HUD 3 Girl Gamers

When and what got you into gaming?

Abigail - I got into gaming I think when I was around 6 or 7. I started out with consoles such as the Nintendo and Super Nintendo and then moved on to PC gaming when I was much older. My father was a gamehead and still very much is and he was the one who sparked my interest in games.

Corretta - The first time I played a video game was at my brother’s friend’s house…It was Super Mario on the Nintendo NES. I wasn’t a game freak or anything back then…but oh man...once I got into PC games years later...It was OVA! I guess being a 3D animator, the games thing kind of goes hand in hand as well. I think I was more intrigued by gaming after really getting into the whole 3D thing. I loved to see the advancement of gaming graphics, textures, shading and environmental effects like smoke, mist, fire etc and the advancement of game engines and game A.I.. The characters are incredible and the artwork fantastic, and the entire concept of gaming appeals to both my creative needs and my need to keep my brain challenged and occupied. Sometimes the games give me inspiration for my work :)

Denieve - I’m not so good with dates. I only know it was in late primary school like about grade 5 or 6. I’m a middle child and a middle girl child in Jamaica sucks-ass. I was never old enough to do any real fun stuff and the fact that I’m a girl meant I was confined to inside activities while my brother could go all over with his friends and have fun especially during the summer holidays. Games were an outlet that facilitated being stuck in the house but with some fun it also didn’t hurt to kick my brother and his friends’ ass at Sonic.

What genre of games do you enjoy the most and why?

Abigail - Well I’m a classic girl, strictly shooters, fighting and driving. I enjoy first person shooters most of all. My first love was Unreal Tournament on PC way back when. I’m also a lover of driving simulation games. I grew up on Need for Speed. Fighting games like  Mortal Kombat are my thing. I love anything with multiplayer mode, I’m very competitive. Not very much into rpg’s. I have no clue why, I think its mainly because I can’t bother to sit through all that talking.

Corretta - Mostly first person shooters. I’m not too particular as to whether it’s sci-fi or action adventure, just so long as it engages my brain….although it doesn’t explain my sporadic need to mindlessly walk around and chop at zombies with an axe …hmmmm

Denieve - For the most part I play everything so I’m not really confined to any one genre. I go for more quirky games, games that make me laugh or just irreverent. Looking into it I play a lot of God Games like Patapon, Spore. Puzzle stuff like Little Big Planet, role-playing games like Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne. I hate Platform games but loved Psychonauts and God of War(has some platform elements to it). I think I just like crazy funny and or interesting stories and that’s what I go for instead of ‘Oh I just play RPG’s’. I’m a Gemini so if you believe that stuff I’m all over the place, but I think I like playing video games because of the control element. I also like the element of beating the shit out of things and people… blame that on my inner psycho.

What do you love about gaming?

Abigail - I’ve never really thought about this before. But it’s really a joy to sit with a bunch of friends and enjoy a game. It was originally a family affair, my dad and younger sisters and I guess it stayed with me. I love gaming mainly because of how creative it can get. I mean some games are surprisingly deep. I kinda like that about it. And I also just love to kick ass.

Corretta - It’s ability to eat up time while I wait for a 3D render to complete (which can sometimes take HOURS :/) And other stuff like escapism and improving hand eye-coordination….I had to add something to make me sound deep and philosophical. :)

Denieve - I like beating the shit out of people and things (fixing the items in my inventory and breaking vases), I also have rage issues and I am a latent pyromaniac so games keep that aspect of my life in check ^_^. I like the fact that video games teach you important things like survival techniques, if and when there is a worldwide pandemic that turns everyone into flesh eating zombies I’m ahead of the game, all I have to do then is change my name to Alice.

What do you hate about gaming?

Abigail - I dislike the amount of money it takes to stay up with the constantly changing trends. It’s becoming a ‘rob a bank’ situation with some people. I don’t like being left behind. I guess that is what I hate the most.

Corretta - It’s ability to eat up time when I have actual work to do, Super Horny fanboys, and searching for desktop images for my favest games and inevitably running into rule #34…*shudder* :S

Denieve - That I have to eat and use the bathroom it sucks especially if you’re not near a save point.

What are your thoughts on motion gaming (Wii, playstation move, kinect)?

Abigail - I’ve only had the opportunity to play the Wii and I actually liked it a lot. It was my first time so I didn’t realise you could lay down and flick your wrist and win so I was up and jumping. But I like the entertaining aspect of it. It is clearly a party, group of friends kind of move in the gaming world.

Corretta - WANT!! Anything to make me not have to sit on my ass for hours…I sit down long enough as it is. I love the idea of technology that actually engages what the body was designed to do…MOVE!

Denieve - I love new technology so I will try anything once, I’m all for anything fun, and they all look fun as long as the control doesn’t slip out your hands and end up in your nice new plasma. I also like the idea of non-gamers can use this as a gateway game and after that the silly stereotype all gamers are awkward fat nerds with bad skin will come to an end.

Would you agree that more girls are into gaming these days? Why?

Abigail - I honestly don’t know because I personally don’t know any other girl gamers other than my sisters. Or I may know them and not know they are into games as heavily as i am. But I do believe that women are taking part in gaming more now than before because there are many games being released which appeal to them.

Corretta - Most of the females I know play Farmville, Bejewelled and that cooking restaurant game crap on facebook (I keep getting the invites *side-eye*), does that count?

Denieve - Does it matter?

That's it for us from the HUD. Stay tuned next week for an brand new discussion, till then GameON!