Video games and fashion, finally the girls are invited to play
Filed under: Style in the News
In a fashion first, H&M is going to manufacture and sell a dress designed by gamer Beau Fornillos, who made it while playing Sims 2. Literally while playing, as in Fornillos made it as part of the game!
Sims players have been able to "shop" at H&M for over a year. Fornillos uploaded his design from the game to to an online runway, where it was judged the winner. His prize is having it brought to life by H&M.
This LA Times story describes the shift in gaming that is bringing fashion to the xBox and Nintendo DS, not to mention the monster that is Wii. From Karl Largerfeld's cameo in Grand Theft Auto to the Japanese street style game "That's QT" (which we can't wait to try, it's all goth lolitas and harajuku girls!) fashion is a viable subject for video games because at last girls are a viable target market for video games.
Until now the female target market has been largely untapped by the video gaming industry. Apparently girls don't like guns as much, but we love shopping and fashion. (We're sure it took many hours of focus groups to figure this out.)
Yes, it's a stereotype, but there are worse ones out there. And if it gets them to finally develop some fun games specifically for girls? We all win. Plus, we all know a couple of boys who are going to be playing those fashion video games. Let's not kid ourselves.
emma 7-31-2008 @ 6:34PM
I'm a girl and I play many of the so called "guy" games. Grand Theft Auto, Guitar Hero, various racing games. Just because some girls would are obsessed with fashion, doesn't mean all are.
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koppi 9-29-2008 @ 10:36AM
I like games with violence, mystery and so forth...but the reason why I don't play them much is because I'd rather play with a female protagonist...and there aren't much main hardcore female characters out there in games. By the way, "That's QT" isn't all dress-up...it's a retail management strategy game as well that may not be suitable for young kids with the slight reference to alcohol and etc. I agree that gaming industry should have a large variety since people of all generations and backgrounds are picking up a controller. But let's hope the industry doesn't make all female-oriented games to be only about fashion, shopping, child-rearing and ponies..heh. Though I wouldn't mind a fashionable female character with a weapon and lethal fighting skills.
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