Sexual inequality exposed in virtual world

OneFootInTheGrave · June 28, 2003, 18:34

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993864

Quote:

Female virtual characters suffer from sexual inequality in financial matters, just like their real-world counterparts, according to a new study of the online game EverQuest.

EverQuest is inhabited by tens of thousands of internet gamers at any one time. Players choose a character to represent them in the role-playing world. These avatars can be male or female and one of many fantasy races such as elf or ogre. Once a character has built up experience and skills, some players then sell them for real cash through the internet auction site eBay.

"Holding all other characteristics equal, it turns out female avatars sell for about 10 per cent less than male avatars," says Edward Castronova, an economist at California State University at Fullerton, who examined the value of characters sold on eBay.

Overall, male avatars sold for an average of $346, while the generally lower skilled female ones went for $281. The discrepancy notably mirrors differences in wages earned by men and women in the real-world, says Castronova.

"This discount may stem from a number of causes," he told New Scientist, "including discrimination in Earth society and the maleness of the EverQuest player base."

Sex swap

Although the vast majority of EverQuest players are male, around 20 per cent of players choose a female avatar to represent them online.

Jason Rutter, a computer games researcher at Manchester University, UK, adds that the difference could also reflect differences in the way male and female characters are treated in the EverQuest game.

"In EverQuest, as well as other games, people respond to you differently based on your sex," Rutter told New Scientist. "There's a growing literature about how female gamers adopt male characters to stop getting hassled."

Trading characters and items from EverQuest on eBay has grown into a profitable sideline for some players, although the game's owner Sony has sought to put a stop to the practice.

In January 2002, Castronova calculated the average wage EverQuest players could in principle earn by trading all the items obtained in the game on eBay. He found the game's per-capita gross national product would be $2266. If it were a real country, EverQuest would then be the 77th wealthiest in the world, just behind Russia.

The diplomat · June 28, 2003, 18:41

This is utterly stupid! What's the point?

MRT144 · June 28, 2003, 18:42

Quote:

In January 2002, Castronova calculated the average wage EverQuest players could in principle earn by trading all the items obtained in the game on eBay. He found the game's per-capita gross national product would be $2266. If it were a real country, EverQuest would then be the 77th wealthiest in the world, just behind Russia.

i found this crazy!

JohnT · June 28, 2003, 18:46

"Overall, male avatars sold for an average of $346, while the generally lower skilled female ones went for $281. The discrepancy notably mirrors differences in wages earned by men and women in the real-world, says Castronova."

Why doesn't this article trumpet that:

"Lower skilled people earn less than higher skilled ones!"

Or something? Oh, wait: That won't sell papers to the chronically offended.

VJ · June 28, 2003, 18:48

JohnT

Case closed, or so it seems.

The Andy-Man · June 28, 2003, 18:49

maybe its cos its a fantasy game, and how many fantasdty charachters or heroes have there been that were female?

though that is another can of worms in itself

Immortal Wombat · June 28, 2003, 18:50

Nah, all things being equal, its simply a supply and demand thing. There are less people who want to have female avatars than want to have male avatars. Thus the males are more expensive.

I'd buy a female one

Shi Huangdi · June 28, 2003, 18:55

Well, now we know not to take CSU Fullerton's Econ department seriously...

Kuciwalker · June 28, 2003, 19:43

Quote:

In January 2002, Castronova calculated the average wage EverQuest players could in principle earn by trading all the items obtained in the game on eBay. He found the game's per-capita gross national product would be $2266. If it were a real country, EverQuest would then be the 77th wealthiest in the world, just behind Russia.

This is insane. I love it!

Sava · June 28, 2003, 20:47

Everquest is for dumbasses

St Leo · June 28, 2003, 22:42

Female avatars 0wn.

General Ludd · June 28, 2003, 23:15

Supply and demand. There are not that many female players, so there wouldn't be as much a demand for female characters outside of the fat balding men who get their jollies out of that sort of thing. (Immortal Wombat )

Agathon · June 28, 2003, 23:42

This is bull. No male characters in video games have bigger boobs than Lara Croft's.

Urban Ranger · June 28, 2003, 23:52

Yeah? Lara Croft has no balls.

tinyp3nis · June 29, 2003, 00:15

Quote:

"Overall, male avatars sold for an average of $346, while the generally lower skilled female ones went for $281. The discrepancy notably mirrors differences in wages earned by men and women in the real-world, says Castronova."

Well, I think that "generally lower skilled" could just be a reminder that they are, not something they didn't think of when they tested because then this would be a lie:

Quote:

"Holding all other characteristics equal, it turns out female avatars sell for about 10 per cent less than male avatars,"

Quote:

"including discrimination in Earth society and the maleness of the EverQuest player base."

Both good options, just like when I buy mens clothes, I'm either discriminating againts all females or just ...

Pekka · June 29, 2003, 00:16

I like lara croft.

Dis · June 29, 2003, 04:06

yes everquest is like real life. what a stupid comparison.

especially since many of those female characters are played by males.

MrFun · June 29, 2003, 04:09

Smirnoff Ice is good for both genders.

Nubclear · June 29, 2003, 04:12

"Were women, so our lower skilled characters should as high as higher level male characters, or else its EVIL MALE DESCRIMINATION!!!!"

Dis · June 29, 2003, 04:33

I am actually suprised that they don't sell for more than male characters though.

we all know how perverted hardcore computer gamers are.

Stefu · June 29, 2003, 05:07

What is this about? This is about Castronova finding a good prestige cow (writing econ. articles about Everquest, that is) and milking it for all it's worth.

Nubclear · June 29, 2003, 05:42

Why would someone buy an "avatar" ( I presume this means character) for 300+ bucks?!

Provost Harrison · June 29, 2003, 07:31

Everrquest? What do they expect from a bunch of spotty geeks?

muxec · June 29, 2003, 08:00

There is much more lesbian porno, that gay porno. It's unequality.

St Leo · June 29, 2003, 15:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
I am actually suprised that they don't sell for more than male characters though.

we all know how perverted hardcore computer gamers are.

Hey, at least I am not into furries. Well, not into the ugly furries anyway. I've seen a few se... never mind.