Random Gaming Thoughts

[Ack]

It is hard to get honesty from online surveys, especially one where it labels a female as something they may not want to be labeled as, or something that could be perceived as a stereotype (which it would be).
While I sincerely agree before I ask "why?", I should seek more evidence first... which is why I sought out links to any studies (read: surveys too) that might touch on the subject, or even the broader subject of characters classes broke down by the sexes and what not.

I suppose these studies have been conducted by the companies who make big MMO games, and the details are probably kept secret. Information such as this would be valuable marketing/development information for any company conducting it, they wouldn't want other companies getting a hold of it and attempt to undermine their marketing strategies and monetization of certain demographics.

But I'd be surprised if you told me you played an MMO/Online based RPG with any sort of regularity and fanbase, and had not heard this query before. It's quite evident (on a cursory glace/surface level) in any game with voice comm. that has girls and guys playing it, and has been subject of many a musing amongst circles I have been a part of over the years.

Well, I've played MMOs off and on for more than a decade, including time spent in Ultima Online, Asheron's Call, Everquest, World of Warcraft, EVE Online, and Guild Wars(to name a few), along with short stints in games such as Runescape, Ragnarok Online, and other free-to-play MMOs, and no, I've never come across this discussion. But it sounds like it is based on anecdotal evidence, which I'm not likely to trust.

It may be difficult to get honesty, and yes, companies may well be interested in this, but I'm interested in the academic side of the question, and this is not necessarily "labeling" females as anything. Instead, you simply ask players to anonymously specify their gender and character class and then tally the results. Now, if you have found previous research into such studies, you can then begin to build on that and shape your research around it, but if there is not any sort of research you can find, you'll need to formally conduct it on your own.

[cha cha]

It'd be tough to conduct such a study on your own. This type of research is better supported by a team people. As the sample size needed to shine truths through the faceless fog of internet flasehoods and to eliminate all the outliers like people who are masquerading as something they are not, would be a massive number indeed.

Touching on my previous points, this research would be most efficiently done by the company who owns the servers and has access to all the personal information of their registered and paying players... At least all the information that matters: age, sex, ip location, character most played, class most used etc. An independent party armed with no connections and a flimsy set of questions could not possibly hope to match the scale or efficiency of the game companies.

I am, again, thoroughly surprised that you had not ever heard this or wondered this. I hardly consider myself an MMO player and usually don't associate with what I'd consider 'sexist ignorant manchilderen' that might pose the same question ignorantly, loudly and without good intention... Yet I have had it mentioned to me inside and outside of these games a multitude of times.
Goes to show you never can base information off personal experience, because no one's is ever exactly the same.

[Ack]

Hah, well, truth be told I've been thinking of this in a more academic context, where you conduct research with the backing of the university and with permission granted from the developing or publishing company to prevent controversy but also give a sense of formality and professionalism to the survey itself. Some companies won't be willing, sure, but I'm willing to bet that some companies are interested in the longterm implications of such research as well and don't want to take the time or spend the funds to conduct it on their own.

And I have a statue erected of me in Asheron's Call.

[Violent By Design]

Has there ever been a study done for MMOs and RPGs in general and why female players seem to commonly play the healer class or (if that is unavailable) the most non-confrontational caster class? Is it motherly instinct? Hormones? Cultural Conditioning?

Of course ALL female players don't do this, but most do; and most that I have met that don't play the healer, do it because they are conscientious of the fact that most girl's do that and they don't want to be lumped in with them.

females aren't as aggressive as males in nature if I had to guess.

[oxymoron]

I've been addicted to Batman: Arkham City ever since I got it. I picked it up on a whim on BF. I've never liked superhero games but this game is both beautiful and fun to play. I'll be picking up Asylum and Origins soon enough.

Play Asylum, It was my favorite out of the first two. Especially because of Scarecrow, i didn't know much about him until that game but now he's my favorite comic super villain.

I'd thought Asylum would be the weakest link. Is it generally similar to City or did they change things up?

~~~
@cha cha

Don't worry. Anita Sarkeesian will probably make an episode about this too.

[Violent By Design]

I've been addicted to Batman: Arkham City ever since I got it. I picked it up on a whim on BF. I've never liked superhero games but this game is both beautiful and fun to play. I'll be picking up Asylum and Origins soon enough.

Play Asylum, It was my favorite out of the first two. Especially because of Scarecrow, i didn't know much about him until that game but now he's my favorite comic super villain.

I'd thought Asylum would be the weakest link. Is it generally similar to City or did they change things up?

~~~
@cha cha

Don't worry. Anita Sarkeesian will probably make an episode about this too.

Origins is generally considered to be the weakest link.

Asylum vs City tends to go either way with fans. To answer your question, it is different from City.

City is open world, Asylum is metroidvania, which is why some people prefer Asylum over City.


Personally, I didn't care for Asylum and only played a bit of City. City looks cooler though, but the combat in those games are just silly to me. The boss fights are probably better in City from what I've experienced.

[dsheinem]

Has there ever been a study done for MMOs and RPGs in general and why female players seem to commonly play the healer class or (if that is unavailable) the most non-confrontational caster class? Is it motherly instinct? Hormones? Cultural Conditioning?

related, off the top of my head:

http://www.gamestudies.org/0501/nakamura_wirman/

http://eegame.zjnu.cn/upload/2009-01/te ... 293758.pdf

[Aramonde]

I'd thought Asylum would be the weakest link. Is it generally similar to City or did they change things up?

Asylum is more linear and city is a huge open world. I just like the feel of Asylum better and the villains. I don't like Harley's costume in city and they changed the voice actress. And the Scarecrow sections are fucking awesome. He really does show gamers one of there greatest fears.

[oxymoron]

Origins is generally considered to be the weakest link.

Asylum vs City tends to go either way with fans. To answer your question, it is different from City.

City is open world, Asylum is metroidvania, which is why some people prefer Asylum over City.


Personally, I didn't care for Asylum and only played a bit of City. City looks cooler though, but the combat in those games are just silly to me. The boss fights are probably better in City from what I've experienced.

I've never really like metroidvania styled games. One of my favorite things is just exploring the Arkham. I agree with you on the combat. Many of the additional gadgets and special moves you unlock have no real applicability in game. In comparison to the game those things really didn't matter. For me at least.

~~~~

@Armonde

Considering how cheap it is there's no reason not to try it. I actually like Quinn's character. The voice did get under my skin at times due to the child like accent.

[cha cha]

Has there ever been a study done for MMOs and RPGs in general and why female players seem to commonly play the healer class or (if that is unavailable) the most non-confrontational caster class? Is it motherly instinct? Hormones? Cultural Conditioning?

related, off the top of my head:

http://www.gamestudies.org/0501/nakamura_wirman/

http://eegame.zjnu.cn/upload/2009-01/te ... 293758.pdf

Ah thank you sir, this shall provide interesting reading materials for lunch time! We'll see if my suspicions hold any substance in comparison to their content.