| While it may seem stereotypical, most girls enjoy | | | | game, girls are much more involved and gain much |
| many of the same styles of games. This is not to say | | | | more. |
| these games are exclusive to females, or that these | | | | For many girls, it is not about winning or even |
| young women might not enjoy the same pursuits as | | | | advancing. The storylines and relationships between |
| boys. In general, however, it does seem that scores of | | | | characters can be enough to keep them coming back |
| girls flock to the same activities time and time again for | | | | for more. In many games appealing to girls, both online |
| very specific reasons. | | | | and off, characters are developed with stories and |
| Fantasy | | | | personalities of their own. Rarely is a game marketed |
| Girls as young as toddlers love to act out fantasy lives | | | | to young women with faceless entities racking up |
| and roles. Baby dolls and dress up clothes transform | | | | points in one way or another. |
| these girls to make-believe mothers and princesses in | | | | Friendly |
| a split second. These games do not end with the | | | | Girls like competition, but most prefer it to be friendly. |
| school years. Young girls, and even young women, | | | | For most females, regardless of age, the relationship is |
| continue to enjoy creating fantasy characters and lives | | | | more crucial than the victory. If two girls are engaged |
| for recreation. Electronic "pets" and online personas | | | | in a contest online, they are more likely to praise the |
| take the place of the earlier dolls, but some versions of | | | | other's creation or efforts than tear anyone down. This |
| dolls continue to live on. | | | | is especially true when a young lady exposes herself |
| While Barbie might be blasé, girls in their teens still | | | | to opinions by sharing some of her own work or |
| regularly discuss other forms of dolls. Online dress up | | | | thoughts. |
| games found on websites such as offer these young | | | | For example, doll websites, such as |
| ladies an opportunity to create fantastical creations in | | | | TheDollPalace.com, offer competitions and contests |
| whatever style they desire. These games go far | | | | between girls to create certain styles of dolls or even |
| beyond a slightly complex coloring book. The dolls take | | | | stories about their creations. Rather than criticize or |
| on lives of their own, guided by these same girls who | | | | insult the competing stories, most girls offer praise or |
| had tea parties with water in the teapot and imaginary | | | | positive comments. There are rarely sore losers, either. |
| cookies. | | | | While not all girl games remain friendly, the vast |
| Multidimensional | | | | majority of girls enjoy games without the rougher |
| Many of the more traditional games have a single | | | | elements of more traditional competition. Overall, girls |
| dimension. You become a player or character and | | | | may enjoy the same activities as their male |
| move through a predetermined number of spaces or | | | | counterparts, but it will usually be for different reasons. |
| levels. Girls might enjoy these games, but they revel in | | | | Girls play games for fun, of course. To be fun, |
| opportunities to move beyond the basics. By | | | | however, these games must appeal to girls on many |
| incorporating relationships, choices, and strategy in a | | | | different levels. |