An inside source (a.k.a. my little brother) has informed us here at ZE that in the UK, and possibly elsewhere, Phantom Hourglass is now featuring in one of Nintendo’s “Great Games for Girls” TV spots - one of a series of promotional schemes aiming to get “non-gamers” to give Nintendo bucketloads of money. Similar schemes includes their ”Great Games for Young, Attractive, City-living Females” and ”Great Games for Old Farts Who Seriously Think That Doing Laugably Simple Arithmetic Each Day Has Some Kind Of Health Benefit” series (names may not be entirely correct), featuring the wonderful talents of Nicole Kidman and Patrick Stewart respectively.

Now, before anyone tries to flame me, I have absolutely nothing against girls playing Zelda, or any other games. But these specific adverts feature early-teenage girls in frilly dresses sitting gaily on a swing with their DS - not exactly the kind of person you can imagine getting caught up in heated debates about just where Oracle of Ages fits in the Zelda timeline in their later years. Sure, they may have bugged their daddy for a DS and a copy of Nintendogs, but can you really target Zelda to this kind of person? Won’t this give the wrong impression of the series to someone who could potentially love it? Not neccesarily my opinions, just questions. What do you think?

 Wow, I managed to get through that whole thing without a “Phantom Hourglass is easy” joke.

I have to agree, i don’t know one single female who’d want to play on a Zelda game, the games (what with the weapons, swords, bombs, etc) seem to be solely directed at boys, but I don’t have anything against girls playing Zelda games.

Well, I know quite a few girls who have or would play Zelda games, so I wouldn’t say they’re just for boys. But it’s the targeting of kid to teenage girly girls that I don’t understand.

Yeah, I’ve noticed this advert. I think the tone the voice over uses when she says ‘Great games -for girls-” is so patronising. As if she’s really surprised. I know Nintendo is going after the female gamer but it’s a pretty bull-headed way of going about it. And I agree that the ads have the potential of alienating the core gamer who see Zelda lined up next to Animal Crossing and Nintendogs.

In unrelated matters, could someone please explain why it’s snowing in March?

What?

My girlfriend plays Ocarina of Time better than I do.

There are clearly some kick-ass girl gamers, and then there are those that care about Zelda as much as I care about the OC.

Girls don’t play the vidya

”

What?

My girlfriend plays Ocarina of Time better than I do.

There are clearly some kick-ass girl gamers, and then there are those that care about Zelda as much as I care about the OC.”

You aren’t better better than your GF at OoT and you love the OC? Either you’re a sissy or that’s sad. And I think that Zelda is for EVERYONE. EVERYONE…..EVERYONE……….everyome….everyone*

everyone.

He doesn’t love the OC. You misread. You also don’t know Likely. So shut yo’ mouth!

I’m a girl and I’ve rapped Phantom Hourglass and 4 other Zelda Games. They were no challenge for me, but some girls refuse to play Zelda games. When I told my BFF, she didn’t even know what LOZ was!!! My opinion is some girls are to chicken to prove girls are better at video games than guys. Me. I’d crush a guy at a Zelda game any day.

And one more thing bout the Begging daddy for a DS and Nintendogs. I BEGGED FOR THE BLEACH GAME!