A study published in the Journal of Communication reveals that female MMO gamers are actually a little more dedicated ('hardcore') than their male counterparts, while being more concilliatory about their involvement with MMO games.
The study of more than 7000 Everquest II players revealed some interesting information about female MMO players. Of the survey respondents:
- Female gamers on average logged more hours per week than male players (29 hours vs. 25 hours)
- Female gamers underestimated their time spent playing more than male players. Male respondents underreported their estimated time spent playing by about 1 hour/week, whereas female respondents underreported by about 3 hours. (If we want to sound dramatic, we say that's a 300% increase.) According to the study, this is "due either to the generally masculine culture associated with digital games, or because such play takes time away from household activities, for which women are still expected to contribute the greater share."
- Female survey respondents reported generally better health than male counterparts. This data, however, was based purely on height/weight and a BMI score. None of it is was verified. (Seems to me it could just as easily demonstrate that women lie about their weight more than men.) Regardless, even male players, based on this data, were shown to be no better or worse than average. MMO gamers (male and female) in general, it seems, apparently aren't the overweight, anti-social troglodytes they are often portrayed to be.
Female gamers that played with their significant other also reported higher perceived relationship quality, although males did not.
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