Women aren't just 'cosy gamers' - I play horror games and 600,000 watch

Alyce Rocha, known online as Alyska, is a video game streamer who has made gaming her full-time job. She works from home and spends hours each day playing and streaming games to her audience of nearly 600,000 followers. Alyce enjoys sharing her gaming experiences with others, saying that people like to watch her reactions to different parts of the games. While gaming used to be seen as something mostly for men, today women make up about half of all gamers. However, there is still a stereotype that women only play gentle, non-violent games like The Sims or Animal Crossing, which are often called 'cosy games. ' Alyce challenges this idea by playing a variety of games, including action, adventure, and horror games. She admits that she used to dislike horror games, but her viewers enjoyed watching her get scared, so she played them more often and eventually started to like them.

Although most of Alyce's viewers are men, she has noticed that more women are starting to watch her streams. She earns a respectable income from streaming, even though she is not one of the biggest names in the industry. Alyce works hard, streaming for six hours a day and handling other tasks like managing her accounts and partnerships. She uses platforms like Twitch and YouTube to reach her audience and make money from subscribers and sponsorships. These platforms take a portion of her earnings, so she has to work even harder to maintain her income. The gaming industry has grown rapidly and is now worth more than music, TV, and movies combined. Streaming games has become a major business in the UK, with platforms like Twitch helping to create a £400 million industry.

Despite the increase in female gamers, the audience for game streaming is still mostly male, and popular games like Fifa and Call of Duty reflect this trend. Frankie Ward, an eSports gamer and presenter, believes that games have traditionally been marketed to men, but now women are becoming more vocal about their love for gaming. The industry is also changing, with games featuring more realistic and complex female characters. Titles like The Last of Us, Life is Strange, and Bloom and Rage address important topics such as body image, sexuality, and emotions. Alyce says that women have always played games, but they were quieter about it in the past. Now, it is easier to find communities and other female gamers to connect with online.

Groups like Black Girl Gamers are helping women come together through gaming. This community started as a small Facebook group and has grown to over 10,000 members worldwide. Iesha, a member of the group, says that gaming has helped her meet people who share her background and interests, and some have become close friends. Deanne, another member, says that gaming with the group provides an escape from daily challenges, especially those unique to black women. The group offers support and understanding, which helps members deal with negative experiences like misogynistic or racist abuse in online games. They have created a safe space on their Discord platform where members can talk and support each other. For Iesha, gaming is not just entertainment; it has helped her cope with difficult times, including family loss and grief. She believes that sharing these experiences with others makes a big difference, and gaming has become a way to connect, find comfort, and build real friendships.