.

I think the biggest reason why there is a division between gamers and girl gamers is because a lot of girls who play video games identify themselves as "girl gamers". I'm a girl, and I play video games. I am a gamer. I don't have to add my gender to the title.

A vast majority of girls out there like to highlight their gender, expecting it to be unique or special that they are girls who play video games, but expect to get treated equally to guy gamers.

Girls who make a big deal of out their gender are the main reason why there's still an issue. Yes, there are still some close-minded guys out there who make snide comments about girls who play video games, but the solution is simple, don't give them your time, energy, or attention. The majority of the world is willing to accept girls as gamers, as long as we don't expect to use our femininity to get extra attention or help by presenting ourselves as a novelty.

In short, it's how a lady presents herself that is important, because in the end, that will determine how she is received.

I'm not a hardcore gamer girl cause I'm super picky at the games I choose (which is mostly Dead or Alive series base & DDR), I tried playing the other games but they seem to get me lost so I stopped playing them oTL

@ Fashion Zombie
Yes, I'd have to agree with that, I'm far more likely to treat someone respectfully if they spend more time playing and less time worrying about how they are viewed. Well, for MMOs at least which is where I usually play nowadays. I myself rarely say "hey I'm a girl" but people tend to notice anyways, and I just don't mind.
As for why people are so hung up on revealing their gender? Oddly enough there are still people worried about being "friendly" with the wrong gender, from what I've observed anyways. Yes, unfortunately there does still seem to be some people annoyed at girls playing, so many people will still say right away "I'm a girl" so there's no confusion later.

I'm a gamer girl, I was born sept 1985 when Super Mario Bros was released and it was like the light of destiny joined us... I've been playing games since I was a wee toddler with my mom and now I play on my consoles with my fiance, whether its the PS3 or Xbox, shooter, racers, rpgs, action, adventure.... as some others said short of sports games I play almost anything. I'm proud to be a gamer girl and have a great group of friends, both male and female that are all gamers as well. I had one guy chatting with me online once and we talked about xbox and playstation and shooters and blood and guts and whatnot... then he asked me my asl and almost refused to believe I was a girl because of the systems and games I own. Its unbelievable that this is even an issue lol.

I don't mind watching other people play, but when I play I feel like I'm going to suck at it. Like those survival horror games like Dead Rising, Left for Dead, Silent Hill Series, those types of games. I'm the DDR and Dead or Alive series type of games

I've recently Become a Huge fan of American Developers. XD; LIKE BIOWARE AND VALVE.
But I agree with Zombie.
My Gender doesn't matter. I play games because I like to play games. If guys get all weird about it. Let 'em. Only male opinions I care about are my older brothers. They're the reasons why I even play games in the first place. But even then if they give me crap I don't listen. Ehh whatever I'm rambling. Eheh.

I had a guy call me a boy on phantasy star universe one time. There's no voice chat in that game so he kept telling me to get on this other thing so he could hear my voice. On everquest2 when I got a mic everyone said I was either a girl or a 12 year old boy. xp There's loads of girl gamers, I think guys just like the idea there isn't.

I also know a lot of guy gamers that play as girls to try and get extra attention. That might be a major part of the thought process.

Ugh, yes >< "Girls get more freebies" "Girls are treated better"
Honestly people should just be nice, and then people will be nice in return no matter the gender. And in games I play, I like to help newbies if they ask about it politely :P

Yeah it kinda bugs me that men will play female characters just to exploit and take advantage of others. Guys give female players lots of stuff and help and everything for free in the assumption that this girl might then be his friend (and some males hope for possibly more). Other males caught on to this and decided that if they have a female character they can take advantage of this. I've known people who have actually tried this and their female character got the best items and stuff completely free because the other male player was hoping to get something in return. I agree with Serra that if people just were nice to each other no matter what, we could ALL get a lot further, and without the exploitation of others. Then maybe it wouldn't be such a phenomenon that a female character is actually played by (gasp) a girl!

First, exploiting people IMO is probably the lamest thing ever. How can you say you've achieved anything if it's all handed to you?

Second, it doesn't matter what type of games you play. "Gaming" (in this context, referring strictly to video games) would mean just that. You play video games. It could be Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Fifa World cup, lets even go as bold to say something as bad as Myst *ducks from linux users*

I will openly admit, I get my butt whupped by girl gamers probably every day. Put a controller infront of my Fiance, and pop Modnation in, I promise you I'm left with this utter feeling of defeat everytime, to make 1 reference atleast.. Deal with it boys, mommas got a whole new bag.

I'm a girl gamer trying to get my own BOYFRIEND into gaming. In fact, sometimes I wonder if our gender roles are switched or something. XD

Lots of guys these days might not be as shocked as they used to be that there are gamer girls, but then they make assumptions that we only play the super cutesy games. Excuse me, I like exploding people's faces off just as much as you do. :I

Halo IS one game I will never understand the fascination in, though. Don't get me wrong, I love shooters (like Borderlands. LOVE IT!) but honestly I find that specific one incredibly dull and boring. The only good thing it has going in my opinion is the massive fanbase. Of course, the only reaction I get for that is "well obv you're a girl"

Pfffft... I will school you in any other shooter so you can STFU. >:O

/halorantover

My guy friends get so shocked when I tell them I have an xbox live account and play modern warfare, gears of war, halo, fallout 3, fable etc. xD They literally stop, stare, and say, "You... wait, you play video games?"

