Well of course :-). But here’s hoping we Americans can still break that boring mold!
June 2nd, 2006 at 11:30 pm
I'm just pointing out that those also happen to be the kinds of games girls are often attracted to.
As a genetic male who identifies partly as a female, I could say that I am attracted to the things you mentioned. I mean, I don’t play games, simply because I am not inclined to, but I certainly greatly value uniqueness and innovation in almost everything I surround/immerse myself with, including art, music, and even people. In fact, I have a certain degree of disdain for people, places and things that do not possess qualities such as those, especially uniqueness and innovation.
As far as color, I don’t necessarily prefer a bright and diverse rainbow of shades (like gender-normative girls seem to or are expected to), but I pay a great deal of attention to color in terms of aesthetics.
I guess given a perspective like that, perhaps it makes sense that a virtual space like Second Life would appeal to me, as opposed to a traditional game environment. Or am I assuming too much as far as how SL appeals to users? Also, would anyone hazard to theorize whether Second Life tends to attract a certain type of male (or female, for that matter)?
Yep, I know that’s a potentially very sticky question, but I just thought I’d throw it out there. Feel free to just let it hover and then fall softly and noiselessly to the ground. I don't think I'll be tackling it. I'd have to give it some more careful thought before ever doing so. Same goes for this: I kind of wonder how male users of SL differ from their counterparts who are more inclined to play traditional, shoot-'em-up computer/video games. Or is there even a measurable distinction? If I had research and statistical figures to back it up, I’d perhaps take on such questions. Interesting to think about, though.
June 2nd, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Ooops. Anonymous is yours truly. Forgot to fill out the boxes. Feel free to edit it to correct it if you can. :)
June 3rd, 2006 at 7:34 am
Another “hardcore”, or, I guess, previously-hardcore (I’ve got a wife and a job and don’t have 20 hours per week to game anymore) gamer chiming in to say I’m hugely excited about the Wii; far more than I was about the X360 or am about the PS3 and its hojillion dollar price point.
While Sony and MS have consistently pushed the “more polygons! Bigger textures! More explosions! More debris!” angle for the last several years, Nintendo has been quietly sitting back designing games that PLAY better instead of just LOOK better. And yes, I do think in this case, “play better” is the right term, at least for me. A system that focuses on immersing the player rather than just impressing them is better, from my point of view. A system my wife is likely to pick up and play with me is better than one she won’t, from my point of view.
I mean, I’m not planning on giving up my first person shooters and occasional action extravaganzas. But how refreshing to think that RTS games will now finally be playable on a console without trying to force them into a dual analog control system. How exciting to envision a game where controls are intuitive enough that anybody can pick up the controller and know how to throw the ball or swing the sword without looking at the instructions. Except for the DS (which I enjoy for similar reasons) I haven’t been *excited* about a new console in well over a decade, but the Wii, I’ll be getting as soon as I can.
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:33 am
I don’t think you have to design specifically for girls to appeal to a female, and I think Nintendo is facilitating the exploration of gender inclusive design spaces. I’d definetly like to develop for Wii and the DS as soon as possible
June 3rd, 2006 at 2:44 pm
I kind of wonder how male users of SL differ from their counterparts who are more inclined to play traditional, shoot-'em-up computer/video games.
Don’t let that fall “softly and noiselessly to the ground,” Noche. You may not have any official data, but this isn’t an official forum. Everyone’s entitled to their educated rant here ;-).
Personally, I’m inclined to believe there’s a good deal of overlap between men who play “traditional” games and games like SL (at least more than we might suspect) — because, in my opinion, these men don’t fit into one type or another, but have within themselves a number of different inclinations that access to different types of games (played however quietly) lets them give voice to.
“Another "hardcore", or, I guess, previously-hardcore (I've got a wife and a job and don't have 20 hours per week to game anymore) gamer chiming in to say I'm hugely excited about the Wii.”
That’s actually really nice to hear, Eric. In giving up on the Sony/Microsoft fight, Nintendo could experience a rebirth, or it could disappear. But with the support of the (intelligent) hardcore community, things are looking good.
June 3rd, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Also, Noche, if you don’t mind, can I ask: What’s your choice of real-life pronouns? Just getting ready to head out to San Fran…
June 3rd, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Masculine is fine, as I am genetically male and have no intentions to transition or undergo any type of hormonal therapy or hack off my genitals. I have many male characteristics - some of which I really loathe - but I am an androgyne. To go into a little more detail (since you asked!), I HATE traditional male clothing, I like to sit like a girl, I groom my eyebrows like a girl, I have androgynous physical features, I despise body hair, I still prefer peeing standing up, I don’t long to wear dresses and bras, I do like to wear a little makeup from time to time, I am attracted to both sexes, as long as the person looks (and acts) yummy enough.
So, that’s a Rated PG snapshot.
