Are sexualised women in games insulting to male audiences too?

[Prometherion]

Sex sells, it is that simple. But simple is often condescending, and its too often that a shitty game is released with a big titted girl on the front. More specifically the bit titted girl on the front is meant to offset the crap quality of a game. And even if theyre not the main protagonist theyre rediculously top heavy and a over the top image of a woman.

BMX XXX
X-Blades
DoA Bikini-ness-ness
Ninja Gaiden - Six axis jiggle.

I imagine the marketing guy standing behind me saying,
"Phrrrrrrroaaarrrrr!! Look at them titties!! You like those, phrrrroaaarrrrr, buy those titties, phrrrrroooaaarrr,"

"- but the game's been getting terrible reviews"

"phrrrroaaaarrrrrrr sir! phrroooooaaaarrrrr!"

I struggle to think of a "normal girl" in a game, I think Red Dead is the closest. Life is normal and a normal girl is best because its relatable - or at least plausable.

I feel that many game makers use titties sell games cos they think were drooling idiots - as an easy bandage for the lack of gameplay. Does anyone feel the same?

 

[MrEnigami]

I don't play games for tits. I don't play many games actually... No that's not true! But I have never played a game for tits, and I have never noticed large breasts unless it was intentionally for comedic effect (see TimeSplitters).

But yes, I pressume there are people who do.

As a side note: I just can't go "PHOOOAAAAAARRRR" about a CGI character... ever...

 

[Woodsey]

I've not played any of those game, can't say I find it too much of a prevalent issue anymore.

Even before her latest redesign, Lara Croft wasn't just a pair of tits and a 1-dimensional personality.

 

[Julianking93]

Assuming all men like giant tits and big asses in video games is almost (if not just as) bad as making all women out to be overly sexual tramps. However, as it is insulting to assume all men are like this, it's been proven that a lot do in fact like it and will continually go pay for absolute shit even if there is a hint of nudity.

Yeah, it may not apply to everyone, but it applies to enough that it makes the game developers continue to use it over and over and over to sell more games.

 

[Khaos Gnome]

I find this very annoying also.
The very idea that someone would buy a game purely because its sad development team created a physics mechanic just for breasts...

It makes all guys look like pigs.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Sex sells, it is that simple.

This is your answer.

Sometimes, the simplest answer is the right one. Tits sell, so let them tits roll.

 

[Prometherion]

I don't play games for tits. I don't play many games actually... No that's not true! But I have never played a game for tits, and I have never noticed large breasts unless it was intentionally for comedic effect (see TimeSplitters).

But yes, I pressume there are people who do.

As a side note: I just can't go "PHOOOAAAAAARRRR" about a CGI character... ever...

I know, your not actually going to go Phrooaaarrr, but the game developers expect you to, why else design women in such a way? There'd be no point to it.

 

[darth.pixie]

I struggle to think of a "normal girl" in a game, I think Red Dead is the closest. Life is normal and a normal girl is best because its relatable - or at least plausable.

You mean the game that allowed you to strap a woman to railtracks and gave you an achievement for it? Or where you killed/beaten hookers and people barely flinched. Where almost every woman tries to kill you or lie to you. Sure, why not.

I honestly don't give a damn. If it's always emphased and shoved in my face, it annoys me but that's the same as with every overdone element.

 

[MrEnigami]

I don't play games for tits. I don't play many games actually... No that's not true! But I have never played a game for tits, and I have never noticed large breasts unless it was intentionally for comedic effect (see TimeSplitters).

But yes, I pressume there are people who do.

As a side note: I just can't go "PHOOOAAAAAARRRR" about a CGI character... ever...

I know, your not actually going to go Phrooaaarrr, but the game developers expect you to, why else design women in such a way? There'd be no point to it.

