I found this article about the emergence of Shoujo Manga in America to be a fascinating read. The general thesis is that Manga is taking the American girl market by storm, largely because American comic book producers simply refuse to make content for that market. Sounds like another industry I know. Relevant quote:

Speaking for myself, the straw that broke the camel’s back fell during this year’s Emerald City Con in Seattle. I’d stepped out to smoke a cigarette and was watching the passersby. I noticed a family leaving the convention — a Mom, a Dad, and a little girl no older than eight years of age. The girl was decked out in a beautiful, elaborate kimono and clearly distressed by what she’d just encountered. “But they didn’t hardly have any manga at all!” she said as they walked away.

When I was done with my cigarette, I went back inside and relayed this story to an acquaintance prominent in the art-comics publishing scene. “I hate to say it, but good,” was his reply. Indeed, I told the story several more times that day, to both indy-comics and superhero-comics professionals, and the reaction was more or less the same each time. A young reader disappointed by the selection offered to her? Good. The future of comics walks out the door, unable to find what she wants? Good. I left the convention early, lost in a foul mood. I swear: I love the comics art form with a passion, but my utter contempt for the American comics industry grows like a cancer with each passing day.

When thinking about gender issues in my own industry, it always seems like we’re far more willing to pay lip service than to actually commit to making ground in that space. We keep talking about how women are the great unexploited market, but actually committing to pursuing that direction? Or put another way: the Sims is the best-selling franchise of all time, and almost nobody tries to put out a clone of it? Meanwhile, I could pave a road to Dallas entirely with WWII FPSes.

As a lead designer, enforcing a sense of gender balance is a concept that I’ve had to shove down throats from time to time. And I’m by no means lacking in the red-blooded male department. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to put a chain mail bikini in the game, just so long as you put in Conan armor for the men, and give the women some option where they can armor up and be covered. Equal time and the option for modesty seems like the least we can do.

Still, you sometimes get pushback on the tiniest things. Yes, I want a flower wreath decorative object that players can drop in their homes, or a wedding dress they can craft for special occasions. It’s certainly not going to be considered cool, gritty, or edgy. I can see how things like that might be considered ‘teh ghey’ by some, but if you’re one of those people, it’s not for you. Don’t worry, there’ll probably still be more than enough red meat for the people who were probably already going to buy the game anyway.