The Girls Guide To Gaming Handbook

November 2, 2007

When I was younger and Nintendo obsessed, my sister brought home a copy of the Super Mario Bros. 3 secret tips book. The book became our bible as we'd study it for hours on end trying to conquer shortcuts and cheats. Let's just say that we not only saved the princess but we had about eighty lives to do it in!

Well Black Dog Media has just come out with a modern day book of Nintendo DS Lite hints, cheats and tips called The Girls Guide To Gaming. Discussed on Kotaku, this book is guaranteed to help you improve your game—a must have for Nintendo DS and DS Lite gaming girls.

The book is available from the UK for £7.49 (approximately $16).

Gaming Nintendo DS Lite The Girls Guide To Gaming

29 Comments

missmoxie 5 years 10 weeks

Honestly, I don't see what's so offensive about it. When did making a pink book become a statement on gender stereotyping? Maybe the author just likes pink. Maybe the publisher required it. I don't think they're implying that <i>every</i> girl would need this book or that it's "dumber" than any other book simply because it says it's for girls or it's pink. There's just a different market. Should we pretend that many, many girls don't like pink? LOTS of girls do... if we find this book offensive, we'll have to start finding all of the pink toys, clothes and other pink things marketed to women offensive, as well, no? Where is the line drawn? Abolish all pink curling irons/toasters/toolkits because girls should be able to use perfectly normal black curling irons/toasters/toolkits? Is Nintendo offering a pink Nintendo DNS offensive, too? Of course not, it's just a color.It's a marketing tool. There are girls and women to whom this marketing tool will speak... it doesn't make them dumb, nor does it make the book invalid. In fact, the assumption that something being sexist just because it's pink offends <i>me</i>, to tell the truth. I am a perfectly capable, professional, intelligent, savvy, confident woman who believes in the power of women and I like pink. Am I somehow dumber now?I know it's cool to cry sexism, but what ever happened to personal choice? If this book doesn't speak to you, don't buy this one. If someone else is drawn to the book because it's pink and it helps them with the same tips and tricks the other books have, where's the harm in that? It's her choice. Nowhere on this cover does it say that the content is any different or "less than" any other book. This is a case, I feel, where the old adage rings true: you can't judge the book by it's cover. If you read it and don't like it, then be offended. :)But hey, maybe that's just me.

missmoxie 5 years 10 weeks

Honestly, I don't see what's so offensive about it. When did making a pink book become a statement on gender stereotyping? Maybe the author just likes pink. Maybe the publisher required it. I don't think they're implying that every girl would need this book or that it's "dumber" than any other book simply because it says it's for girls or it's pink. There's just a different market. Should we pretend that many, many girls don't like pink? LOTS of girls do... if we find this book offensive, we'll have to start finding all of the pink toys, clothes and other pink things marketed to women offensive, as well, no? Where is the line drawn? Abolish all pink curling irons/toasters/toolkits because girls should be able to use perfectly normal black curling irons/toasters/toolkits? Is Nintendo offering a pink Nintendo DNS offensive, too? Of course not, it's just a color. It's a marketing tool. There are girls and women to whom this marketing tool will speak... it doesn't make them dumb, nor does it make the book invalid. In fact, the assumption that something being sexist just because it's pink offends me, to tell the truth. I am a perfectly capable, professional, intelligent, savvy, confident woman who believes in the power of women and I like pink. Am I somehow dumber now? I know it's cool to cry sexism, but what ever happened to personal choice? If this book doesn't speak to you, don't buy this one. If someone else is drawn to the book because it's pink and it helps them with the same tips and tricks the other books have, where's the harm in that? It's her choice. Nowhere on this cover does it say that the content is any different or "less than" any other book. This is a case, I feel, where the old adage rings true: you can't judge the book by it's cover. If you read it and don't like it, then be offended. :) But hey, maybe that's just me.

Gdeeaz 5 years 28 weeks

i use the cheats i find online

theresat 5 years 28 weeks

I agree with everyone who says this is offensive. Things like this make people take girl gamers less seriously. Yeah, there are cheat books for everyone, but pink "girl's guides" make girls look stupid.

lvgrooves 5 years 28 weeks

i just go online to the game forums/sites if i need help, simple and free. Who needs to buy a cheat book that is pink and says girl gaming to justify ur a girl gamer. The book is unnecessary

Octopus Candy 5 years 28 weeks

I agree. This book is stupid =\

Octopus Candy 5 years 28 weeks

I agree. This book is stupid =\

kikkoman 5 years 28 weeks

That's stupid!

kikkoman 5 years 28 weeks

That's stupid!

KristinDaBomb 5 years 28 weeks

Kinda offensive, I agree.

KristinDaBomb 5 years 28 weeks

Kinda offensive, I agree.

Leopardcc 5 years 28 weeks

Ok sorry that is just stupid! Just buy a "normal"not pink cheat book or better yet look them up onlinefor free!

Leopardcc 5 years 28 weeks

Ok sorry that is just stupid! Just buy a "normal" not pink cheat book or better yet look them up online for free!

macgirl 5 years 28 weeks

Mokona- just finished Gears of War and moved onto Bioshock and Halo 3... wonder how a pink cheat guide would work with those games ;-) I do have to admit that I too have an original pink special Nintendogs edition of the DS too :-)

KadBunny 5 years 28 weeks

XD Love how it's in the Dumb section. So blatant and trueEhh I'm so over the whole "whaat? you play videogames? but you're a girl!" reaction that I'd rather just smile and nod at all the lame comments and just kick their asses when the opportunity arises. Much more satisfying.

KadBunny 5 years 28 weeks

XD Love how it's in the Dumb section. So blatant and true Ehh I'm so over the whole "whaat? you play videogames? but you're a girl!" reaction that I'd rather just smile and nod at all the lame comments and just kick their asses when the opportunity arises. Much more satisfying.

prettywarrior 5 years 28 weeks

jdots24 summed it up better than I could have.But I would also like to add that I hate the color pink, and I can't stand it when "girl" stuff is always made in that color.

prettywarrior 5 years 28 weeks

jdots24 summed it up better than I could have. But I would also like to add that I hate the color pink, and I can't stand it when "girl" stuff is always made in that color.

Mokona 5 years 28 weeks

I would almost call that the "pre-teen girl's guide". Or a casual gamer's guide. I do love my pink DS Lite, but I'm right there playing Gears of War on the 360. So... I'm offended, yet I applaud the publisher for thinking of the often-forgotten girl gamer market! But then again, it's almost insulting to any male who happens to like those games. Hmmm.....

Mokona 5 years 28 weeks

I would almost call that the "pre-teen girl's guide". Or a casual gamer's guide. I do love my pink DS Lite, but I'm right there playing Gears of War on the 360. So... I'm offended, yet I applaud the publisher for thinking of the often-forgotten girl gamer market!But then again, it's almost insulting to any male who happens to like those games. Hmmm.....

licia 5 years 28 weeks

Wow. Offensive!

licia 5 years 28 weeks

Wow. Offensive!

POPSUGAR Tech 5 years 28 weeks

True jdots24.. I thought the same thing myself.. Gaming tips and tricks are for everyone, regardless of their sex. They didn't need to take it to the extreme by making the book pink. I love Kotaku's analysis of it.. too funny!