Girls talk about SXE Phil's Statements
It was two weeks ago today that Phil, looking at different points of view, either ‘entertainingly’ or ‘informatively’ informed us with what he thought of girls that play video games. Since it is evident to most people that I am indeed a male, I believe I was not able to fully deliver this story, so I wanted to search deeper and find out what gamer girls thought of this. Through various interviews throughout the internet, I have found answers that are on both sides of the fence bringing the end of my curiosity on the subject. Several girls from GameGirl.com, GamerGirl.com, and GamingAngels.com were interviewed. Below is how they replied to the questions that were submitted by several Nerdiest Kids staff members both discussing the issue and off-topic questions.
This will not be your typical NK article. I will be keeping it strictly to the content, but I want to inform all those reading the format of the question. The questions are going to be typed in; after the question, the staff members alias will be typed in italics behind it. Underneath, either one to three responses will be listed from the ladies.
“How well do you interact with male gamers whether it is through Xbox Live, Playstation Network, or any other platforms that promote socialization between gamers?” -ViggoTheCarp
“I think I interact with other guy gamers just fine. I grew up with all guy friends, even today I have a lot of guy friends. I just feel like I can communicate better with guys. So I usually interact with them on and offline really well. I don’t mind if a guy wants to challenge me to “prove” myself….I always accept a good challenge and it’s all about enjoying the game, not about who wins or loses.” -Raychul Moore
“To be honest I play XBL on a separate account altogether. I have no interest in anyone knowing I’m a girl. A player’s gender has absolutely nothing to do with skill. So I’d venture to say I interact pretty well.” -Heather Sanchez
“I don’t have too much experience with strangers online. My list is full of people I know, and they are supportive in all I do. I did, once, get a guy that said I sounded hot and requested me as a friend but that’s about as far as it goes. I’ve also heard stories about guys picking on girls because the fact that they are girls. However, it’s so easy for someone to hide behind their virtual facades that both sexes get harassed. I honestly think we just hear more complaints about it from the girls. I probably would too. Just shut up and let me play:)” -Jessica Villarreal
“What do you think of what SXE Phil originally said in his YouTube Video? Please explain your feelings.” -ViggoTheCarp
“I absolutely love SXE Phil. I’ve subscribed to him for a long time and I personally think what he said was hilarious. It’s just a stereotype, and I don’t see anything wrong with what he said. He jokes all the time and what he says is true. A LOT of girls are exactly like what he says online. He’s just making a joke.” -Amanda Heath
“I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However I wouldn’t think he actually knows 90% of girl gamers or has played with them to be able to make that judgment. Most girls are passionate about the games they play, not their gender. There are a great deal of stereotypes about female gamers and one of our goals at GirlGamer.com is to provide a home for real gamers and cut through the misconceptions that they deal with on a daily basis.” -Alexandra Mokh
“I have avoided watching SXE Phil so far, somehow, but I thought that this was completely entertaining. There are girl gamers that will do that. Those are most likely the girls who game online for attention. Those girls probably act the same way in real life with everything else they do as well. And I understand the mentality completely, not that I can relate to it. There are those guy gamers out there who take notice of the trend in such a way because most true girl gamers are not as vocal and don’t call so much attention to themselves in that way. He just happened to mention it and display it in a rather hilarious way.” -Megan Haley
“What is one stereotype of girl gamers that you would wish would die?” -Buddhapunch
“I sorta of feel like this whole “girl gamer” phenomena has been going on for so long that people aren’t as surprised anymore by the fact that females game. I haven’t been bothered with any stereotypes lately, and the few times I have it’s been by 12-year-olds and trolls on forums, and I hardly care what they think anyway. Not every girl who has an opinion or has pictures of herself is an attention whore, and just because some females might dislike the way they are marketed to doesn’t make them feminazis.
It is odd. You’d think a group of people who have been subjected to so many unfair and negative stereotypes for so many years would back away from using them against people. The people who bring up these stereotypes are all fat, nerdy virgins who live in their parent’s basement, right?” -Nikole Zivalich‘I don’t particularly care. I love stereotypes and think they’re just funny. Plus, I don’t fall under most of them anyway, and if people are just going to judge me by stereotypes, I don’t want to be associated with them anyway.” -Amanda Heath
“Although it’s never happened to me, I always hear that girls have to deal with “o she’s too pretty to be a gamer,” “she doesn’t look like like a freak she can’t be a gamer,” “she’s just an attention whore.” Usually when I tell people I play games, people have been genuinely interested and intrigued by the hobby. Maybe I’m just a lucky one. But as for the stereotypes, they’re not gonna die. People judge, people seek out controversy and you just have to learn to ignore it. Seriously.” -Jessica Villarreal
“Why do you think that guys over react when they find out that they have been one upped by a girl gamer?” -HollywoodRS
“Because they have this thing called a penis. It’s the reason they do the majority of dumb things they do.” -Nikole Zivalich
“It’s the same reaction if you beat a guy at a foot race or at arm wrestling or at sports…it’s in their nature to always want to be stronger, faster and smarter. Guys are supposed to be our protectors and our providers, by traditional views, so it’s natural for them to get sour when one of us girls can totally kick their ass. It’s not only in gaming, it’s in every aspect of boy vs. girl interactions.” -Raychul Moore
“Basically our culture has made real female gamers some enigma that are only heard of and never actually encountered. It’s quite silly. I used to be the main Pally tank pre-WOTLK for my old guild, and I intimidated a lot of men to the point where they would either try to boss me around or pick a fight. Come on guys, don’t act like sore losers.” -Heather Sanchez
“Do you think that game developers and distributors market towards you differently, and does it play into the perception of a girl gamer?” – Buddhapunch
“Sure, I think game developers definitely try to market to females differently, and it makes the games different than they had been if it hadn’t been marketed to females. They just have a different feeling anyway.” -Amanda Heath
“I think that developers do market differently. I wish more of them would sort of state that games like the Imagine series are geared towards younger to teen girls. Instead they call them “games for girls”; they’re not. You can’t lump all girls into one category.” -Jessica Villarreal
“Marketing isn’t about equality, or doing what’s right, or what’s best for women. Marketing is taking facts and statistics about a demographic and using that to sell a product. I see “girly” games being pushed on me with pink, babies, dancing, and cooking. None of these things appeal to me, but I’d say they do appeal to at least 50% of women. This isn’t to say it doesn’t bother me, I just understand why it’s done. Who am I to say Halo is more a of a video game then Image: Fashion Designer. Obviously those girly game are being sold otherwise they wouldn’t be made.
Even though I don’t think it’s true, I like to look at the way marketing in gaming works differently. I try and see it as these companies are trying to sell their product by making it seem as enticing as possible. For example, the Gears of War 1 commercial made the game seem dark and violent, and that’s going to appeal to a certain type of “gamer” not gender. And then there’s the Sims 2 expansions; those commercials are colorful and full of outfit changes. I don’t think that’s trying to appeal to women, but rather the type of person that would like that game. If you choose to look at it that way then there’s nothing wrong it at all.” -Nikole Zivalich
Another article with the rest of the answers will be coming out soon. Just wait! Also, for all those that got down here, I am going to be giving away a free XBLA game within the next week. Details coming soon.
-ViggoTheCarp-
2 Responses to “Girls talk about SXE Phil's Statements”
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Wow first off great article! It is really good to hear from the female community on this issue. It really sheds some light on how female gamers like to be perceived etc etc. Thank you all for answering those wonderful questions!
That was great! ZOMG cell phone comment FTW and I think its amazing I can even access NK from my phone.