Differing game tactics between men and women?

Question

My partner and I have just got into Age of Empires on the PC (a real time strategy game). Found it interesting that our gameplay styles are completely opposite. The first thing I do is raise armys, the first thing she does is build defenses. Kind of obvious I know, but has anyone else noticed this. Oh yeah, she does better than me :-)

Answer 1

While gender impacts strategy, I think personality has more impact.

Sure, a male will tend to be more aggressive, and the female will think less aggressively by nature (leading to your situation) -- but there are many men who minimize risk by focusing on defense and shoring up their weaknesses.

My wife once irked me (a long time ago) when playing Risk, because I'm a defensive player and she would act aggressively in situations where I was not in a position to threaten her, with the obvious outcome that we would both lose to the other player(s).

Games do reflect some of the personality; but because it's not real danger and has no permanent outcome, sometimes people act in ways going against their grain. It's hard to tell.

Answer 2

I know it's an old game but I still play Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 - Yuri's Revenge. I have lots of mods now, which I've downloaded from the Internet and I still think it's a cool game.

When I start a game, I always put defense first. If you have nothing to defend yourself with, you may as well quit the game. When you've proved your defenses work (after a number of attacks by the enemy - such as a large number of Prism tanks by the Allies or the Airships by the Soviets), you can begin to prepare for 'The Invasion'. Build your armies, steal money from your enemies using your spies, starve them of their ore and then ATTACK! If you're feeling particularly cruel, cripple your enemy and then let them rebuild under controlled conditions. Just as the going looks good for them, crush them with everything you have...make 'em suffer!

I'm a guy by the way, and I have a different strategy to you. I don't think it is a gender thing.

Answer 3

You mean there are things called tactics where you have choices - well i never. Blokes just go for it.

Women obviosult think about it and work to a strategy - thats damn clever really isnt it - maye we wouldnt lose all the time if we tried it - ahhhh - no forget it, lets just go for broke.

Answer 4

You really can't tell from one instance. Actually, one would expect a woman to focus on gathering resources. AoE is a great game- no one strategy will be more consistently more effective than another as it depends on who you are playing.

Answer 5

Mans logic:
Strength in numbers.

Womans logic:

A best offense is a great defense.

Answer 6

i only know those ones of bed