GameCrush : Pay a girl to play videogames with you?

[figmentPez]

From IGN Australia:
Would You Pay a Girl to Play Halo With You? GameCrush lets you get flirty and dirty with gamer girls.

"A new social service launching tomorrow, March 23, called GameCrush (www.GameCrush.com) is hoping there are gamers out there willing to pay for the opportunity to play with girls.

"On GameCrush, guys are Players and girls are PlayDates. Players pay to play and PlayDates get paid to play. Guys can browse PlayDate profiles (there are currently around 1,200), view photos, and even chat with girls for free. Publicityhazard's turn ons include vibrating controllers, for instance, and is turned off by three red lights. Once you find a gal you fancy you send her a game invite and if she accepts you get six to ten minutes of one-on-one gaming time. PlayDates have the ability to block any guy they want for any reason. When the service launches tomorrow it will only support the Xbox 360 and a few casual games hosted on the GameCrush website, but there are plans to add PlayStation 3, Wii, and World of Warcraft support as soon as possible.
...
"It's not an explicitly explicit service, but PlayDates set their gaming mood to either "flirty" or "dirty."
...
"For $8.25 you get 500 credits, which is enough for one game (400 credits) and a 100 credit tip at the end. An Xbox Live game will last 10 minutes, while a casual Flash game will get you six minutes of face time with your PlayDate. That's literal face time, because you can video chat with your lady while playing a casual Flash game. Again, what goes on in that video chat is up to you and your PlayDate. GameCrush says it modeled its pricing structure after the cost of buying a girl a drink at a bar. In a bar, you're basically buying the opportunity to chat a girl up. GameCrush is hoping players will look at their service the same way.
...
"After a session you can rate your PlayDate on her hotness, gaming skill, and flirtiness.
...
"GameCrush wants to turn its most popular girls into gaming stars.
...
"PlayDates keep 60 percent of the cash they bring in.
...
"Because it's free for girls to sign up and there is no vetting process, the service is bound to get some shady ladies. But, from what we can tell, most of the girls on the service genuinely like to play games and are simply interested in getting paid for it. "



Like IGN, I'm honestly surprised this hasn't been tried sooner. Maybe the technical hurdles were too high the last time it popped into a capable entrepreneur's mind. I have no interest in paying a girl to game with me, but I'm sure this is going to draw a lot of interest, and probably make a lot of money.

 

[Shegokigo]

Can Playdates play with Playdates? If so, I'm so signing up.

 

[Chibibar]

So... Shego, Vixen, Cajungal and other female forumite can MAKE money playing video games???

man... I'm jealous.

 

[Shegokigo]

Yeah well, I have no interest in the main part of the program. Playing with "Gears of Halo-tard" teenage boys. So I most likely won't qualify.

 

[GasBandit]

Team Whoretris 2?

 

[Chibibar]

Yeah well, I have no interest in the main part of the program. Playing with "Gears of Halo-tard" teenage boys. So I most likely won't qualify.

Yea, but you get paid for it. It will not be any difference than saying waiting on table full of jerks (that happen to me a lot when I use to be a waiter) I wonder if you have the option to decline a partner?

 

[Frank]

That's, well, lame.

 

[Chibibar]

That's, well, lame.

Heh. The idea is not THAT new in Japan. You can have girls come OVER and play video games with you. No sex of course. This is just virtual date and not physical contact. "playdates keeps 60%" I assume that is the company right? so 3.30$ per 10 minutes or 19.8$/hr of your time.

That is not bad pay and you don't even have to touch the guy.

 

[figmentPez]

Yeah well, I have no interest in the main part of the program. Playing with "Gears of Halo-tard" teenage boys. So I most likely won't qualify.

Yea, but you get paid for it. It will not be any difference than saying waiting on table full of jerks (that happen to me a lot when I use to be a waiter) I wonder if you have the option to decline a partner?[/QUOTE]

The article says that the girls can decline players for any reason. Also, to sign up for the service you have to be 18, in theory that rules out a lot of the teenage crowd.

"playdates keeps 60%" I assume that is the company right? so 3.30$ per 10 minutes or 19.8$/hr of your time.

That is not bad pay and you don't even have to touch the guy.

Playdates are the girls, so they're making ~$5.70 per session, assuming the "tip" is automatic.

