Analysts say one factor is an increase in games that appeal to women and girls, as opposed to the first-person shooter games that appeal mainly to males and have been a staple of the business. They include some varieties of massive multiplayer online games, or MMOGs, such as World of Warcraft, Lineage and Runescape. A 2006 study from Parks Associates found that 21 percent of MMOG gamers were females aged 18 to 34, approaching the 26 percent of gamers that were similarly aged males.

Some female users also like software that simulates real life, like The Sims and Second Life, or casual offerings such as word and puzzle games. Many of these programs look best on a PC with good graphics, but don't require the costly souped-up machines that avid gamers prefer for shooter-style games.

"Somewhere between the mass market and the hard core, I do think there should be a middle tier who is interested in better performance, but will never have either the resources or mind-set to pay for a $5,000 gaming PC," says Michael Cai, an analyst at Parks Associates.

From the article "PC companies designing units for gamers," by Christopher Lawton.
 

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