| Title | An Investigation of Gender Motivations in Competitive Gaming |
| Presenter(s) | Joseph Fordham, John Samalik, Peter Burroughs and Rabindra Ratan |
| Session | Conference Reception, Game Exhibition, and Poster Session |
| Time | Thursday, October 16, 7:00p-10:00p |
| Location | Ballroom |
| Format | Poster Presentation |
| Description | While a number of academic studies conclude that women gravitate towards more casual and social gaming experiences, there are a number of female gamers driven by the competitive nature of more male-dominated genres and consistently challenging this notion. This study presents initial conclusions drawn from interviews with female video game players attending a local gaming convention and participating in competitive tournaments. These interviews focused on their own history of playing games and how they became involved with competitive play. While interviewees expressed a strong competitive drive, especially when playing against male opponents, their original reasons for becoming involved with more competitive gaming experiences could be viewed as largely social, expressive, or even casual. Overall, this study suggests that while many female gamers may not be initially driven towards competitive gaming experiences, other factors may motivate female players towards them. |
