Don't you dare let me win

Being a girl gamer means being friends with a lot of boys. Many of these boys, perhaps in a misguided attempt to be chivalrous, will let girls win any time they compete. Maybe they think that by letting me win, they are gaining some sort of advantage in 'winning me over'. Perhaps they think if they win, I won't want to play against them any more. Oh boy, are they wrong.

It seems that there is a lesson you boys can learn from the xbox live experience. You know that feeling you get when you unlock a new achievement that you spent an hour or two going for? That's how it feels when I manage to beat you. I like that feeling, it makes me feel good about myself, and if you were my benefactor, well, that's definitely worth some brownie points right there.

But imagine you didn't *really* earn the achievement. Some glitch in the game just let you have it. Kinda makes the little icon and your gamer ranking feel a little hollow doesn't it? I'm the same way. I want to know that I did it, a victory handed to me might as well be an atrocious defeat.

Nothing ruins my finally beat'em buzz like finding out that I didn't really win. The guys that let me win because they think it'll make me like them are actually insulting me. They are making an assumption that I am so immature as to hold losing to them against them, and that I don't have the skill to get a win on my own. Please. A double dose of the X chromosome does not hinder me when I have a paddle in my hand. Bras don't have -3 game skill enchantments.

Maybe it's just me, and the way I was raised. I grew up playing against my uncles on their PSone. Every once in a while they let me win because I was little. Too young to be able to handle losing all the time. Maybe, at the time I needed that, that win. Back then might have been enough of a teaser to keep me coming back. But once they stopped having to let me win, once I could do it on my own, I was proud. I got my own confidence in what I could achieve. And from then on, the thing that kept me going was the quality of the game I played, and that rush of achievement.

This does, however, leave me wondering, am I the only girl that feels this way? And boys, how many of you 'let' the girl win, and how many of you can proudly say that your girlfriend isn't just hot, she's skilled?

UMPC to replace DS?

Not quite. UMPCs seem to be a form of 'mini-laptops'. According to the intel sponsored site, umpc.com, they will be lighter faster accompaniments to the home pc. These little toys will be dedicated to a set of tasks based on what you intend to use them for. Schools would be able to have some dedicated to educational programs, businessmen to email, powerpoint presentations and the like.

Gamers on the other hand apparently we'll be able to sync our beloved PC games on them, even down to the state of the game being played. Then, we'll be able to take the UMPC and play the game directly from that. Without having to restart from login screen for mmos like WoW, Everquest and the like, or without have to copy the save file for games that are less mobile based. But will that be practical?

The interface looks like a cross between tablet PC and a sidekick, so it seems controls could be easily adapted. Has a single touch screen, LCD, of course. The standard model, according to samsung, comes in at 4.8", or there's a larger, 7 inch version for those requiring the ability to see a little more detail.

However, the movie clip at umpc.com really seemed to downplay the gaming factor, focusing instead on wireless networking capabilities. But the FAQ on the site seems to think that it will be a big thing in the gaming industry.

The UMPC is powerful enough to provide a great gaming, music or video experience. People will have to decide whether they want to replace their dedicated electronic device with the UMPC.

That statement truly makes me wonder, do they really think the gamers will take games designed to display on larger screens, with heavy RAM requirements onto a 7" LCD, with only 512 megs of RAM? Personally, I think there's a reason you don't see games made for the PS2/3 and the PSP at the same time. The capability of the PSP is great, but it is a mobile device, it couldn't handle the requirements of the games made for it's big brothers. Not without some serious reworking being done on the game first.

I don't think this is something that will be regularly used for heavy gaming. Not as is, and with it's current price tag of a minimum $900, it'll probably be quite some time before most of us look up from our DSes to give it the time of day. Of course...I could be mistaken, and I'd love to see some info that would cause me to contradict that opinion, so comment if you've got it!

Jack Thompson vs Dr. Phil

I've seen news cast after news cast, and post after post about Jack Thompsons war on video games, and their affect on society. He seems to think that everything from the rising crime rate to the state of our education system, can be blamed on the amount of sex and violence in video games. And he isn't the only one on this little crusade. The jihadists sponsoring this little invasion of our media range from overprotective mothers in MAVAV to CBS with their unoriginal portrayal of video game based crimes.

However, an episode of Dr. Phil that was aired in early December of 07 points to a source that is far more probable. And that ladies and gentlemen, would be, wait for it...the parents of today. Oh my...the shock, I may have to sit down...and Jack Thompson, well, the man needs a medic...and a trip to the loony bin, but hey, who'm I to judge?