 

[Chibibar]

Playdates are the girls, so they're making ~$5.70 per session, assuming the "tip" is automatic.

not bad for 10 minutes. Heck I get 2.13$/hr when I was a waiter (I think they finally raise to 2.35$/hr in Texas) of course that does not include tip.

 

[Tinwhistler]

5.70 per session...a session is 6-10 minutes, depending on the game.
4 sessions per hour = $22/hour. Not bad at all. 45 grand a year if you can do it 40 hours a week.

 

[Troll]

Pathetic.

 

[Andromache]

I mean I get it, I can see the financial incentive, but it just seems skeevy to me. gaming already has a sizable portion of socially awkward people-- I just don't think this service will do anyone any good. Which is weird, because I have zero problems with sex workers/porn. I had this problem with my friends in Japan too, when they would do hostessing jobs, to emotionally comfort/ cater to someone for pay, sans sex? That honestly seems worse than just sexing someone who pays for it. Performance sex I've no issues with, but the faking emotional enjoyment seems worse. And before anyone gets on my case about it, trust me I know there's no logic in my reaction, and that it's riddled with hypocrisies, but thats my gut feeling. I'm not pleased with my response either

 

[ElJuski]

hahahaha

 

[Hailey Knight]

I mean I get it, I can see the financial incentive, but it just seems skeevy to me. gaming already has a sizable portion of socially awkward people-- I just don't think this service will do anyone any good. Which is weird, because I have zero problems with sex workers/porn. I had this problem with my friends in Japan too, when they would do hostessing jobs, to emotionally comfort/ cater to someone for pay, sans sex? That honestly seems worse than just sexing someone who pays for it. Performance sex I've no issues with, but the faking emotional enjoyment seems worse. And before anyone gets on my case about it, trust me I know there's no logic in my reaction, and that it's riddled with hypocrisies, but thats my gut feeling. I'm not pleased with my response either

It makes sense to me. Paying for sex isn't going to inhibit your sexing later without pay (though might inhibit incentive? I don't know). But the pay to date thing, pretending to enjoy the person, acts as a crutch for their social inabilities, so that the person never gets over them or learns to do any better.

And already a large number of people on Xbox Live have social inabilities...

 

[bhamv3]

This gives me an idea. I'm going to start a company in which women pay men to go shoe shopping with them. The guy will be very gentlemanly, carrying her bags and holding open doors for her. This will give socially awkward women a chance to have a shopping partner.

Although the guy will have the opportunity to set his shopping mood to "gent" or "perv" depending on how he's feeling.

 

[Dave]

This gives me an idea. I'm going to start a company in which women pay men to go shoe shopping with them. The guy will be very gentlemanly, carrying her bags and holding open doors for her. This will give socially awkward women a chance to have a shopping partner.

Although the guy will have the opportunity to set his shopping mood to "gent" or "perv" depending on how he's feeling.

Women don't need this. They can make us do pretty much anything they want to already. They have the Power of the Poon.

 

[Covar]

So it's a virtual Hostess club?

 

[AshburnerX]

So it's a virtual Hostess club?

Except they will talk dirty to you and you can rub one out in the privacy of your own home.

 

[ElJuski]

This gives me an idea. I'm going to start a company in which women pay men to go shoe shopping with them. The guy will be very gentlemanly, carrying her bags and holding open doors for her. This will give socially awkward women a chance to have a shopping partner.

Although the guy will have the opportunity to set his shopping mood to "gent" or "perv" depending on how he's feeling.

That's like a jerk-off fantasy you've had shelved away, isn't it.

 

[Andromache]

Actually, the host club for women is a thriving japanese business. But it doesnt include shoe shopping
http://current.com/items/89609081_butlers-cafe-a-g-rated-host-club.htm SFW

 

[Chibibar]

I mean I get it, I can see the financial incentive, but it just seems skeevy to me. gaming already has a sizable portion of socially awkward people-- I just don't think this service will do anyone any good. Which is weird, because I have zero problems with sex workers/porn. I had this problem with my friends in Japan too, when they would do hostessing jobs, to emotionally comfort/ cater to someone for pay, sans sex? That honestly seems worse than just sexing someone who pays for it. Performance sex I've no issues with, but the faking emotional enjoyment seems worse. And before anyone gets on my case about it, trust me I know there's no logic in my reaction, and that it's riddled with hypocrisies, but thats my gut feeling. I'm not pleased with my response either

Actually this actually make sense. There are two part that you separate. The physical part is easier to deal with (like sex) cause it is just physical part (paid sex). Most physical things, people will eventually forget hence the saying "all wounds heal over time" but the emotional portion tends to last much longer. I remember my psych course that the physical abuse vs verbal abuse. The physical abuse doesn't last as long (depend on abuse) but the verbal one is more on emotional level and could scar you for life.

