This week's Ask the GameGirls question comes from William Brown. He writes:
Why is it that a lot of girls don't really like to play fighting games? If that's not the case, what fighting games do you play?
Thanks,
William Brown
Where did you get that from, William? I grew up playing a lot of fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Tekken, Street Fighter, and Soul Calibur. I am still a huge fan of all of these games and I even own a Hori fighting stick for the PS3. I may not always list fighting as one of my favorite genres but I tend to play fighters quite a bit!
I think to answer your question, William you have to take a look at what it takes to really get into a fighting game. Unlike other genre of games, fighting games require the most amount of time and practice. You have you practice for hours upon hours to stand your own against anyone else. It requires remembering move sets, precision timing, and muscle memory. I think alot of gamers, let alone girls, want something that's more instantly gratifying than that sort of experience. When I was in high school, fighting games were my absolute favorite kind of game. I started with Tekken 2 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 in the arcades. I played them every day and got pretty good; I even won a few Tekken Tag tournaments. I was a huge Tekken fan until 4 and then my interest in the series kind of faded. I moved on to other games like Project Justice, Guilty Gear, Capcom vs. SNK, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, and SF: third strike (I never really got into the alpha series). After I got into college I was so busy I just didn't have that kind of time anymore. I think fighting games as a whole also saw a bit of a decline until earlier this year with the release of SFIV and Blazblue. Now the communities seem revived and I'm starting the get back into them.
I hope that answers your question!
I typically find that girls are more opposed to shooters than fighting games. Personally, I love fighting games. I had Mortal Kombat 4 and Street Fighter II Turbo to give me that strong foundation, but because of it I'm a bit picky with my fighting games. Mainly I stick to Guilty Gear XX because it's fast paced and the combos aren't so methodical that I can't do them without practicing for hours upon hours. I'm an extremely impatient person, but I also really hate button mashers, so there has to be a balance. I enjoy playing Blaz Blue, Battle Fantasia, and a couple others but in all honesty I really prefer the old school ones.
Also keep in mind that saying 'girls don't like ____' is never entirely true. Ladyluck really loves some shooters, Raychul really loves some survival/horror games, and all of us enjoy playing video games! It's very person specific, just like with any other guy.
I haven't really met many girls that don't like fighting games. In fact, I think girls that haven't played many video games prefer fighting games because, as a beginner, there isn't much skill to them. They can just press buttons and watch the characters do cool things. I think fighting games are great for that. I've actually always suggested that if you want to get your girl into gaming, start with fighting games because they aren't all that intimidating and it's a way for you to play together.
I personally love fighting games. If I could compete in a tournament, I would want it to be in the fighting genre and I really love them all. I own games from the Street Fighter, Soul Calibur, Guilty Gear and Dead or Alive series, as well as Marvel vs. Capcom, Capcom vs SNK and Smash Bros. Then of course the countless hours at friends houses, arcades and classics like Tekken, Virtua Fighter, King of Fighters, Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat and my guilty pleasure Eternal Champions.
Eternal_Champions
I've been a die-hard Mortal Kombat player since I was young. Personally I love almost every fighting game I've played, including Tekken, Soul Calibur, DoA, and Street Fighter.
I've even hosted a MK tourney at Best Buy and have been a contestant several times in a Super Smash Bros Brawl extravaganza. If there's a combo or finishing move involved, count me in!
I do, in fact, play fighting games. My favorite of all time is Soul Calibur II. I am a fan of most of the Soul Calibur games, as well as Super Smash Bros, Mortal Combat, and Tekken. As for other girls, I can't really say. Most likely, when it comes to girlfriends, fighting games are a versus game, where two players are against each other. As we've said before, most couples like to play co-op, as it is doesn't single out one player. So that may be why (in that situation), it's rare.
Hey William! I know tons of girls who play fighting games. I dabble with them, I wouldn't really say I am a huge fighting game player but I do enjoy several of them. I would have to say my three favorites are the Street Fighter series, Soul Calibur and Super Smash Brothers.
Hey William, I know plenty of girls who play fighting games. I play them, but it isn't something that I put a lot of time into like other genres (shooters for example). I would say that it takes the least amount of practice to play, because anyone can pick up a controller and play a fighting game. Except every person is going to say that they practice a lot in their specific genre.
Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter, Soul Calibur, Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Brothers, Bloody Roar. . . the list goes on and on of fighting gmes I have played over the years. However, to me I think it is something to play every know and then and not something I run home to play.
What are some of your game suggestions?
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