Corinne Caruana, 25
Web designer
Tech Sunday: What was the first game you remember playing?
Corinne Caruana: The first game I remember playing was on my Amiga 500, my first ever computer. The game, called The Loom, was on a total of around six floppy disks and it was about a boy wizard and his adventures. Later, I was re-introduced to gaming by my boyfriend.
TS: What role does gaming play in your life?
CC: Unfortunately, I don’t have that much time to play video games anymore since after spending eight hours in front of a monitor at work, the last thing I want to do when I get home is spend more time in front of a monitor. But I still invest some free time in video games.
TS: Do you feel there is a gender bias when it comes to gaming?
CC: Unfortunately, there still is a gender bias in gaming. I experienced it firsthand when playing World of Warcraft, since it’s the kind of game where you interact live with other gamers. The guild I belonged to refused to talk to me when they found out I was a woman. I later joined another guild. In general, I don’t like to mention my gender.
TS: Your favourite video game ever?
CC: World of Warcraft. I haven’t found another game that has the same level of fun and gameplay.
Erica Pisani, 20
University student
Tech Sunday: What was the first game you remember playing?
Erica Pisani: I think watching ads on TV first got me hooked on Game Boy. Pokemon was my favourite game.
TS: What role does gaming play in your life?
EP: I play on an Xbox 360. If I’m playing online with other players, like on Call of Duty, I usually spend long hours without being even aware of it.
TS: Do you feel there is a gender bias when it comes to gaming?
EP: I think it’s a common idea that guys are more into gaming than girls but I think lately the number of girl gamers is increasing.
TS: Your favourite video game ever?
EP: I just love Final Fantasy VII.
Kelly Dent, 18
University student
Tech Sunday: What was the first game you remember playing?
Kelly Dent: I was seven years old when I was given a second-hand Nintendo and I played Super Mario Land like a maniac. My parents later gave me a Playstation for Christmas.
TS: What role does gaming play in your life?
KD: I’ve got a Playstation 3 which I absolutely adore, but I do use my PC from time to time. I feel gaming has impacted my life in that it opened up my imagination and helped my problem-solving skills develop when I was younger. Also, gaming is fun.
TS: Do you feel there is a gender bias when it comes to gaming?
KD: Most definitely. It is most evident in games like Call of Duty – if a guy bails, it’s all good, but if a girl does something stupid, it’s because she’s a girl. I’m so conscious of this fact that I make my usernames gender neutral. I do feel that more girls play video games these days, but not enough.
TS: Your favourite video game ever?
KD: That’s a tough one. I guess it’ll have to be Jak 2 from the Jak and Daxter series of games.
Christina Busuttil, 24
Archaeologist
Tech Sunday: What was the first game you remember playing?
Christina Busuttil: Some nine years ago my brother bought a Play Station 1 and I was hooked – I remember spending hours playing Tekken.
TS: What role does gaming play in your life?
CB: Currently, I play on an Xbox 360 or on my Mac Book. My gaming patterns are a bit unusual – I totally fixate on a game for days on end, and then it could be another week before I opt to do anything else on that game.
TS: Do you feel there is a gender bias when it comes to gaming?
CB: I did feel a sort of bias back in the day when Playstation and other platforms started being released. Today, the situation might be slowly changing due to a vast range of games and marketing targeted to a wider audience. However I still think it’s a predominately male scenario.
TS: Your favourite video game ever?
CB: World of Warcraft, with nasty cravings for Black Ops when no one is looking.