Are Brit gamers, Ruth and Sarah Lou Harrison, the Venus and Serena Williams of gaming? We certainly hope so. Everyone's always banging on about how great it is that girls are getting into games through the Wii and DS and so on. Well, SPOnG thought we'd show you that girls aren't all about Brain Training and Wii Fit. These sisters are hardcore, not to mention good enough to kick your arse across the Atlantic let alone the games room.
"I like to talk a lot of trash when I win", says Ruth (or Strobe, if you prefer). "There are a lot of boys who can't stand it when they lose to a girl. Even if you're good."
When she says win, she isn't talking about small potatoes. These girls are pros. In fact, they've been over at CGS in LA, where a good run can earn you $100,000 (£50k) in winnings. Granted, they didn't quite make it to the finals, which kick off on Wednesday, but SPOnG's encouraged by Brits competing over there, where professional gaming is more widespread and teenagers virtually never go outside.
The girls apparently got into games when they saw their Dad playing Doom 10 years ago (that alone should have Mr Keith Vaz foaming to the point of self-drownage). Now they're both into Dead or Alive 4 with the kind of passion that makes cheating on your girlfriend with Halo 3 look softcore. "Girls at school weren't interested; they were more into clothes and stuff", says Sarah.
"Mum used to tell us we should be going out more", Ruth says. "I'd just say, 'Where? This is Stockton.'" Well, if SPOnG could find somewhere to get pissed in Wakefield at 16, they probably weren't trying hard enough, but we'll let that one home.
You can find out more about them here. SPOnG encourages you to, because we're all about breaking down stereotypes and defeating gender expectations.
"I like to talk a lot of trash when I win", says Ruth (or Strobe, if you prefer). "There are a lot of boys who can't stand it when they lose to a girl. Even if you're good."
When she says win, she isn't talking about small potatoes. These girls are pros. In fact, they've been over at CGS in LA, where a good run can earn you $100,000 (£50k) in winnings. Granted, they didn't quite make it to the finals, which kick off on Wednesday, but SPOnG's encouraged by Brits competing over there, where professional gaming is more widespread and teenagers virtually never go outside.
The girls apparently got into games when they saw their Dad playing Doom 10 years ago (that alone should have Mr Keith Vaz foaming to the point of self-drownage). Now they're both into Dead or Alive 4 with the kind of passion that makes cheating on your girlfriend with Halo 3 look softcore. "Girls at school weren't interested; they were more into clothes and stuff", says Sarah.
"Mum used to tell us we should be going out more", Ruth says. "I'd just say, 'Where? This is Stockton.'" Well, if SPOnG could find somewhere to get pissed in Wakefield at 16, they probably weren't trying hard enough, but we'll let that one home.
You can find out more about them here. SPOnG encourages you to, because we're all about breaking down stereotypes and defeating gender expectations.
Games:
Dead or Alive 4
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Comments
Anonymous 28 Jul 2008 22:38
1/7
"The girls apparently got into games when they saw there Dad playing Doom 10 years ago."
Where dad? Here? No, there!
Where dad? Here? No, there!
TimSpong 29 Jul 2008 00:07
2/7
Anonymous wrote:
"The girls apparently got into games when they saw there Dad playing Doom 10 years ago."
Where dad? Here? No, there!
Where dad? Here? No, there!
Yup, I got that wrong. It has been corrected.
Thanks
Tim
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timypeg 29 Jul 2008 08:50
3/7
Oh cool they live where i do
Serpream 29 Jul 2008 09:10
4/7
I have never had any issues with girls, games or even girls on games. I find it funny how it’s always a world breaking thing when girls play games yet its these very reports on it that make it the sexist issue. Never had a issue with them, I take my loss by them as a compliment and move on.
TimSpong 29 Jul 2008 09:11
5/7
timypeg wrote:
Oh cool they live where i do
Not for long though. I imagine they'll be whisked off to Hollywood or at least Thornaby before too long.
Pip pip
Tim
Twoozle 29 Jul 2008 09:15
6/7
Matthew O'Donnell wrote:
I have never had any issues with girls, games or even girls on games. I find it funny how it’s always a world breaking thing when girls play games yet its these very reports on it that make it the sexist issue. Never had a issue with them, I take my loss by them as a compliment and move on.
Where the hell is the fun in that then? I mean kicking a fella's ass at a game and then seeing his ego fall to tiny little pieces in front of your eyes is actually more fun than most games in the first place.
(Crucifying a guy at Madden or PES... now there's a real pleasure).
Matthew 29 Jul 2008 09:30
7/7
Twoozle wrote:
Matthew O'Donnell wrote:
I have never had any issues with girls, games or even girls on games. I find it funny how it’s always a world breaking thing when girls play games yet its these very reports on it that make it the sexist issue. Never had a issue with them, I take my loss by them as a compliment and move on.
Where the hell is the fun in that then? I mean kicking a fella's ass at a game and then seeing his ego fall to tiny little pieces in front of your eyes is actually more fun than most games in the first place.
(Crucifying a guy at Madden or PES... now there's a real pleasure).
Maybe... I for example play games to relax, so I play in a none destructive mood. However online games such as on Xbox live always seem to turn into a trash talking contest, then always end with "your moma" stuff. This then forces me to go into a frame of mind that I was trying to avoid originally. Back on topic, girls have been playing games since video games were conceived. I am confused why only this generation there’s a huge thing about girls playing games. Professional gaming itself is an amusing thought. Only those with money to enter or travel can compete. So it’s only those who think they’re the best competing. Such people as Fatality just plays games and next you know Creative thinks he knows exactly how to make hardware: / yet the hardware designed was the very definition of bad design practice.
If games are going to be main stream as companies want (and previously were) then they need to stop all this class based branding and get back to universally based concepts. Not bang bang *mass swearing attack* fps rubbish followed by mass squeaking kids and sexual based alienation.