Story goes that 13 yr old Lexie is addicted to the MMO hosted at there.com. Apparently she spends four hours a day making out with her online boyfriend via this 'service', and it's causing some real trouble. Her grades have dropped, she's stopped doing her after school activities, and she doesn't have time for her rl friends. Her mother is starting to wory, and, in the mantra so common to parents today, just "doesn't know what to do". Dr. Phil, however, cut through right to the underlaying issue.

"Four hours a day? It's ridiculous!" he says. "Mom, you've got to step up and shut this down. Once she's at a point where she can play the game instead of being absorbed in the game, then perhaps, she can attempt to go back to it."

First, I'd like to applaud him. The mom needs to recognise her part in all this. Don't know what to do? Dear, your daughter is *thirteen*. If you really can't keep her off this thing there is such a thing as password protecting the computer, or better yet, getting rid of the internet connection altogether until your daughter proves she can handle it like a sane person rather than the way Ethan handles Everquest.*

Point is...He tells the mom to step up and take responsibility for her daughters misbehaviour. He doesn't blame the game for being uneducational, or a waste of time...and let's face it ladies...getting that much action on screen really makes it hard to get a life off screen...but Phil seems to understand that that isn't the fault of the game. It is the fault of the person for not having the restraint, and in this case the fault of the mother for not teaching her daughter how to handle an obsession.

If you ask me, that principle can be applied to a much broader spectrum within the topic of video games. Namely, our policies on violent video games. Many, like Jack Thompson would like to ban these games, or penalise the designers for damage done to children.

Maybe I'm just clueless, but I just can't see how it is Rock Stars fault if a four year old is playing Grand Theft Auto. It is up to the parent to keep games like that out of the child's hands. It's not as though the child is likely to be able to get ahold of a game like that without help.

While the detrimental effect on the childs behaviour is documented, parents have the responsibility, and the tools to prevent that from happening. Unlike candy on Halloween, M-rated video games aren't handed out on street corners to any kid that asks for one. Like with R-rated movies, Mature rated video games can only be purchased by a child with the permission(and in most cases, presence) of their parent.

The next issue would be the funding for that violent video game habit. Most children do not have their own cash. Something or other about child labor laws applies here...so at twenty bucks a pop for used copies, I don't foresee the average four year old being able to afford a collection of violent games any time soon. So who is buying them? The parent.

Parents need to start to make an effort to ensure that they know what their child is playing, and they need to teach them to limit the amount of time they spend playing. The video game company isn't responsible for that. Read the labels, check the ratings. It is your job.

Let's stop shifting the blame from the person spending the money to the product. If the buyer doesn't try to be well informed before they buy, then the results of their purchase are simply not the fault of the corporation. I, for one, think it's time we step up and take responsibility for not paying attention when we fork over our cash.
Agree with me, show your support with a comment. Think I'm being to harsh? Bite back, with a comment.




To read up on the game ratings, and what is appropriate for your childs age group, check out this page.

* Ethan is a character from Ctrl + Alt + Del comics. He is Lilahs boyfriend. Others will tell you he has another role, like main character, but don't let them deceive you. Lilah has breasts, and a brain, and is therefore far more important to the story. Beginning of the everquest obsession story line. It's probably the best online game comic ever done. If you aren't up on it...you should fix that.

Etsy has Gamer Jewelry

1-02-08

I have adored etsy since the day I found it. I’m the type that hates having the exact same thing as everyone else…which explains why my ds is an import…and why handmade things are my favorite. I’ve been looking for stores that cater to girl gamers, and they really are not easy to find. But etsy seems to have a number of members who understand the female geeks of the net.

NoveltyGallery has some really cute skins for pretty much any console, and I hear she does custom orders if you ask nicely. My favorite is this wii skin. I’ve always been a sucker for anything with a Hindu influence, and my taste in skins doesn't seem to be an exception.

ThePinkSamurai is the store of another female gamer with a taste for comic books as well. She’s got buttons, and even a few geek themed pocket mirrors. She’s sold a number of things, and like the average etsier, she’s got perfect feedback. So check her out.
The Pink Samurai's Store

Kitschkween’s shop certainly has it’s…more interesting pieces, but she has done snes and decepticon earrings…Certainly not something you would find in your average store. The piece that really made my jaw drop though, would have to be the raven claw belly button ring. Could you get any more awesome? Perhaps if it was a Gryffindor ring...Hufflepuff

BRadleyBB’s shop had a few things that made me giggle…Not really a jewelry store...but I do love the ipod cozies, the idea is so cute, and, ever being a fan of princess peach, I thought I’d share this one with you. Princess Peach iPod case

And for today…that’s all she wrote folks!