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Feb 16, 2009 9:00 am US/Central
Study: Female Gamers Growing In Number
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
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A study found a growing number of women are drawn to easy to learn, fun to play video games.
CBS
Video games have often been categorized as a young man's pastime, but now women are getting in on the fun.
Gina Heller is a very busy stay at home mom in Audubon New Jersey. When she's not taking care of her baby, toddler and very large dog, she takes a time out in front of her computer.
"It's not a long time that I get to play, it's just 5 or 10 minutes, maybe 15, that I can come up here and unwind a little bit," she said. "It's kind of an escape."
Heller's favorites are games like Bejeweled and Book Worm, games you can play online or download on your phone. She loves them because they are easy to play and she does not ever die, her only goal is to beat her own score.
A new Pew Internet Study shows Heller is not alone as 50 percent of Americans who play video games are women.
Video games used to be a young man's domain, but now, females have found their own niche. Many video game companies are now softening their approach and designing games more mom friendly.
Women seem to prefer games that offer mental challenges rather than death and destruction.
The co-founder of Pop Cap Games, 30-year-old John Vechey, said 76 percent of his customers are women. He believes women have gravitated towards his games because of they are easy to play.
"If mom can't play our game, we've failed," he said.
Vechey said in his games you do not lose, but you do get better over time by meeting goals and challenging limits.
Heller said she loves the games not just because they give her mind a break from the craziness of the day, but because they give her a sense of accomplishment.
If you want to try out some of these games just go to the website
PopCapGames.com.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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