I wonder how this virtual reality experiment would translate to the video game world:
Even in virtual-reality settings, men will take risks to impress the opposite sex.
Does playing with a girl (either in person or online, playing in a multiplayer setting) affect the way you handle yourself in-game? I know it has affected me.
How about playing as a girl.
Most examples I can name are ones where my in-game behavior was affected by the *person* I was playing with, with gender being a sub-factor.
I think the #1 thing that interactions with girls online inspires in me is the desire to not be That Guy, i.e. any case where someone places great importance on the fact that so-and-so is A GIRL on THE INTERNET. This means that there’s an initial phase where I dedicate alot of conscious thought to making sure that I’m not fixating on so-and-so’s gender.
In other words, I behave normally once I’ve verified that my normal behavior in this situation won’t involve me being an ass.