And I'm like, "Yeeeaaahh. So?"

xD Idiots.

There's still several people trying to push that "no girls on the internet" thing, or at least want to believe people are guys until proven otherwise :P

Me, I'm more likely to think that the people who are actually trying to be nice and socialize with me when I play something are girls... I know it's a bad stereotype I'm buying into there and I'm trying to break it but it's hard :P It just happens that the majority of the people I end up playing with in online games at least, are girls, just because they don't mind me getting chatty sometimes.

Cupcake, hearing that about Playstation Home makes me want to stay away for some reason xD

I've noticed, at least in online MMO's, people are more likely to help you if you're a girl. xDDD Maybe it's just me, but people will give me things, trying to be nice, but if I make a guy character, I'm on my own. lolz

It is very common place for guys to flock to a female avatar in any game. I have not touched two of my MMO's due to male interference. They act like I cannot kill a beast on my own and need their help. I have been gaming since my son was in diapers an he's now 1bout 18 so it's odd to see people still don't believe girls are good gamers too. My youngest daughter is already a great gamer that loves games like Arny of 2 and Halo. She can play with my son an his friends online and they refuse to believe she's only 11 and a girl.

My my Cupcake... Well I don't like chatting without the benefit of a keyboard anyways so I'd have to wait until I bought another one for it, the one I originally bought is being used for my computer since the wireless one decided to stop working >< And I hate pulling things off my computer to use with the PS3 xD But then again mostly I'd just want to use the keyboard if I ever seriously tried to play White Knight Chronicles again.

Oh by the way, if any of you want to add me, my PSN name is the same as here, without the space xD

Oki Cupcake, Next time I'm on I'll make sure to add you :3 And I'll check thrift stores, $2 for a keyboard sounds pretty nice ;)

It can seriously get a bit annoying sometimes. Here I am, ready to kill this monster and it's health is almost completely gone, and out of nowhere a guy will come and kill it. I used to get annoyed cause they would get the experience points and I would do all the work! And I'm just like, "Gee, thanks." And they'd say I was welcome and run off! Sometimes they'd even suggest I go for something weaker. Hello! I was perfectly fine! My health wasn't even damaged, but whatever. Sooo aggravating.

That's not helping, that's called Kill Stealing -.-

I am a gamer girl myself.

Sushi: They don't even say anything to me an I never speak to anyone who finishes a kill like I was weak or cannot play the game right. I really hate running up on a guy who's new to the game and having them follow me around as if we are partied together. >.< I had one guy actually try flirting with me just so I'd play the game with him. >.>

One could just, maybe, ask to party with someone, the worst answer is "no" after all. Oh wow this is bringing back memories of Luna Online, which I played mostly for the cute factor. I kept having guys whispering me telling me how hot I was x.x

I remember once when a sociopath who wouldn't leave my house friend was over and playing Battle For Middle-Earth online on my account and his opponent had to leave halfway through the game and said his sister was taking over. My "friend" proceeded to abandon any attempt at playing the game and did nothing but try to get her to have cyber sex with him for the rest of the match. As usual, my constant reprimands and demands to desist fell on deaf ears and this went on for nearly an hour, though I left the room long before that.

The next day when I logged on, I had a ton of complaints and warnings against my account which took a long time to sort out.

I... don't think I could actually respect anyone less than him. He was just a worthless specimen of humanity.

Britt: Have you played Luna as of late? Last time I was there it was unbearable, people everywhere flirting and none of them actually trying to play the game. I have not logged in for months now cause it lags my computer an no game has ever played that badly on it before.

No I haven't Yommy...last time I tried I got a fatal error starting the game. I figured it was just as well so I uninstalled it.

I was never on the fence of gamer girls. My mother, played Resident Evil when it comes out. Right now she does play World of Warcraft. And my sister is just as... maybe even more gamer savey then me.

Britt, it's not worth reinstalling either. xD What other mmo's do you play?

Well I'm facinated with Eden Eternal right now, and looking forward to Lucent Heart going to open beta. Aside from those I usually play action MMOs like Elsword and Grand Chase. I'm also SUPPOSED to be playing Atlantica Online since I'm an officer in my guild there but I'm still angry at Nexon for various reasons so I get annoyed every time I log in there ><

Oh I should look those up. ^_^ I saw a ad for Last Dynasty today and am contemplating on downloading it to see if it's any good.

I saw an ad for Last Dynasty too but I didn't look into it yet.

It looks alright but one never knows. I think I have downloaded and deleted about 4 games in the last month. Just didn't like their layout and looks.

Some time ago my friend/ex boyfriend gave me Soul Calibur 4 because I have a PS3 don't have any games so he gave it to me and I was halfway addicted to itthat I even made my own characters (all female).

He only saw me once and thinks that I've been experienced enough that I should go up a level and all I could say was "No". Because to him I'm experienced but out there in the gaming world I'm just lame at it.

yeah had the same issue of guys not believing girls likes games,
actually had kids at the place I worked beg for the boss's son to play games with them on the game systems, was free time they had
and they were like you can't play, bahhh and right when they were like I want to see you play since you think you know so much, everyone had to go home...