Kotaku: Girls On Gaming

Yes, Females Play Video Games (More Should Make 'Em!)

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:00:52 EST

More data! CNN points out that according to the Entertainment Software Association, 38 percent of gamers are females and spend an average of 7.4 hours a week playing video games. What's more, they spend the rest of their time, doing other things. Not surprised! Sony Computer Entertainment's Torrie Dorrell points out: More »

A Smart Article On Something Everyone Knows

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:00:21 EST

Yes, yes. Women play video games, we know, we know, blah, blah, blah. As obviously insulting and simplistic as the Lancashire Telegraph's article "Girls Discover Joys of Gaming" could be, it's actually not. It's got nice quotes like this from a "game-her" (geddit?): More »

On Women in the Industry (Jade and Ubisoft)

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:00:51 EST

We didn't understand all the hype, really. While everyone was gibble-gabbling about Jade, we were so into the game's Creative Director Patrice. We even learned his last name! (It's Desilets.) Others focused more on Ubisoft producer Jade Raymond. MTV's Multiplayer blog has an insightful interview up with game journo Jane Pinckard about women in the game interesting. We've been big fans of Pinckard's blog Game Girl Advance for donkey's yonks. Anyway, here's what she has to say about the whole Jade Raymond media circus: More »

Do You Have A Gamedar?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:00:05 EST

In case you missed the memo, we'll bring you up to speed: Just because women don't have penises, doesn't mean they aren't gamers. What's more, women in college play video games. USC student paper Daily Trojan profiles some female co-eds who are totally into games, blah, blah. Swell! That's ground we've covered before, so we'll skip that. Instead, we bring you this nugget: More »

Girls So Want Babies, Clothes and Cooking

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:00:40 EDT

Remember Ubisoft's ~~propagation of female gaming stereotypes~~ Imagine series for the DS? Sure ya do! According to French publisher Ubisoft, in-house research showed that pre-teen girls were interested in things like fashion, cooking and caring for animals and babies (and probably baby animals). The Imagine series is aimed at 6-14 year-old females. According to Ubisoft's Shara Hashemi: More »

Game Vixens To Look Up To

Brian Ashcraft — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:00:39 EDT

Top ten list for female gaming characters usually look like this. Old hat and mehsville. So! It's nice to see something, I dunno, different? Interesting? Over at ShinyShiny, they've put together a list of ten female game characters to idolize. They are: More »

Girl-Friendly Game Covers

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 06:00:47 EDT

Don't judge games by their covers? Riiight. Blog Guilded Lilies has an insightful post up about doing just that. More »

Kotaku Magu: Teen Vogue's Wii, We, Oui

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:00:12 EST

Eds Note: This could either be a "Bad Wii Pun Watch" or a "Kotaku Magu." More »

Cover That DS Lite In Hello Kitty-ness

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 08:22:31 EST

Maker of all things kawaii Sanrio has announced cuter than cute Hello Kitty and Charmmy Kitty decoration film for the DS Lite. The price is listed as open, but the Sanrio online shop is selling each sheet for 680 yen (US $5.90). Should go over big with little girls and Kotaku editors with pink DS Lites. Brian Ashcraft More »

Glamour Magazine: Girls Luv Playing With Wii

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:22:31 EST

If you're not getting all your gaming news from Glamour magazine—and really, why aren't you— then you could've missed this big spread on the new console. Between articles on "why the wrong man can be so right for you," comes word that the Wii is fem-friendly. Here are five reasons why: More »

Nancy Drew Back In Tight Pink Shirt

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:22:13 EST

Eons ago, we posted something on a Nancy Drew game. And of course made fun of it. The company that made it, HerInteractive, just dropped word that there's another game for us to make fun of as well! They write: More »

The Girliest DS Lite On This Spinning Blue Globe

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:23:23 EDT

A cute game like Sega's Love and Berry needs a cute DS, but this cute? The above Lite has been covered in oh-so-kawaii stickers and outfitted with a card reader that integrates DS Lite game play and Love and Berry cards. If you're able to look at this saccharine and not squeal in delight, that means only one thing: this gear isn't directed at you. Me? I'm giddy. Brian Ashcraft More »

The Mother of All Japanese Girly Arcade Card Games

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 17:22:54 EDT

Capcom's Wantame is a breeding, dress-up doggy arcade rhythm game with collectible cards that synchronize with cute portable liquid crystal peripherals. That's everything could possible appeal to a Japanese girl under the age of 8. Heck, even that man in the photo is all giddy. Brian Ashcraft More »

