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Cultural & Gender Issues

in

Game Design

Maja & Paul Pivec © 2008 - 2013

Gender Issues

•  Guy Gamers versus

Girl Gamers

•  Gender Neutral Game Design

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - like to “Win” •  Girls - like Adventure

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - enjoy “Violence”

•  Girls - don’t

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - like “buxom” females

•  Girls - don’t

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - Punished for failure

•  Girls - Forgiven for failure

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - want “fun”

•  Girls - enjoy problem solving

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - want competition

•  Girls - want low frustration

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - want Combat

•  Girls - want Relationships

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Guys - fast moving

•  Girls - aesthetics; colors, images

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Male preferred games…

•  First Person Shooter

Half life 2

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Male preferred games…

•  First Person Shooter •  Real time Strategy

Warhammer

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Male preferred games…

•  First Person Shooter •  Real time Strategy •  Role Playing Game

City of Heroes

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Male preferred games…

•  First Person Shooter •  Real time Strategy •  Role Playing Game •  Racing Games

Need for Speed

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Female preferred games…

•  Sims Games

The Sims 2

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Female preferred games…

•  Sims Games •  Adventure Games

Tomb Raider

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Female preferred games…

•  Sims Games •  Adventure Games •  Activity Games

Sing Star

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Female preferred games…

•  Sims Games •  Adventure Games •  Activity Games •  Animal Games

Nintendogs

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Gender Neutral features – Fantasy – Humor – Rewards not punishment – Complex storyline, Complex activities – Curiosity – Emotions

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Gender Neutral Genres

•  Adventure

Monkey Island

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Gender Neutral Genres

•  Adventure •  Role Play

World of Warcraft

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Gender Neutral Genres

•  Adventure •  Role Play •  Simulation

Zoo Tycoon

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Gender Neutral Genres

•  Adventure •  Role Play •  Simulation •  Puzzle

Super Collapse

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Gender Neutral Genres

•  Adventure •  Role Play •  Simulation •  Puzzle •  Activity

Buzz

Gender Issues

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Gender Neutral Design •  Role Play Games •  Fantasy & Humor •  Rewards not Punishment •  Complex Activities and Storyline •  Likeable central Character

Gender Issues

• Color in computer games….

– Males prefer warm colors and saturated colors.

– Females prefer cool colors and softer colors.

– Females have a higher sensitivity to color than males.

Gender Issues

Gender Issues • Color in computer games….

– Under 10 years - Strong bright colors to promote happiness.

– 10 - 25 years - Warm colors. Intense color to attract attention.

– 25 - 50 years - Cool and intermediate colors, more realism.

– Over 50 years - Warm saturated color with differentiation.

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

• Color in computer games….

– Western culture •  Red signifies danger or anger. •  Yellow is cowardice or caution. • White is purity or goodness. •  Blue is calmness or coolness.

– Eastern culture •  Red signifies joy or festivity. •  Yellow is Honor or royalty. • White is Death and mourning. •  Blue is strength and power.

Cultural Issues

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Faith Conners “Mirrors Edge”

(EA Digital)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Lara Croft “Tomb Raider”

(Crystal Dynamics)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Samus Aran “Metroid Prime”

(Retro Studios)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Master Chief “Halo”

(Bungie)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Duke “Duke Nukem”

(3D Realms).

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Mario “Mario Series”

(Nintendo)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment)

Star Wars Galaxies (Sony Online)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Aion (Aion Development)

Spore (Maxis)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

“Nearly 80% of the students emotionally connected with the virtual characters.”

(Dias, et al., 2006)

Gender Issues Gender Issues

Coca-Cola (Superbowl Advertisement)

Gender Issues

•  Design for Gender – Topic, Genre, Style. – Gender specific, gender appropriate.

•  Design for Age group – Topic, Genre, Style. – Preference awareness, age appropriate.

•  Design for Culture – Topic, Genre, Style. – Culturally sensitive.

Cultural &Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Successful games come from original ideas. – Not another FPS or SIMS clone!

•  Target games lacking in popularity and analysis why. – Good games fail for the wrong reasons.

•  Analyze strengths and weaknesses of similar games. – Research your competition.

Cultural &Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Must be easy yet interesting, obvious not confusing.

•  Minimal frustration, Maximum feedback.

•  Attractive graphics and sound.

•  Well designed tutorial, can be within gameplay.

•  Scaffolded gameplay and create the “hook”.

Cultural &Gender Issues

Gender Issues

•  Design for target audience •  Test early and often •  Innovate don’t imitate •  Mixed gender design team

Cultural &Gender Issues

Gender Issues Practical Work - Session 5

§  In your groups, discuss the following and document the outcome in your development blog: –  Which genre is your game?

–  Who is your target audience?

–  Why will your game appeal to this audience?

–  Which features of your game are gender specific?

–  How could you make your game Gender Neutral?

Gender Issues

Gender Issues Practical Work - Session 5 cont…

§  Swap one group member with another team. Explain your game concept without telling them who your intended target audience is. Ask them which gender your idea would suit and why.

§  Reflect on their answers and document in your blog any changes you may wish to make as a result of this exercise.

Gender Issues

Gender Issues

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