Sheri Graner Ray, owner of Albuquerque-based Her Interactive. Whereas boys go on to play male-stimulating twitch games, such as Quake and Warcraft, girls usually turn thumbs down on these titles. And with 19 million U.S. girls ages 7 to 17 waiting in the wings, it's a subject to be taken seriously. Two other women-run companies, Her Interactive of Albuquerque and Girl Games of Austin, Texas, make software aimed at preteens and teenage girls. Conflict resolution, stimulation and reward.
Women use diplomacy, manipulation and take their opponents' feelings into consideration.
Calif. What girls want, the software developers say, are multimedia games with a good story and believable characters that let them manipulate the level of play, compete in a friendly but challenging environment and resolve situational problems. Sales numbers show the developers must be right. Until recently, few software publishers studied what type of computer game would appeal to girls, and few have produced any. Indeed, fantasy is a key element in Purple Moon's upcoming releases. The idea behind the programs is entertainment and fun.