In a sunlit corner of her student accommodation, Bhanavi, a spirited international student from New Delhi, India, illustrates the essence of her gaming philosophy. "Sit back, relax, unwind, and play the game without having any aim or thoughts while playing." Currently pursuing her Master's degree in International Political Economy at King's College London, she discloses her dedication to gaming, setting aside 3 to 4 gaming sessions per week. Her game of choice? The Sims 4. She describes it as therapeutic, an oasis that requires little energy to traverse.

 Amidst the hustle of her studies, she has occasionally ventured into the realm of intense combat with friends, through games like FIFA and UFC. "It’s quite draining," she reveals, reflecting on the adrenaline-pumping nature of the games, "but nonetheless, I enjoyed it. A couple of my friends here have their PlayStation, Xbox, or desktops here. Sometimes, I play on their devices, but as much as I would like to play more on it, it's not the most viable option for me considering I live in a student accommodation."

 Bhanavi's insights, however, transcend her personal gaming habits. She pivots the conversation to a topic that reverberates deeply within her - the gender divisions that persistently shadow the gaming industry. She articulates with discernment how gaming companies craft their products with a gendered audience in mind. The analogy she draws is both poignant and familiar, evoking the image of a girl handed a doll and a boy with a car or robot - mirroring the broader gender stereotypes that permeate our society. "Technology was everywhere while I was growing up," she reflects, "so this sort of gender distinction also came into the field of video games."

 Bhanavi's gaming journey began “like any other child” during her formative years in school. She fondly recollects the nostalgic era of Gameboys, online platforms like Friv and Fireboy & Watergirl, and whimsical dress-up games. Birthdays were marked by the anticipation of unwrapping gifts that would uncover a PSP or Nintendo console—a portal to even more immersive realms. Her explorations expanded to PC games like Halo, GTA, WWE, The Sims, and car racing games. "When Halo had just come out, I would play it then," she recalls. "I used to go to the computer lab in school... it was there on our desktop. This is before we had thin desktops. We had the box."

 But amid these fond recollections, Bhanavi's voice gains an edge, addressing the systemic void of female representation in gaming. “Back then, you just had men in the game running around everywhere.” she recollects with a hint of reproach. Her gaze sharpens as she dives into her own experiences of gender bias, acknowledging the lingering resulting discrimination that taints the gaming community.“I remember I used to play GTA, and my parents told me that I shouldn’t be playing it because it’s for boys and it’s extremely violent.” Her tone carries a mix of bemusement and frustration, as she questions the double standards where violence is sanctioned for boys and withheld from girls. 

 These early confrontations with gender distinctions shaped Bhanavi's perspective on gaming. She reflects on the larger narrative woven by society, unravelling the notion that certain games—infused with gore and violence like Resident Evil, Halo, and GTA—are branded as "masculine" or "hard games" while those like Farmville, Club Penguin, Animal Crossing, and SIMS are relegated to the "soft" or "feminine" category. She breaks down the dichotomy between "soft games" like The Sims that afford her relaxation and tranquillity and "hard games" that demand hyper-vigilance and fast-paced decision-making. "Unfortunately, there are more guys than women playing these hard games. Maybe if the gaming companies diversify gameplay and have more female characters, then there will be a higher possibility of female gamers investing their time in the game," she laments. 

 While her personal preference encompasses both genres; this distinction, she emphasizes, constructs an unjust hierarchy within the gaming community which fosters an atmosphere where certain games are labelled as ‘not real gaming', a mindset that further alienates the female player base. "When I'm playing a soft game like The Sims or Minecraft, I’m very relaxed and in my zone," she shares, unveiling the stark contrast in community attitudes. Bhanavi confronts the stereotypes that relegate women to the margins by “hard gamers”, recounting instances where the mere sound of a female voice in online multiplayer games triggers assumptions of inexperience. She recounts instances where gross generalizations are made akin to assuming a woman can't drive if they witness a bad driver: "Oh, I'm sure this person is a newbie or a girl." The same scepticism pervades the realm of gaming, where women gamers must continually prove their prowess. The stigma surrounding "soft games" creates a rift, making it difficult for women to embrace the gamer identity without reservation. "Even when you asked to interview me, I didn’t think I was a gamer," she confesses, the words laden with the weight of a collective struggle.“It's sad that it becomes, for a lot of us, an intimidating area," she laments. "Especially when you're starting out, you shouldn't have to feel like it’s a life or death sort of thing." She speaks of the demoralising pressure to prove oneself in a space that should be about fun.

 For Bhanavi, the heart of gaming lies in enjoyment. "If it gives you pleasure, and you're enjoying it, it's a hobby," she asserts, debunking the notion that skill development alone defines a true gamer. From her beloved The Sims 4 to casual mobile games like Temple Run and Candy Crush, she embraces the joy and liberation that gaming offers. Bhanavi stands as a testament to the fact that gaming is a realm where everyone's story, regardless of gender, deserves to be written and celebrated. Her narrative underscores a universal truth: gaming is a space for all, regardless of gender, where the only criterion for belonging is the pleasure derived from the experience.