Q: How do you feel your game will impact the gaming market? Do you believe that your game will serve as a "wake-up call" for other companies to also target women?
A: A loaded question to put me on the soapbox! Getting this title to market is an uphill battle, so first understand the market. Distributors and publishers want titles to fly off the shelves just like Hollywood studios want blockbusters.
And this a retail business, no different then selling a can of beans. Who has more bucks to buy the "end caps" this week - is it Coke or Pepsi? Who has the decision making power and money?
An industry computer magazine editor said "Not to bust your bubble of enthusiasm, but retail buyers are going to kill you so why don't you quit while you are ahead."
To get on the retail shelf one has to go through many channels of approval.
I've heard comments such as: The box looks like it will appeal to women and women don't buy games or computer software. There is no room on the shelf for something that appeals to a niche women's market. We want hits and only hits. Only a #*#@!&! would use shades of cinnamon and apricot on a box. Can't you make the lotus flower black to symbolize death?
Here's more resistance: Three major, mainstream women's magazines told me that although they reviewed movies, books, audio CD's etc., "women DON'T use computers or play games so don't send us any press release or information for our readers." A major young women's magazine said teens would rather "PLAY with boys and makeup, not computers."
Honest, I couldn't possibly make up such stupid remarks.
But this is just a reflection of society. An analogy can be made to other women's issues such as breast cancer. It wasn't until we put more women in Congress did more funding come along for research into women's health issues. The same needs to happen in this business from programming to retailing.
I am grateful to DreamCatcher Interactive for distributing this title. They specialize in Adventure Games and over 60 percent of their purchasers are women. They love women gamers and have been supportive of our efforts.
Women Wise is pioneering new territory. A big publisher has more to risk in terms of financial bottom lines.
Women Wise could fail with this title as well. But homework, research, colleagues, seeing other women's sense of achievement for inspiration, plus gut feeling and passion says we have to try this NOW.
Even if women don't enjoy this type of genre, I hope they buy the title to make the point to retailers and publishers that we should not be forgotten about whether it's in games, entertainment products or hardware.
And stop those ads that say SHE isn't the only one who can accessorize at Sears, while telling men to visit the computer gadget department!
I'm inspired by industry analyst and author Don Tapscott who in his keynote speech at E3 this year stated that the next company that markets software to women is the next one everyone will follow. I think it took courage to say that.
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