Consoles Explain Desires of Japanese Women

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:21:53 EDT

The latest issue of Otona Fami (Famitsu for adults, minus the hardcore gaming bit), a study's been published that gauges interest in the Wii and the PS3. A survey of 216 folks showed that 73.6 percent were interested in buying a Wii, 16.7 percent wanted a PS3 and 9.7 percent didn't want either and were content watching bad Japanese TV. More »

The Love & Berry Beach House Defines Tacky

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 15:22:59 EDT

Late last month, we reported that Sega's popular girly card game Love and Berry was getting its own beach house. Famitsu sent a photographer out to Kanagawa Prefecture to take pics of the giant, tacky pink structure. Besides Love and Berry arcade games and branded goodies, the beach house serves up healthy food like hot dogs and curry rice. There are ice cream floats: melon for Mushi King, blueberry for the character Berry and strawberry for the character Love. Parents are bound to get headaches, but not from the ice cream. Brian Ashcraft More »

Surf's Up, Love and Berry Seaside Clubhouse!

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:22:59 EDT

This summer, Sega's popular girly card game Oshare Majo: Love and Berry is coming to the beach. Earlier this year, a Love and Berry clothing line was launched. There are pencils, bags and loads of other pink crap. So Sega's gonna set up shop on a beach in Kanagawa Prefecture. Along with the Oshare arcade machines (which are actually more common in toy stores), there will be Love and Berry cards, bathing suits and clothes for little girls to beg their parents for, when the kids should be out doing free things like building sandcastles and swimming. The clubhouse closes August 31st. The beach is open forever. Brian Ashcraft More »

Search For the Perfect Gamer Babe

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:22:09 EDT

Kotaku comenter and Coolest Game Room entrant Robert Summa at AOL Joystiq points to British fashion label Joystick Junkies' search for the perfect models to represent the brand. According to the label's site: More »

The Must Have DS Game for Little Japanese Girls

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:22:43 EDT

It was inevitable. Sega's milking that Oshare Majo: Love and Berry cash cow for every last drop and has announced a DS version. The uber popular arcade/card game has captured the imagination of little girls and the wallets of doting parents. Called "Fashionable Witch: Love and Berry" in English, the arcade game features mini-games and rewards players with cards. So far, 153 million cards have been shipped, and a Love and Berry clothing line was launched this Spring. More »

Press "Triangle" To Lose Weight

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 04 May 2006 11:26:58 EDT

The hottest game here in Japan for girls is a diet sim titled Maiden Love Revolution. Players are a 220-pound former beauty queen that has blimped up. The aim: diet and exercise to get back that dating weight. More »

Animal Crossing Covered By Japanese Girly Mag

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:21:46 EDT

Urbane Gridskipper correspondent Jean Snow points to girly Japanese mag GIRLIE, which does a big Animal Crossing issue. Cute and girly popstar Kaera Kimura graces the cover and is interviewed about the game. There are also tips on how to get in-game accessories and lists of favorite characters. How girlie! More »

Meet The Nekkid Girls Of CS

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:22:50 EDT

Live nude Counter Strike gaming girls. Wonderland points to a new "online gaming community and nude pinup gallery," called GirlsofCS. Here's directly from nuddy site: More »

Good Night/Good Morning PSP Ads

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:22:27 EST

Sony's latest Good Night/Good Morning PSP ad campaign is going after young, single women — a demographic that the DS has taken by storm. The ads are typical Sony slick and feature a young woman using her PSP to do various tasks around the house like find recipes, get the weather, check out music and game. Though the fact the woman listens to her PSP while using a pricey Dyson vacuum is a little much. And she even puts the portable in her back jean pocket. That's so asking for trouble! More »

Sega Dresses Little Girls

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:11:24 EST

This spring schoolyards will see an influx of Oshare Majo Love and Berry clothes, sneakers, backpacks and stationary. Starting March 2, LB Style Square will be the official shop for the popular Sega card-based arcade game. Oshare Majo is nothing short of a national phenomena in Japan and has captured the minds of young schoolgals. Sega's trying to appeal not only to girls, but also their mothers' desire to have fashionable children. At the press conference, little moppets danced, sang and paraded about in Love and Berry type clothes, while Sega businessmen in suits lurked around in the background. Creepy. More »

A Perfect Game... If You're 9 Yrs. Old and Girly

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 09:24:55 EST

This spring, the ridiculously too-cute-for-grade-school title Let's Play at San-X Land Theme Park!. The game is chock-a-block full of mini games. Like Disney's Fantasyland or Tomorrowland, characters have their own sections of their park. So visiting Afro Ken's area, enables gamers to play a series of that character's game. The same goes for others like Kogepan. Stamps and virtual cards are awarded upon winning. More »

