I realise that those of the female persuasion may not be as interested in Lara’s boobs, or guns and explosions as us lads, however this does not preclude developers and publishers producing games of quality which appeal to both the male and female halves of humanity.

Games like Spore, The Sims, Beyond Good and Evil, and Dreamfall: The longest Journey. Games with depth, story, strong characterization and drama. Games that speak to the part of us that is human not just the part of us that happens to be male or female.

I have a big family and so know many girls of varying ages. The pink and fluffy games are interesting to them for about 10 minutes when they’re 8. Once they discover that there are better games out there (games ostensibly marketed at boys) the ‘girly’ games are dropped like last weeks boy band. They’ll play Tomb Raider, not for the joyous bounce of Lara’s cleavage, but to find out how the story ends. When I introduced my 12 year old neice to Beyond Good and Evil on a rainy afternoon, she cried (I’ll leave it to those who know the game to guess where in the story this happened, don’t want to spoil it for the rest of you).

We don’t need games for boys and games for girls which pander to the stereotypes which our culture foists upon us. We need more games for people, about people, and which people care about.

Of course girls don’t want to play the same games as their slower to mature brothers. Neither do they really want to play games about babysitting, getting your nails done, or looking after puppies, but if thats the only choice they’re given of course they’re going to take it. Give girls (and boys) games of substance and you’ll find that the pink and fluffy variety will be forgotten in an instant.