I'm here. Accept it.
(And I'm bringing friends ...)
Every so often, a video game (or game system) comes along and enslaves me. I spend hours in solitary confinement, hands glued to the trigger, eyes to the screen. Sound familiar? If your copy of Halo has arrived, you know the feeling. (You did remember to pre-order, right?) If not, there are still plenty of other titles to inspire that same feeling of devotion, starting with DOA3 (that's Dead or Alive 3 to you, Bub).
For me, the arrival of a new game system has special significance. Every new game brings with it new weapons to master, new aliens to frag, and new worlds to explore. More importantly, it gives me more opportunities to kick my husband's ass in combat.
That's right, kids -- I'm a chick who knows video games. And before you start in with the remarks ("Oh, YOU'RE the one"), let me lay out one tidbit for you: I've yet to meet a guy who can beat his girlfriend at Fusion Frenzy.
Still reading? Good. Because there are some things we need to get straightened out in the video game world. Not all women hate video games, just like not all guys like sports. (It's true. Trust me on this one.) And no, I don't count the "Barbie Designer Dream Home" style CD-ROMs as video games. I'm talking old school. I'm talking the kind of games that enable you to go to new and strange worlds, meet unusual aliens, and blow them away.
I'm talking Halo.
I mean, have you seen this game yet? It has GRRL GAME OF THE YEAR written all over it. Don't believe me? Let's go the tape -- or in this case, the DVD. Here we have everything a grrl could want: Beautiful, sweeping landscapes with the perfect tinge of weather. Why, Jane Austen could be writing about this place: "Forsooth, it is winter, and I am here to turn the sweet white snow crimson with alien blood." (Or whatever color alien blood is these days.)
Not only that, I understand this one has a real-live story. Chicks dig stories! Why else would we sit through weepy period flicks? And then there are the guys. This game has some very attractive young soldiers running around. (Hot guys will also get me to sit through a weepy period flick.) So there you have it: landscape, story, soldiers… heck, they might as well package this swathed in pink.
Moving right along, let's talk DOA3. Now here you have one that is sure to appeal to the Sex and the City crowd. The women look like they just walked off a runway, and the men look like they belong in a perfume ad. Mix in the opportunity to throw a loved one literally out the window and you have the makings of a top-notch slumber party.
If kick-boxing in a slit skirt doesn't appeal, there's always Fusion Frenzy, an incredible collection of puzzle games that will make you dump Tetris once and for all. (For the uninitiated, Tetris is a geometry game beloved by all women -- even those who don't game.) These are not only intelligent, their fast -- so you can score numerous victories in a brief period of time. Best of all, these are not kiddie-focused games. You'll need quick wits and fast fingers for this one. But you can handle it, can't you?
You sports fans out there will also find plenty to keep you busy in the coming months, as a fine variety of snowboarding, skateboarding, and football games hit the scene. I had the opportunity to play NFL Fever 2002, and I can honestly say I'm blown away. The game was photo-realistic, easy-to-learn, and expressed a sense-of-humor. Plus it plays like a real game. The only thing the players didn't do was stick their hands in their pants to stay warm. (Anyone who has watched an open-stadium game in January knows what I mean.)
Personally, I'm looking forward to Dark Summit, a snowboarding game that features -- get ready for it -- a female lead. Granted, she's wearing a crop top in the snow, but she also shreds like a pro. Plus, any game that encourages you to start an avalanche has my vote.
So you see contrary to popular belief, there is plenty out there for women -- and I haven't even mentioned Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x (great stunts potential), the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer title (strong female lead), or WWF: RAW (not my cup of tea, but big with many women). Even Silent Hill 2 has a vaguely romantic back story (man searches for dead wife who might not be dead). Personally, I can't wait.
All of these titles have the potential to open the hearts and wallets of grrls across the world. They just happen to be marketed to men. So in the coming months, when you see a grrl purchasing a hot Xbox title, don't ask her if it's a gift for her boyfriend or brother.
Ask her how long it took her to beat Halo the first time.
Happy hunting, ladies.
![[IMG]](http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/ebarovgpbonzjkjjth5rqfojh36gsajh7dkcrwwh5qf2vs5rkllmhwaef3ht25bgwxho6py4fo5k2rcljdduslc3gth/nil-grrlgotgame-0001.jpg)
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