Manga Fans, Nana Is Coming to the PSP

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:22:11 EST

According to Konami's Nana website, the PS2 game will appear on the PSP this year. No further details have been announced. The PS2 game is based on the hit manga of the same name, which has also spanned a movie with sickeningly cute Aoi Miyazaki and waffish Mika Nakashima. There's a tribute album. Yes, a tribute album for a comic book. It's that popular. More »

How to Attract Female Gamers

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 15:21:40 EST

No. This is not a post on how to pick up the cool chick you saw in the Xbox aisle at Best Buy. Gamasutra has a feature up in which mobile gaming content CEO Kristin McDonnell talks about how to attract women players. To date, the company has Girls' Night Out Solitaire and their next title, Word Heaven, will hit in February. More »

New Gen WHobby Fair: Sega Traps Girls and Old Dudes

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:22:50 EST

I swung by Sega's Love and Berry booth, hoping that Sonic had dragged Yuko "Yes My Real Voice Is This Nasally" Ogura along for some good ol' fashioned PR. Ogura was no where to be found. (Rats!) The booth was full of little girls pressing buttons, Love and Berry-branded goods they didn't need and middle-aged men very secure in their own sexuality selling stuff to them. More »

First Female, Pre-Schooler in World Cyber Games

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 10:22:39 EST

The World Cyber Games will get its first female gamer this month when Austria's Verena Vlajo will compete in her country's Dead or Alive Ultimate team in the Grand Finals, held in Singapore. She could've competed last year, but withdrew for personal reasons. More »

See NDS Harvest Moon for Girls TV Ad

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 09:22:36 EST

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The Japanese commercial for the DS version of Harvest Moon for Girls is up. Glad they choose "amazed girl" over "farmer's daughter." It sounds like the gal in the commercial says, "ushi, ushi," which means "cow, cow." Yes, I know it's a farming game, but it's still strange. I've never said that once while playing any game. Ever. More »

Sticker Picture Cosplay

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 14:22:29 EDT

Over the weekend, I went over to Kyoto to do some shopping and hit a few game centers. Sure, Nintendo might be making inroads in attracting non-gamers and females, but the layout of yer average Japanese arcade is a good indication of how much further we've got to go. More »

Konami Uses Old Men Instead of Pretty Girls

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:24:05 EDT

No, that ain't the Rotary Club of Nagoya. Those are mah jong pros. Konami's arcade game Mah-Jong Fight Club 4 lets players receive "pro" certification once they prove their mad skillz. More »

How Sega Reels in Girls

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:23:50 EDT

For boys, there's Mushi King. But for girls, there's Oshare Majo("Fashionable Witch") Love and Berry. The arcade card game has been a hit with little girls since Sega introduced it last October. Put in a 100 yen coin, and if the player wins one of the mini games, they get a new card, which depict things like clothes or hairdos. These can be scanned into the machine, changing the character's look. The cards of course have become quite valuable, and a quick scan of Ebay will turn up collections going for high prices. According to Sega, there's been 43 million Oshare cards shipped since launch. Compare this to the 280 million Mushi King cards and do the math. The game is one of the few female arcade hits. Stereotypically, women are in arcades to take sticker picture photos or humor their boyfriends. Oshare fans don't have boyfriends, because they're like six years old. But, that's beside the point. More »

Femme Fatality: Striking Back at The New York Times

lsmith — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 15:40:01 EDT

The New York Times had a piece we mentioned earlier this week that talked about Microsoft wanting to branch out beyond the hardcore gamers and attract women to the console. Ever on the prowl for good material, Bonnie over at Heroine Sheik has some excellent rebuttal to the Times' piece. She's pissed (and she should be) that the piece labeled woman gamers as "the rest." Her best point comes from the following: "the idea itself implies that women are peripheral. It's not that Microsoft is seeking out young women and campaigning toward their interests. They're talking about "mothers" and "wives" women defined only in relationship to gaming men." Owned? More »

New Tamagotchi! (Again)

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:22:37 EDT

Tamagotchi Shop Simulation is the second biggest seller in Japan, and hey, whaddaya know, Bandai's looking for a way to cash in. The toy giant's back with new Tamagotchi toys. Last time around, the Tamas were breeding via infrared sensors. But, now the next gen toys are going to school and working. On November 23rd, the company will release Cho Jinsei (Living Life to the Fullest) Enjoy! Tamagotchi Plus. More »

Girly Japanese Fisting Power Game

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 13:21:59 EDT

I've punched and been punched. Funny thing is I don't remember it being exactly "happy." Here's a redemption game that proves me wrong. Called "Happy Punch," it's akin to the ol' swing a sledge hammer and hit the bell game. The object here is to slug a red button. The harder you punch and the higher the prize meter rises. Knock the crap outta it, and you can bag Disney goodies. Happy, happy indeed. More »