PS: No need to feel hesitant about asking me questions in regard to my gender identity. In fact, I like to talk about it openly with mature and intelligent people such as yourself. Thanks for asking!
June 3rd, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying, in any which way or form, that this is a girly system. I'm just saying, the direction Nintendo is taking seems to be much more female-friendly than that of it's ammo-heavy, graphics-obsessed former rivals.
As the resident antediluvian, I recall that the first wave of videogame kids was pretty co-ed. The boy/girl split really didn’t appear until the NES emerged from the wreckage of the Crash, and even then wasn’t solidified until the SNES/Genesis rivalry.
June 4th, 2006 at 6:32 am
I HATE traditional male clothing, I like to sit like a girl, I groom my eyebrows like a girl, I have androgynous physical features, I despise body hair… I do like to wear a little makeup from time to time, I am attracted to both sexes.
Ah, Noche, ever considered a left-leaning liberal arts education at a tiny college in New York State? You’ve just described a good 80% of the guys I go to school with (and adore). All except that part about not wanting to wear a dress… Point being, I totally understand where you’re coming from. Plus, boys who wear eye makeup make me all giggly :-).
June 4th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
Cue Belle & Sebastian music.
;)
June 4th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
As the more astute observers "” and Nintendo themselves "” have been saying, the Wii (and all it's kooky coolness) won't be aimed at the mainstream Xbox360/PS3 crowd. Who will it be aimed at? People who love innovation, colorful graphics, and unique gameplay experiences.
There’s the answer: People who love…gameplay experiences.
The Wii sells me on offering me experiences with that amazing controller. I can have a tennis, baseball, golf, fishing, driving, whack-a-mole, shooting etc experience just by holding the thing, without having to learn 16 buttons, 2 analog sticks and some arbitrary control system. The pick up and play element is huge.
SO who does this appeal to? Non-gamers. And there are more girl non-gamers than guy. So the aesthetic follows, and the Wii seems girly. And I’m happy about that. As another lapsed hardcore gamer, I’m becoming more and more evangelical about gaming hitting the mainstream. The Wii is that revolution.
June 4th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Then they should have called it “Revolution,” which was a perfectly good name. “Wii” just simply sucks rhino balls.
June 5th, 2006 at 9:22 am
“As the more astute observers "” and Nintendo themselves "” have been saying, the Wii (and all it's kooky coolness) won't be aimed at the mainstream Xbox360/PS3 crowd.”
Gee, what sort of clever lad could be so prescient about something like that? ;-)
As to your general point, I think Nintendo has always been more “girl-friendly” in the conventional / stereotypical sense than others: bright colors, cute mascots, less violent gameplay, etc. As such, they’ve always been more inviting to gamers who don’t dig the heavy focus on “guy games” - i.e., sports, racing, (violent) action, etc. - prevalent on other systems. I don’t see a big shift in focus in that regard with the Wii.
What the Wii does offfer is a major innovation in interface design. While motion-sensitive controllers have been around a long time, this is the first time anyone’s made it an integral part of their console design, AFAIK. It may not be as big a leap as, say, the move from CLIs to GUIs in the 80s, but it’s definitely a big deal. So people who don’t like gaming on either a PC’s mouse & keyboard or a console’s gamepad may find the Wii’s controller more inviting and easier to use.
Also, new interface mechanisms will give birth to new gametypes and new ways of playing old genres. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of clever new games on the Wii none of us have imagined yet. And again: new games will attract new gamers, who maybe didn’t care for previous offerings - and that will include girls.
Basically, my point is: technical innovations will lead to game design innovations, which will attract new customers, some of whom will be female. I don’t see the Wii as being specifically designed to be more inviting to girls; I see it as designed to be more inviting to new gamers.
June 5th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
The CLI to GUI comparison is a great one, because that’s the point at which computers started to become mainstream. The Wii is more accessible than any other gaming console before it, because of the intuitive controller. This shift will atract a more mainstream audience. Since the majority of current hard core gamers are male, the move to a more mainstream audience increases the number, and percentage of female players.
I wish I had something intelligent to say about more girls playing with a long, hard plastic object, but I don’t.
June 5th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
"Wii" just simply sucks rhino balls.
Umm…
I wish I had something intelligent to say about more girls playing with a long, hard plastic object, but I don't.
As always, things I second whole heartedly, but would get tomato-ed for saying :-).
June 5th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
The console and controllers look promising, Bonnie-san, but that name just completely sucks.
June 6th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Wii = Women Interactively Indoctrinated?
June 6th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Wii = Women Interactively Indoctrinated?
Indoctrination? Isn’t that a little harsh? Then again, the Wii has suddenly and inexplicably taken over my conscious mind. Must… buy… Wii…
The console and controllers look promising, Bonnie-san, but that name just completely sucks.
I don’t doubt it. But I’ve come to live with — and even revel in — the sheer suckiness.