How New Parents Can Annoy Guildies

I am learning the hard way; and because I don’t want this to happen to you, I am sharing my trials and tribulations.

1. Tell them again and again and again if you ask to run any heroics, you would love to but if the baby wakes up you will have to leave.  (They freaking know you have a kid under the age of 5 months.  Just leave and then say you are sorry.  No details needed.  Of course if the house is burning down, it might be helpful to tell them, in case you can’t get to the phone to call for assistance.)
2. Talk about ANOTHER 500th cute (only to you at this point) story about how the baby blew a fart.
3. You attempt to resist but still fail,and talk about how adorable said child is at this moment while he sucks on his toes.  (Honestly, they don’t care. Especially if they don’t have children or under the age of 25.  The concept and awww factor is limited to those who are ready for kids, have them or love puppies)
4. Don’t try to run a heroic or raid with your partner, EVER. Even if the baby is asleep.  Both times Luis and I have attempted this, it has resulted in apologizes, emergency feedings and one-handed game play.
1. Talking about one-handed game play. It is totally possible to quest one-handed while cradling a sleeping baby in your other arm.  Tools needed:  An armed chair and a pillow for comfort.  Or in my husband case, one arm cradling while resting AJ on the Boppy pillow I used a total of three times during leave.
5. Limit the baby aggro jokes.  Again this falls into “while your world has changed mine has not” category for others.  They don’t need another reminder you have a little one.
6. Don’t put the wailing child on vent. 

This is our gaming Public Service Announcement for new parents.  What other tidbits do you want to share?

PS. I wonder if there is a new parents gaming support group? You know where child crazy gamers can annoy the shit out of EACH other instead of others.

What Do Women Gamers Want?

On my reader today, an interesting article jumped out at me, Why Video Game Designers Are Missing The Mark With Women. I went on over and enjoyed what the author had to say.  Especially dealing with the armor/clothing on female characters.

This is not a new complaint.  It even has a Tvtrope.

Stop, from Stoppable Force, provided a great example:


 For a more extreme example check this one out: http://www.wowhead.com/item=29928#.

Seriously boys.  We get it. You like boobs and skin.  Normally, this doesn’t really annoy me, but when my dwarf paladin is running around Northern in skimpy chainmail, I really must question her intelligence.

However, as a gamer and a woman there were a few other points I wish she had brought up. Now my experience in gaming is a little different than the traditional gamer.  I am VERY picky when it comes to games, and often lose my interest in them just as fast.

Thus, I have only played a very limited number of games, and have seen my brother, father and husband play a bunch more.

Here is my criteria for a game to hold me attention. 

• Excellent characters and story
• Forcing the player to think about solutions
• Engaging world and playability

Which is what I think more women gamers want.

Games with brains.

Yeah, we like to think. We like psychology. We want to spend hours reading through text and getting into a story.  For many, games like KOTOR, Bioshock, Half-life, Halo, Mass Effect gives them the best of both world.

However, my favorite genre of games is not longer popular.

I am a huge fan of point-n-click adventure games.

During the late nineties there was a rush of “adventure” games, like The Longest Journey, Circle of Blood,  The Gabriel Knight series, and  Grim Fandango.  RPG’s are okay, but few are able to met these requirements. I have only played one in the last couple of years which has met these points:
Dragon Age, I love you.

These games all had great stories, memorable characters and were challenging.  They didn’t however involve jumping, fighting or trying to time a specific button to cause an effect.

I am not saying those game are not fun, obviously they are,  just not for me.  I am amazed I have played WoW so long because it does require me to do all those things.  However, the great thing about WoW is I don’t have to do this.  I can spend the whole day dancing in Dalaran if I want, or just pick herbs.  The freedom to spend my time anyway I choose, makes me want to tackle a hard instance or healing an impossible situation. 

I want a choice.  I want to be able to achieve the same result by multiple avenues. 

Basically, I want more games like those adventure games.  Games where you could take your time.  Games with mental challenges (if anyone played The Beast Within, you know what I mean when I say “cuckoo clock”) and fantastic stories.  I want real plots and twists.  I want characters I can invest my energy.  I want game control which won’t break my brain. Seriously, if I have to take a college course to figure out how to walk, something is broken.

Do that, and I am loyal. I will buy your stuff years after your last game.

Yes, Jane Jensen, I am looking at you.

What about you ladies in the interwebs? What do you look for in a game?  What brings you back for more? What would you like to see more?