This type of service could have emotional attachment from the player or playdates (if they are faking it) since that is more of a personal level to many people... At least that is how I see it.

 

[bhamv3]

This gives me an idea. I'm going to start a company in which women pay men to go shoe shopping with them. The guy will be very gentlemanly, carrying her bags and holding open doors for her. This will give socially awkward women a chance to have a shopping partner.

Although the guy will have the opportunity to set his shopping mood to "gent" or "perv" depending on how he's feeling.

That's like a jerk-off fantasy you've had shelved away, isn't it.[/QUOTE]

Indeed, I love to imagine how the woman then tears her clothes off and insists I ravish her right then and there, because of how manly I look with shopping bags slung over my shoulders.

 

[figmentPez]

Actually this actually make sense. There are two part that you separate. The physical part is easier to deal with (like sex) cause it is just physical part (paid sex). Most physical things, people will eventually forget hence the saying "all wounds heal over time" but the emotional portion tends to last much longer. I remember my psych course that the physical abuse vs verbal abuse. The physical abuse doesn't last as long (depend on abuse) but the verbal one is more on emotional level and could scar you for life.

This type of service could have emotional attachment from the player or playdates (if they are faking it) since that is more of a personal level to many people... At least that is how I see it.

I think you make some good points. In addition, I'm not just concerned about the faked affection, I think that these girls are likely to have some verbal abuse hurled at them as well. Even though they can block players, there are probably enough critical guys to cause some wounds, one little scratch at a time. Also, I'm thinking there are probably some girls who are going to sign up for this who won't have the self-confidence to block players who are subtly abusive. I really hate to think of girls putting up with some of the jerks I've heard online, just because they're getting paid to. Listening to backhanded compliments with tiny little barbs, telling them they're just barely good enough to pay for, but they really should be better.

 

[Cajungal]

"You suck."

"Well, then, go play with your real friends... oh, wait..."

 

[Chibibar]

Actually this actually make sense. There are two part that you separate. The physical part is easier to deal with (like sex) cause it is just physical part (paid sex). Most physical things, people will eventually forget hence the saying "all wounds heal over time" but the emotional portion tends to last much longer. I remember my psych course that the physical abuse vs verbal abuse. The physical abuse doesn't last as long (depend on abuse) but the verbal one is more on emotional level and could scar you for life.

This type of service could have emotional attachment from the player or playdates (if they are faking it) since that is more of a personal level to many people... At least that is how I see it.

I think you make some good points. In addition, I'm not just concerned about the faked affection, I think that these girls are likely to have some verbal abuse hurled at them as well. Even though they can block players, there are probably enough critical guys to cause some wounds, one little scratch at a time. Also, I'm thinking there are probably some girls who are going to sign up for this who won't have the self-confidence to block players who are subtly abusive. I really hate to think of girls putting up with some of the jerks I've heard online, just because they're getting paid to. Listening to backhanded compliments with tiny little barbs, telling them they're just barely good enough to pay for, but they really should be better.[/QUOTE]

while initially I think this can be pretty good setup for women who loves video game to make money, I think you are hitting some important part. Every little barb hurts regardless what facade people put up. Especially if you consider yourself pretty good and then get heavily criticize by some "l33t" loser who just want to talk smack to a girl (and pay for it) can be emotionally painful. I hear some smack talk in L4D2 (and L4D) and man, people can be MEAN.

I'm sure most of our girls (the forum) can handle smack or hire ninja hit squad (Shego.. don't do it) to take them out, but general population are not as strong as some think they are (or psychologist won't be so popular )

 

[Cajungal]

Yeah, I can see some girls getting hurt. But I don't know... I really couldn't put much stock into the opinion of someone who needs to pay for friends.

Now, I deserve any insults that get flung at me during online play. I really, really, REALLY suck. I'm always shootin Jake in the back of the head when we play L4D. No one would pay me to play with them.

