A friend of mine is doing a research project and is looking for female gamers and male gamers who have played in mixed gender groups that she can survey. We’re talking gamers of all kinds – tabletop, board games, CCGs, MMOs, all manner of RP.
If you are interested in helping out, please answer the following questions and e-mail them to Ivona Elenton AT ivona.elenton at gmail dot com . You can make your answers as long or as short as you want.
Please have your answers to Ivona by 10/10/13! Thank you!
ETA: (From Ivona) “Though question 5 is only directed toward 2 genders, I’m absolutely interested in the experiences of queer and gendervariant people as well.”
QUESTIONS FOR FEMALE GAMERS
1. How long have you been gaming?
2. List the games that you enjoy or have enjoyed playing (table top or on line rpgs, computer/videogames, MMOS, board games LARPS or others)
3. Tell the story of how you started, what or who drew you into gaming? How were your first gaming sessions? Etc. etc.
4. Do you enjoy playing with others or alone the most?
4b. If you have a clear preference, could you please motivate why you prefer one over the other.
4c. If you do not have a clear preference, could you mention some strong points with either or both ways of gaming
5. If you play or have played in groups, do you have any preference on gender balance in a gaming group? (somewhat equal in gender ratios, mostly females, mostly males) Please motivate why you have a preference, if this is the case.
6. Have you ever experienced, in any gaming setting, being treated differently as a gamer because of your gender. Please tell the full story if the answer is yes.
7. Do you think there is a general difference in style or culture between female gamers and male gamers? (if yes, please elaborate)
8. What about the games themselves, have you ever experienced that games or game developers cater to a specific gender? (if yes, please elaborate)
9. Recent studies have shown that about half of all gamers are female, and yet some male gamer groups have expressed surprise at these statistics. Why do you think this comes as a surprise to many? Could female gamers be less visible in various settings, and if so, how come?
10. Would you please share your favorite gaming anecdote here, if you have one.
QUESTIONS FOR MALE GAMERS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN MIXED GENDER GROUPS
1. How long have you been gaming?
2. List the games that you enjoy or have enjoyed playing (table top or on line rpgs, computer/videogames, MMOS, board games LARPS or others)
3. Tell the story of how you started, what or who drew you into gaming? How were your first gaming sessions? Etc. etc.
4. Do you enjoy playing with others or alone the most?
4b. If you have a clear preference, could you please motivate why you prefer one over the other.
4c. If you do not have a clear preference, could you mention some strong points with either or both ways of gaming
5. If you play or have played in groups, do you have any preference on gender balance in a gaming group? (somewhat equal in gender ratios, mostly females, mostly males) Please motivate why you have a preference, if this is the case.
6. When did you first game in a gender mixed environment? Please elaborate on this experience as much as you want.
7. Do you think there is a general difference in style or culture between female gamers and male gamers? (if yes, please elaborate)
8. What about the games themselves, have you ever experienced that games or game developers cater to a specific gender? (if yes, please elaborate)
9. Recent studies have shown that about half of all gamers are female, and yet some male gamer groups have expressed surprise at these statistics. Why do you think this comes as a surprise to many? Could female gamers be less visible in various settings, and if so, how come?
10. Would you please share your favorite gaming anecdote here, if you have one.
Just for fun, once I get my answers to these questions finished, I think I’ll post them here on this blog. I’ve been a gamer for years and years and I love talking about it.