ABSTRACT
Massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) attract a wide variety of players. This is due to the fact that these games afford a wide range of playing styles and encourage players to explore various modes of social interaction. For instance, Bartle (1996) distinguished between four types of multi-user dungeon (MUD) players; namely, achievers (goal oriented), explorers (discovery oriented), socializers (social contact oriented), and killers (annoyance oriented). In general, online games offer players opportunities to connect with like-minded others, build significant relationships, and form strong networks. However, although these social aspects may open new venues for women to participate in gaming culture, their participation is still lagging behind that of their male counterparts (Behnke, 2012). Accordingly, several studies have observed a lower participation rate of females in digital gaming (e.g., Williams, Yee, and Caplan, 2008; Willoughby, 2008).