 

[Chibibar]

Yeah, I can see some girls getting hurt. But I don't know... I really couldn't put much stock into the opinion of someone who needs to pay for friends.

Now, I deserve any insults that get flung at me during online play. I really, really, REALLY suck. I'm always shootin Jake in the back of the head when we play L4D. No one would pay me to play with them.

you can play with me anytime Left 4 Dead on PC that is.

 

[Cajungal]

Yeah, I can see some girls getting hurt. But I don't know... I really couldn't put much stock into the opinion of someone who needs to pay for friends.

Now, I deserve any insults that get flung at me during online play. I really, really, REALLY suck. I'm always shootin Jake in the back of the head when we play L4D. No one would pay me to play with them.

you can play with me anytime Left 4 Dead on PC that is.[/QUOTE]

When I buy my gameworthy PC, I'll let y'all know! And I'll do my best not to shoot you.

 

[Gusto]

NO TOYS

NO FOREPLAY

NO CONDOM

FINAL DESTINATION

 

[Chibibar]

Yeah, I can see some girls getting hurt. But I don't know... I really couldn't put much stock into the opinion of someone who needs to pay for friends.

Now, I deserve any insults that get flung at me during online play. I really, really, REALLY suck. I'm always shootin Jake in the back of the head when we play L4D. No one would pay me to play with them.

you can play with me anytime Left 4 Dead on PC that is.[/QUOTE]

When I buy my gameworthy PC, I'll let y'all know! And I'll do my best not to shoot you.[/QUOTE]

as long we don't play on Expert or Advance, I don't mind if you shoot me. In Expert, you can incap your own teammate in a couple of shots or less (I think 3 shots)

 

[Andromache]

actually, Shego is the ninja hit squad.

unrelated, but obligatory:

 

[Chibibar]

actually, Shego is the ninja hit squad.

unrelated, but obligatory:

"Beat it or I'll call the brute squad"
"I am on the the brute squad"
"you are the brute squad!"

 

[Andromache]

http://jezebel.com/5501847/

____
Paying $8.25 to talk to a live (perhaps semi-nude) girl over the internet seems like a porn site pop-up ad, but it's actually the business plan for GameCrush - a company aiming to link male gamers and willing PlayDates.

Earlier this week, Kotaku explained the basic premise of the website:

Interested, lonely men (or cashed up pranksters) can sign up to the site, and once there, choose from two options: play a simple Flash game (checkers, etc) against a "PlayDate", where you get face-to-face time with one of these "attractive girls" over a webcam, or join them for a bit of multiplayer over Xbox Live.

A single game of either will cost you $8.25, with Xbox Live matches running for 10 minutes, and Flash games for 6.

Banking on the fantasy needs of men (and the occasional woman - Kotaku points out that there's a Goth boy registered, interested in playing with boys or girls), the site also sorts the women into two categories: flirty or dirty, depending on the level of nasty talk requested. In essence, GameCrush is marketing cybersex 2.0, with a video game chaser.

Apparently, quite a few people are looking forward to the service. Over at IGN, Daemon Hatfield writes the most comprehensive review of the site and its ranking mechanics:

After a session you can rate your PlayDate on her hotness, gaming skill, and flirtiness. The highest-rated girls will receive preferred placement on the site. GameCrush is assembling a team of its most highly regarded PlayDates called JaneCrush, which would be positioned similar to Ubisoft's Fragdolls in that members of JaneCrush will generate content for the site like blogs and editorials. GameCrush wants to turn its most popular girls into gaming stars.

Hatfield notes that the women are generally allowed to choose their partners, and ultimately concludes game crush is just a space for girls who like to game to make a little cash on the side. However, his test experience reveals a slightly different dynamic at play:

During an early demo of the service I played a couple casual games with PlayDate Ambibambi23. She was a nice girl (and totally kicked my ass in both pool and Battleship, btw) but her boyfriend was hanging out behind her and she made mention of him a couple times. Her game mood is set to "flirty," but there was zero flirting going on. I can imagine some guys might be disappointed if they paid to play with a girl, only to hear her go on and on about her boyfriend — and even have to see the guy during a video chat. I gave Ambibambi23 high marks for her gaming skill but dinged her for her lack of flirtiness.

Yep, just a little side cash - as long as the boys like you and you don't bore them talking about your boyfriend.

