Video gaming: A co-ed sport?

Despite rigorous academic courseloads and intense extracurricular commitments, some Princeton students still find time to unwind — and sometimes obsess — by playing their favorite video games.

From the "old school" variety, complete with two-dimensional characters and catchy digital soundtracks, to Nintendo's latest interactive Wii technology, video games seem to appeal to male and female students alike.

Kait MacNichol '08 is one female who is not afraid to admit that she enjoys playing video games.

An English major, MacNichol said she particularly enjoys games like "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" that offer some type of plot. "I play them for the storyline, the way I read a really good book," she said.

She also enjoys seeing friends react to her gaming skills. MacNichol's past video game victories at Quadrangle Club have won her the respect of male competitors, she said.

Chris Berg '07, who described video games as a "very guy-central recreational activity," admitted that he is "attracted to a girl who's willing to participate in video games."

While some men are impressed by a skilled female gamer, others view an affinity for video-gaming to be a less attractive quality in a potential mate.

"As somebody who himself is not interested in video games, if a girl has an interest in video games, that's really not hot," Cole Bunzel '08 said.

Other students cited a connection between video game victories and masculinity — a link which some said can be challenged by a skilled female gamer.

George Brell '08 draws a line between the casual playing of video games with women and genuine competition. "Girls playing [video games] with you is fun; girls beating you is frustrating," he said.

Kent Kuran '08 said that women can encroach on the traditionally male-dominated pastime as long as it is still possible to "manifest your masculinity in other ways, such as being allowed to pay for dinner."

But why is video gaming dominated by men in the first place?

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MacNichol said that games involving fighting and war appeal to the competitive spirit of some men. "College life is about one-upping each other," she said. "That comes out in the video games."

Megan Manfred '07 also provided some insight into the lower rate of female participation.

"One, they are so violent," she said. "Two, they are antisocial. Three, playing violent games is inappropriate when you're in college. If you're still playing when you're a senior in college, when will it end?"

Indeed, the time commitment that accompanies a dedicated video gaming schedule is a reality some men have admitted to grappling with since leaving high school.

"Even [in high school] I realized that video games were an enormous drain [on time]," Will Ellerbe '08 said. "Now I can't even afford to get into stuff."

MacNichol said there are students who devote six to seven hours each day to playing video games, "the way people play sports."

What some view as a dedicated commitment, others see as a waste of time. Brian Extein '08 agreed with the latter sentiment. "Playing video games makes more sense when you're a balding 40-year-old living alone in your parents' basement," he said.