(X-Posted in Kotowari.)
(warning: rant ahead.)

Have you seen this? It is a hilarious (and humbling!!) article on what it’s like watching your girlfriend attempt a shooter game for the first time (She doesn’t know how to aim! Ladders confuse her!) It talks about how watching your girlfriend flail about, “contorting her body,” and apologize profusely to online team members makes you appreciate the knowledge you have as a long-time gamer.

The article mentions how inexplicably the zombie-horror-movie-lovin’ girlfriend is drawn towards the zombie shooter Left 4 Dead.

Yeah, I know, right? But you love her (or at least need something to brag about to your online buddies) and so you put up with inanities such as:

Her first instinct was to try and avoid aiming entirely. But when navigating around doors became an issue, she was forced to figure out what the second analog stick did. I felt bad for her. We were playing online with friends of ours, while she quickly sunk the team in almost every scenario we played. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she would plea, as she tried to climb up the stairs.

Oooooh, dear. At least her actions constituted a hearty chuckle or two as you drifted down memory lane, back when you had your first headshot as a wee lad. And after you get through all of this, you have something to be proud of! An accomplishment such as getting your girlfriend to put up with your bullshit eye-rolling and undermining tones (and presumably using gamer terminology she has never heard of) whilst she try to put up with the mindfuck that is the XBox controller is not something to be taken lightly.

Seriously, are we still talking about this? Is having a girlfriend wanting to play a video game she’s never tried before so rare that you document her like some kind of experiment? The ironic part is that the article/vlog does touch upon the cause of its own sexist undertones: none of the XBox games normally appeal to her.

Look at Nintendo Wii and DS commercials.

Notice anything? They feature women lounging about, talking about fireworks (”chhhyeah are you KIDDING me??”) in Animal Crossing or learning to cook with their large-headed daughters (never sons.) They hardly ever show the actual game play, whereas commercials for XBox games – specifically First Person Shooters – are all about the game’s graphics, which often feature war-torn environments in which aliens and big men in suits shoot laser weapons and blow shit up. Most XBox games already have a huge male-based following, making it hard for potential female gamers who only know that they are supposed to raise Hamsterz and Babiez.

I am glad that Kotowari is a female-friendly video game blog. The only assumption that Roy makes is that you read his articles because you enjoy the same games as he does. You will never find a post about him documenting me playing shit for the first time – instead, he would rather have me write a review. You see that, there? Progress. Say it with me now. Progress.

6 Comments »

Funny, and excellent timing. A coupla weeks ago, in my Concept Development class, we were pitching ideas for an animation we’re doing next semester. One guy’s story involved the main character trying to play a video game with a friend. The teacher (a woman incidentally) suggested the friend be someone who doesn’t know much about video games, thus loses interest quickly. The student’s response was, “Yeah, it could be a girl.” What ensued was about two hours worth of sporadic women-bashing, because all the guys in the class thought it was funny.

Pisses me off how this industry is still so heavily male-dominated.

Said by Nilah | December 7, 2008 @ 6:18 pm

I don’t understand how industries still alienate a great number of potential innovators just because they are female. Especially in the gaming industry – Nintendo has everyone beat simply because they started to target female audiences (albeit with some stereotypical marketing) It’s still hard to find a Wii in stores after it’s been out for so long. Can’t say the same for the PS3 or the XBox…

Said by Foxes | December 9, 2008 @ 11:18 am

It’s humorous in that it’s a person (namely a woman) who is so absolutley terrible at first-person shooter games it’s laughable. But not when you take into account the fact they’re laughing not at her inability to play the game but that she’s a girl playing the game regardless of how badly. I personally as a long time gamer geek find it incredibly insulting when I try to start serious discussions with other (male) gamers on the subject only to be laughed at or proverbially ‘patted on the head’ and ’send me on my way’ because of my sex. I’m sick of the condescending manner I am treated in just because I’m a girl. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one.

Said by Sophie | December 9, 2008 @ 10:01 pm

It’s one thing if the article were about his little sibling playing it for the first time, with the same reactions. But “documenting” his own girlfriend and saying he’s “proud of her” – like what, his daughter? It’s just insulting. And the thing is, these sorts of articles are always about the gamer’s girlfriends – never their little siblings, or their unhip parents, or something else that might merit this sort of “awww lookit them try” sort of reaction.

Said by Foxes | December 10, 2008 @ 12:06 pm

Exactly it’s ridiculous how chauvenistic these industries are. And quite ironic considering that there are many strong female lead-characters both in Comic Books and Videogames (EX Lara Croft) but yet many (male) gamers find it humorous when a real girl finally picks up the controller. Furthermore, I find it quite contradictive that, with the amount of complaining that has occured over time from the pervayors of these so-called ‘underground’ endevours about the “alienation and ridicule” at the hands of the mainstream, one would think the last thing those involved in said ‘pop-culture phenomenon’ would want to do is alienate and ridicule people trying to partake in the activities that they themselves have so long been teased for. Especially over something as petty as a persons gender. :/

Said by Sophie | December 10, 2008 @ 10:53 pm

P.S. as a fellow gamer I must say–Excellent work on Kotowari. Have you been to destructoid.com yet? If not head over there and watch ‘Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin?’ It’s the features editor and his sister’s gaming escapades. I love it.

Said by Sophie | December 10, 2008 @ 11:07 pm

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