Most of the girl gamers in the blogosphere have reacted with disgust. Sinnicism points out the stereotypes inherent in the project and launch:

GameCrush.com suggests that girls who game are really difficult to find, and that girls do not, can not, or should not regularly game unless they're getting paid to do so. Again reinforcing the stereotype that women do not actually enjoy playing video games, but simply do it to get attention from men; as though we are only motivated by the possibility of receiving male attention in every area of our lives. As though we put on lipstick and sit in black lace panties while playing video games just in case a man catches us doing it (ok, not going to lie, that sounds a little fun). It makes me wonder if anyone ever stops to think about the fact that many women simply enjoy the same things that men do. SHOCKING! I know.

Over at the Border House Jadelyn rips into the venture :

Just a quick scan nets me evidence of FAIL on heterosexism, women-as-commodities, and serious reinforcement of gamer stereotypes for both male and female gamers. GameCrush assumes that the bulk of gamers are male and heterosexual, and that those male gamers are nerdy shut-ins who tremble at the sight of a real live woman and who have never developed the social skills to interact with women in person, so they need to purchase time with them in the only social arena they are comfortable. It also assumes that female gamers are such rarely-sighted unicorns that the assumedly-dorky male gamers will be willing to pay for the unique, previously-unknown pleasure of playing video games with a woman.

But the existence of a space like GameCrush shouldn't come as a surprise - indeed, online gaming culture stokes the fires that lead to this particular beast. Writer Katharine Fletcher grappled with her own ambivalence about feminism before she entered the gaming industry, and was confronted with a variety of confusing scenarios that revolved around gender in the workplace. Writing for Wired's Game Life section, she reflects on the role being female played in her career, noting:

I am the first to acknowledge that, while I was hired for my gaming and writing credentials, if I hadn't also been female I probably wouldn't have got my first job as a game journalist. I can't quite decide whether this is good, bad or somewhere in between — when you hire someone to be part of a team, you are taking on their personality, and their gender is a part of that.

Fletcher speaks to a fellow games writer and former model Alex Sim-Wise and finds a similar story:

Alex also enjoys being in an industry where you are valued "for your smarts rather than your assets", but admitted it was probably the combination of the two that had got her the attention she receives.

Women occupy a strange position, whether players or employees. Women players, regardless of how many there are, how vocal they are, or how long they have been playing are often seen as anomalies, intruders into clubhouse. Women working in the industry are often judged by both their abilities and attractiveness, as well as their ability to let a lot of shit slide.

In this type of gaming landscape, it only makes sense that a company would try to capitalize on sexism and stereotypes.

Official Site [GameCrush]
Would You Pay Women To Play Xbox Games With You? [Kotaku]
Would You Pay a Girl to Play Halo With You? [IGN]
SexBox Live [Sinnicism]
GameCrush – Female Gamers as Commodities [The Border House]
Confessions of a Call of Duty girl: Women in games today [Wired (UK)]
The Trouble With Jade [Feministe]

Earlier: The Girlfriend Effect: Or, How Marketers "Sell" Gaming To Women
Act Like You Know: Nielsen Research Confirms That Women Buy Systems And Play Games

Send an email to Latoya, the author of this post, at latoya@racialicious.com.

 

[Null]

I mean I get it, I can see the financial incentive, but it just seems skeevy to me. gaming already has a sizable portion of socially awkward people-- I just don't think this service will do anyone any good. Which is weird, because I have zero problems with sex workers/porn. I had this problem with my friends in Japan too, when they would do hostessing jobs, to emotionally comfort/ cater to someone for pay, sans sex? That honestly seems worse than just sexing someone who pays for it. Performance sex I've no issues with, but the faking emotional enjoyment seems worse. And before anyone gets on my case about it, trust me I know there's no logic in my reaction, and that it's riddled with hypocrisies, but thats my gut feeling. I'm not pleased with my response either

Actually, I totally get that. Sex is a commodity, and if there's a cash exchange involved for a purely physical activity, well, that's just commerce. It's more direct than sleeping with a guy after he buys you a bunch of drinks, but it's not really different in principle. But faking emotional intimacy and reducing it to something that can bartered for seems... kind of soulless. That's the sort of thing that you strive for for real. I know a few girls who do camshows, and that's just putting on a show. But there are boundaries, and there should be.

This service just seems kind of sad.