Industry watchers say female gamers are now coming out of the woodwork because games now come with the right mix of casual appeal or provide avenues for them to make friends or modify activities and avatars in virtual worlds.

Thus far, games with violent content or which require strategising have appealed more to men.

PC and console games publisher EA Games has seen its casual games such as the puzzle game Boom Blox and dance game Boogie pull in 'non-core gamers' because of their innovative game-play features and their lifestyle entertainment elements.

Mr Christopher Ng, the general manager of EA Singapore, said: 'These are reasons women are playing more video games - particularly casual games that are easy to pick up and play.'

The numbers say as much about women entering the fray.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.