We're not trying to be Love like pigs here, really we're not -- but until recently, video games pretty much were the province of guys. That's changing now, though. Game companies are starting to see girls and women as potential customers, and coming out with new games with them in mind. Meanwhile, more and more females are getting into games that previously were considered boys-only territory -- particularly the gory shoot-em-up Quake. Of course, all this newfound interest in girls and video games has sprouted up dozens of websites; here's a

Game Girlz, Girl Games, Etc.

A great first stop is GameGirlz, probably the most comprehensive women's gaming site around. It offers weekly profiles of women in the gaming industry, "He Said ... She Said" game reviews, editorials about being a woman in the gaming "Scene," discussion forums, calendars of gaming events, website reviews and much more. The site also features a guide to online gaming that's well worth a look.

Also worth checking out is SmartGirl's Game Reviews Section, featuring dozens of game reviews written by teenage girls. They cover everything from action games to children's trivia games, and the reviews are uniformly well written.

And more and more companies are starting to release games particularly targeted to women and girls. Girl Games, for example, produces both a "virtual community" and a variety of non-violent, girl-oriented games. It's a member of the "informal coalition" Just 4 Girls, a site that offers dozens of titles for sale -- from the children's game Anne of Green Gables to the teen-oriented Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?

Quake: Not Just for Little Boys Anymore

Of course, not all women shy away from the shoot-em-ups. Conventional action games also are acquiring a large female following, especially the ultra-violent Quake. There are a huge number of all-female Quake "Clans" on the Internet, as evidenced by the dozens of members in the Female Quake Players Web Ring. Some of the more notable include Quake Girlz, Clan PMS (that's "Psycho Men Slayers," mind you), and The Nimble Little Minks. And yes, many of them are still accepting new members.

For a female-oriented perspective on Quake gaming news, check out Da Valkyries; and to discuss the game with fellow female fans, stop by the Quake Women's Forum. Collectively, they're proof positive that you don't have to be a guy to be a blood-crazed action fan.