A great story and I agree with DevinC it doesn’t have much to do with video games. Lots of people feel they don’t fit in. In fact I’d argue in the average high school / college less than 70% of the people feel like they’re part of the “in” crowd or doing what everyone else expects.
On the other hand, I don’t really know about this “girls aren’t expected to pay videogames” thing. My sister has been playing videogames since at least NES days. She 44 now. Still plays. I don’t think it’s ever once occurred to her that she shouldn’t nor do I think she’s ever had someone discourage her from playing. To her they’re just another fun activity like movies, tv, books, sports, whatever.
It’s funny to me how different people with their different experiences can perceive the world so differently
