Jane — July 8, 2008 at 5:40 pm

Nintendo is pushing to create girly “gamers”

I’ve never been able to warm up to the word “gamer.”

Maybe because I’ve never been one.

I don’t know why, but it’s always had a strange connotation to me… like someone who would call himself a “gamer” is someone partaking in some illicit activity, some sort of transgression.

I imagined the word whispered by men dressed in dark clothing and dark sunglasses, in desolate back alleys where clandestine business deals went down: “Hey, do you game? Are you a gamer?”

I know. I’m weird.

I’ll even admit that when I received a Nintendo DS Lite as a “thank you” for attending Camp Baby… I (gasp!) gave away it to my brother-in-law.

That’s right. I. gave. it. away.

I am now experiencing giver’s remorse after watching this video from the TODAY Show:

Don’t they make being a gamer look fun?

One thing that surprised me in the video is that, according to Amber McCollom, Nintendo’s Public Relations Manager, in the company’s estimation about 42% of women are gamers.

That’s a lot, considering that within “women” (I’m assuming) they’re including ladies my grandma’s age, who probably think of “gaming” as a round of shuffleboard down at the senior center.

Kudos to Nintendo. Their marketing efforts are clearly creating some pretty enthusiastic girly gamers.

I coulda been a contender.

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Author: Jane is a dog mom, a wannabe mom, a doting aunt to 9 nieces and nephews, and the fiancée to Brian, a salt-of-the-earth type of guy with a romantic side. She is a Brown University grad and a freelance fitness writer with a sweet tooth. She loves finding ways to keep fitness challenging, fun and effective (see: sweet tooth). She loves her big family and is trying to love all the work involved in renovating the two-family house she and Brian just purchased in a waterfront town in Rhode Island.

9 Comments

  • m July 8, 2008 8:01 pm

    Heh, well I’m currently watching my Nintendo loving daughter play her DS and can totally relate. Husband and I “share” a DS but I think I need to get my own. And yeah, we own a Wii which all three girls love!

  • Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You July 9, 2008 12:28 am

    lol I am totally a gamer. Have been forever! A geek gamer!

  • Laura July 9, 2008 2:10 am

    The word “gamer” for me always conjures up the picture of 30 something men who are overweight and never quite grew up and spend all their free time playing computer/video games. I guess I will have to re-evaluate what a “gamer” is!

  • Jamie July 9, 2008 11:36 am

    I’m not a gamer, either, but I kind of have a crush on the Wii (we don’t have one…hint hint Nintendo.)

    I am so cheap I am saving my DS Lite for Christmas for Miss C! ;)

    Hey it looks like they are having a great time AND drinking wine…that’s the kind of gamer party I could attend.

  • kelli July 9, 2008 12:18 pm

    Nintendo has the BEST girly games! I’m addicted to Pikmin.

  • My Baby Pajamas July 9, 2008 3:40 pm

    Used to be a gamer. I just wish I had more time. I do play the Wii American Idol with my boys.

  • Audrey July 9, 2008 4:09 pm

    Oh Jane… you have to come over and do Wii… you will love it! The tennis is hilarious!
    xo,
    Audrey

  • Chrissy July 9, 2008 8:58 pm

    I’m addicted to Karaoke Revolution and Dance Dance Revolution. Sadly, I don’t have time to play them right now!! LOL!

    Jane, I wrote something about you on my blog…totally made me weepy!!! http://lifeonmanitoulin.blogspot.com/2008/07/introducingmom-generations.html

  • Jen @ One Moms World July 10, 2008 1:03 am

    I’m not a gamer either lol, but I keep seeing commericals with that piano game for the Nintendo DS which I think is cool and then I really really want a Wii too hehe.