Im not entirely sure what to think about this. I dont really know much about how women gamers are neglected by the games industry, so maybe this could be something really good for the female gamers out there. Still, I always have a problem when it comes to this split between "male gamers" and "female gamers". When things are said like "female gamers have very specific needs" I cringe a little.

I mean, if you were to ask me what I thought female gamers wanted out of games, I would say exactly the same thing I would say if I was asked what male gamers wanted. Good games. And I actually didnt think about it that way until I read it from a female gamer. My ideas on what problems women face in games dont require female centred magazines, or games made specifically for women and their different needs from male gamers0.

Maybe Im just being ignorant or naive, but I dont think that kind of change is whats needed for female gamers. Though they are just my thoughts on this really, and maybe I shouldnt be thinking about what female gamers want or need. This magazine probably will be a great thing for women gamers, but Im still uncertain that splitting things up this way is a step in the right direction.

Sorry if I rattled on there. I only just registered a few minutes ago, but Ive been reading whats posted here on KB for a couple of weeks now, and this is just the kind of thing I like to read up on. I hope this wasnt too weird an introduction, but when I saw this, I decided to finally register and say what I thought about it.

same here, on two accounts: i just registered hours ago and like phlegmatic,i'm also ambivalent on whether this is good news or not.

"This magazine probably will be a great thing for women gamers, but Im still uncertain that splitting things up this way is a step in the right direction."--> my sentiments exactly. while it's great that people are starting to recognize that a significant percentage of gamers ARE women, having a 'separate' magazine to tackle female gamers' "distinct" needs seems kinda problematic.

It's like admitting that there are "girly" games (which, whaddya know, are dubbed as the "no-brainer" ones) and that only men play the "hardcore" games (by this i mean the violence-loaded ones). But what's sad is that the truth is, there ARE female gamers out there who cringe at the slightest hint of guns, blood, and violence in games and say that they'd rather play Tamagotchi.

Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that Tamagotchi is a sissy game, but that it's one of those games that most gaming circles tag as marketed for kids AND women. I have to apologize too coz im basically posting blurbs here. but off the top of my head, this is what i have to say about this whole "magazine for women" issue.

P.S. how come we also have to add the word 'female' to refer to a gamer who happens to be female?