Secretly, all game devs are fetishists and they pressume everybody else is too. xD

OT: I like nice T&A as much as the next guy, but not when it's all CGI and shit. Also, game developers tend to act like they think all gamers are 13 years old, so that sort of explains it... to me at least. ^.^

 

[Nikki_Viper]

X-Blades

Well the moment you say X-Blades I kind of have to say Yes. My boyfriend literally could not play that game. The woman was a treasure hunter and she was a snobby little ***** wearing a thong and a bra.

Oh sorry, her panties were holsters...

He was literally insulted with how every time the woman took a step, her ass was bouncing like it was being dribbled. There was bouncing flesh everywhere.

We can normally take it quite well, but X-Blades is just too far

 

[Plurralbles]

This was a point I based a college paper on in TV advertisements.

It is insulting even to the people they're trying to pander to- which makes it even more insulting actually.

 

[Armored Prayer]

Well I still pissed of what became of the DOA franchise.

DOA 3 was the first and only fighter I own and I fucking loved it. What was also great is that the female fighters were attractive yet not overly sexualized.(except for one cutscene) Then the volleyball game came out and the women became more sleazy. And then it kept getting worse and worse with jiggle physics and inappropriate outfits.

So yeah, as a fan I was personally insulted that they abandoned improving the games to making the women more slutty.

 

[Sebenko]

Meh, If there's tits on the box, there's sure to be nothing in the box.

I'm a massive fan of a nice ass, but seriously, I'm not going to stop for a wank in the middle of a game. Now put on a fucking shirt.

 

[2xDouble]

Yay! Another opportunity to post a tangentially related Extra Credits video!Short answer: Yes. Yes it does.

 

[Sleepingzombie]

I think overly sexualised female characters are an insult to both men and women. However I dont think they should be banned, I can tolerate that some like them and want such characters in their games. Like all idealised fantasy characters they have their niche, as long as there are a variety ,I dont have a problem.

I think they are often used in games becuase there havent been many other kinds of female characters. When more games star other female characters , I think, we will see more characters like Samus, Faith and Alyx.

It will take time to break the design habit since many people dont care. I think it is becuase its a cultural thing that "you should like T&A" and most dont question that.

Again I don´t have a problem with people that like T&A but as an asexual, I don´t.

 

[FamoFunk]

No idea, I'm F.

I feel that many game makers use titties sell games cos they think were drooling idiots - as an easy bandage for the lack of gameplay.

This. As you say sex sells, it really, really does and until you have no more (or not many) Boys fapping over Laura Croft it won't really change.

It doesn't help when real life women get their tits out and cover them with a PS3 controller, either -_-

 

[[.redacted]]

I have to say I agree, it's impossible to take a character with tits larger than their head seriosly.

Just try it.

 

[TyrantGanado]

Oversexualisation is present in all visual (and some non-visual) media, so games are no different than movies in that they will both feature it.

However, most people realise that oversexualised movies are immature and probably for 14 year old boys. Most of us accept that as a fact of movies. The problem with games is that even games ostensibly aimed at adults will feature over-sexualised female characters as a lot of people in marketing, publishing and even developing seem to think the majority of gamers are still the adolescent males of 1991 who will masturbate over their pixelated maidens.

[sub]Thank christ for the World Wide Web eh?[/sub]

The prevelance of this practice (or its glaring obviousness, at any rate) leads to it being seen by outsiders to further fuel the "ganmes are for teenage boys" notion that means any guy playing games past 16 is a manchild and girl playing them is weird.

Frankly I do find it somewhat insulting that companies still feel the need to market and present games this way in 2011. They have their place, sure, but if I'm playing a "grow-up" game...do not represent maturity with massive tits in skimpy fabric, that's a 13 year-old's idea of mature.

Personally my favourite female protagonist in a game is Heather Mason from Silent Hill 3. You actually feel like you're controlling a teenage character not a de-aged pile of sex appeal held together with a string bikini. Just to throw that out there as a positiver example of a female character being believable yet attractive. Same goes for Elena Fisher from Uncharted.