Studies show women are the fastest growing gamer demographic. Companies hoping to cash in on this trend continuously pump out all manner of casual titles. In the wild, the proverbial white whale remains elusive. This doesn’t prevent budding teenagers from being targeted like their male counterparts. “Must play” titles have all the characteristics of feeding testosterone driven brains with war scenarios, aggression, and adrenaline inducing virtual violence; often leading to parental concern over the “gamer addict” and mislabeled real world violence supposedly brought on by games. Rated M titles are said to warp the adolescent mind providing a false sense of reality, though I could argue so do social networking titles (WoW, GTA, The Sims).

What then of girl gamers? Wired blogger Tracey John lists “life lessons” learned by tween girls in several DS titles, but the thought provoking question comes by way of Tom Chick(Fidgit): What do videogames teach girls? I’ve included a few of Tracey John’s examples below, but am interested whether you feel these are just trumped up charges similar to how legislators demonize (for the purpose of the post) “guys games”.

Are these titles unintentionally causing emotional/psychological stress in females? And before boys think they are immune, studies do indicate behavioral changes do occur with violent games. I’d also really like to hear from our female fanbase. I can only go so far in my understanding of the ladies.

[Wired via Fidgit]

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Harmonix has a lot going for it, making many great music related game series, with Guitar Hero being the most popular, is moving on up to a higher plane, A report came out saying that, EA Games, and major record labels, MI Music Publishing, and Warner/Chappell. Along with EMI Music and Warner Music Group’s Rhino Entertainment, labels which have agreed to supply songs include Hollywood Records and Sony BMG plus Universal Music Enterprises. Have joined Harmonix on their next endeavor, Rock Band. This game is going to come out for the PS3, and The Xbox 360, nothing is really said about it, but with knowing that Guitar Hero is possible, I wouldn’t doubt that the next step would be to incorporate all the instruments, where you and your friends can play in Co-Op. Which in my humble opinion, WOULD BE AWESOME. But nothing has been said, nothing official has been released other than the expected release season: Just in time for Christmas.

[GamesIndustry]