Aisha Tyler on Race, Sexism and Video Games (Q&A)

Actually, the games I don't like aren't gaming. Don't be too hard on yourself, it's an easy enough mistake to make.

You're not entirely wrong that mobile gaming has evolved into a different entity, but your overall assessment is still bullshit. Also, calling someone a white knight probably won't end well for you.

I've edited it, I didn't think it was that offensive.
I didn't say I don't like mobile games.. I play mobile games, I just don't think you're a gamer if you exclusively play them. He said I had an "exclusionary mindset", but I'm not excluding anyone, if you play softball, you're still not a baseball player.
 
I've edited it, I didn't think it was that offensive.
I didn't say I don't like mobile games.. I play mobile games, I just don't think you're a gamer if you exclusively play them. He said I had an "exclusionary mindset", but I'm not excluding anyone, if you play softball, you're still not a baseball player.

I don't appreciate being called a "white knight" for speaking common sense.

That's a terrible example, because the barriers to entry for our HOBBY are not the same or comparable to professional sports. But since when did mobile gaming include only Farmville? If you play Angry Birds, Plants v. Zombies or tower defense games, then I think you're a gamer. These are games, it's that easy. Before mobile exploded, many of these games were found on PC (still are) and the women who played them were always counted in statistics about gamers. Your elitist attitude is detrimental and you should stop.

PS, I don't care if your a woman or a man, I have women on PSN and XBlive that actually play games. I was only stating that the statistics are not correct.
I wouldn't call someone a bibliophile because they've looked at the pictures in "101 uses for a dead cat"

Mobile games are video games. No one needs to spend $400 on a console and $60 on big budget titles to join the secret club. Also, I have a black friend, so lemme say stupid shit about black people now...

edit:
This 2010 CNN article sums it up. It's a video game, even if not necessarily a good one.
Zynga's hit Facebook game "FarmVille" is arguably the most widely played video game in existence. What is especially impressive about that is that "FarmVille" isn't any fun.
 
She sounds like a very intelligent person, but i disagree with her explanation that emarginated people tend to emarginate. That might be true, but it's not what's happening here.

I was also doubtful she could really be a gamer, that has nothing to do with me wanting to exclude other people, more with the fact that in our experience, very few women are interested in AAA games, and using women to sell products aimed at men is as old as marketing. Ubisoft, of all companies, knows that very well.

And she's a good looking woman, which is even more suspicious.

I don't know if you guys were around a couple decades ago, but back then you would have a hard time believing a cool, good looking GUY could be a gamer.
Games back then required a dedication that 'social people' simply didn't have.
It took years to turn videogames from 'nerdy' to 'cool' and videogames themselves had to change quite a lot

They will grow to appeal to women, but the process needs time.

But the approach people suggest is wrong.
Including a female lead in COD is not going to solve the problem, that's not the point at all.
Killing, shooting stuff, beating, racing. The 'fun engine' in these games is mostly fueled by typically, biologically male instincts.

The problem is not the industry isn't including female leads, the problem is the industry can't (doesnt want to) come up with fun 'mechanisms' that would appeal to women.
Which, however, is understandable from a business perspective. Even in nature, playing games is mostly a thing for young males, it only makes sense that they would aim at the largest group.

People thought the satire here was overdone. And then comes along a post like the above... :)
 
Top Bottom