So even Cracked has got in on the gender issues in videogames bandwagon: http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-sexist-video-game-problems-even-bigger-than-breasts_p1/#ixzz2fNWnPC8E
Amongst other things, they claim that The Last Of Us and BioShock Infinite are sexist because Ellie and Elizabeth need the help of the male main character. >.<
I have to say that this train-wreck of face-plant after face-plant, over this stuff, coming from one gaming journalism outlet after another is quite the spectacle to behold.
I really feel like this is what's happening:
Anyway, what do you lot think? Are BioShock Infinite and The Last of Us sexist because they feature - for want of a better word - damsels? (This is before we get into the other "issues" Cracked brings up...)
I just think it's interesting that it's written by "Cracked Staff" Instead of the usual individual authors name (and with lines like "Growing up I had two ass-kicking female role models I wanted to be" it's definitely been written by an individual, not a group of authors.
They obviously knew the fallout from this would be immense, and possibly career breaking. I just hope they also knew it was badly researched flame bait containing tired arguments and well worn issues that are already being addressed or called out on by the gaming community, and I'd wager the main idea behind covering this particular topic was to cash in on the controversy traffic.
Dude, one of the sources they cited was Anita Sarkeesian (or however you spell it). I think that is enough to show that, at the very least, any research done fell heavily into Confirmation Bias territory.
For all the spirited "omg I am so tiiiired of hearing about sexism in gamiiiing!!1" one hear, everyone seem terribly eager to gather and complain at anything gender issue related, nonetheless.
Hero in a half shell said:
I just think it's interesting that it's written by "Cracked Staff" Instead of the usual individual authors name (and with lines like "Growing up I had two ass-kicking female role models I wanted to be" it's definitely been written by an individual, not a group of authors.
They obviously knew the fallout from this would be immense, and possibly career breaking. I just hope they also knew it was badly researched flame bait containing tired arguments and well worn issues that are already being addressed or called out on by the gaming community, and I'd wager the main idea behind covering this particular topic was to cash in on the controversy traffic.
Have you considered that maybe, if you want all this to go away, you should stop spreading it around? Hell, the only reason Anita Sarkeesian isn't another name in the endless list of youtube vloggers nobody cares about is because a bunch of morons decided to blurt insults at her, somehow making the whole thing 'newsworthy'. Don't pay attention and the thing goes away, or at least stops bothering you.
Also, that comic was terrible even by random non-serialised webcomic standards.
Also also, before everyone says they're leaping on the issue for more views, actually check the number of views of this article compared to the others, it's not exactly streaming ahead. If they wanted more views I'm pretty sure they could just run another article on Teddy Roosevelt or Tesla.
Also also also, I'm sure this thread will lead to many new ideas and changed opinions, like debates on the internet always do. . .
Not even having played BS:Infinite [small]snickersnicker[/small] or Last of Us, I can still say Ellie and Elizabeth are not "damsels."
'course, even Cracked didn't say that. They rightly pointed out how, most often, Peach and Zelda are essentially objects. Fair point, that.
As for page one... I think the author waltzed right into the trap of the "Real Women Don't Wear Dresses" trope.
That article barely qualifies as a Cracked article.. Cracked is a humor site, and pretty much the entire second page... was just unfunny political bullshit, ill-suited to a site like Cracked. I'd expect to see that kind of writing on something like Jezebel or some feminist site... or even spewing from Anita, who doesn't get shit because she's a feminist, but because she is full of shit. Also she took all that money, and proceeded to do little more than read TVTropes aloud. Also because she's so over the top that while maybe, just maybe, she has some valid points, she makes herself and feminists and feminism in general just look absolutely ridiculous.
More than one guy made a game where you shoot and main the hell out of bin Laden, or throw a truckload of shoes at Bush, and I personally used a poster of Michael Schuhmacher as as dartboard back in the 90s.
More than one guy made a game where you shoot and main the hell out of bin Laden, or throw a truckload of shoes at Bush, and I personally used a poster of Michael Schuhmacher as as dartboard back in the 90s.
I'd say Michael Schuhmacher is the only relevant one there. There's a slight difference in appropriate aggression levels between people responsible for thousands of deaths, and some woman on youtube who had the audacity to call a bunch of games sexist.
I don't think that would make it go away because the media could still report on it and draw attention to it thus forcing it into being the talking point.
#6 No. Just no. Elizabeth was 19 and had no combat experience, yet she still managed to be one of the most helpful companions in gaming I've ever seen to the point where I actually felt helpless during a brief section where I was without her. Ellie is 14 and actually manages to kick a ton of ass, sniping and stabbing people to death.
She even took care of Joel when he was wounded. Yeah she broke down crying but I think after you were being chased by a vicious murderer twice your height and strength and finally managed to get the jump on him and stab him to death, I'd think you'd be a little emotional too.
#5 Ok, we need to get away from that some more, no argument.
#4 Torn feelings. Everyone hates the fuck out of Metroid Other M, myself included, but Tomb Raider? Lara comes off as vulnerable at times yeah, but how is that a BAD thing? It's dedicated to making her a more Human character. So more often than not we get boring bland characters that commit genoicde single handily and spout off one liners, I personally would like to see more main characters curl up into balls and cry. I guess that's because of the lack of male weakness in games, but to be honest I think that's more of a problem than anything else. Vulnerable =/= powerless. It CAN equal that (FUCK YOU OTHER M) but not necessarily.
#3 I haven't played Heavy Rain but that scene where they design a woman to fight in her underwear...eh...why? Why would you do that? It just seems...stupid. So yeah I'll give them that. Hotline Miami 2 on the other hand...I think there's more than that one that meets the eye. Besides there's a difference between "We want to address rape in our game" and "I want a woman to get beat up in her underwear because reasons." I know it could be used to symbolize vulnerability, but I think if someone is crawling around in a pool of their own blood on the floor, how much clothes their wearing won't make much of a difference. Also this is a thing you never see happen to guys, so in order for it to be fair, A. Maybe we should lean away from this or B we should make it so that guys get beat up in their boxers. Either or.
#2 Yeah, kind of a dick move. CAN be done right but usually isn't. My advise? If it's not a game like TF2 where the classes have personality, make it so that the classes (Medic, Support, Sniper, Assault etc) have customizable genders or just don't bother at all. They're generic faceles guys, nothing of value will be lost. Token representation in a way is more insulting than no representation at all, especially when it's kinda segregated.
1# Dear Lord, not touching that one...ok a little. Yeah it's a real problem, unsure how big it is. Not sure if there's a real solution. Ok done.
To be perfectly honest I'm kinda burnt out on the whole sexism debate. It's just cycles of shouting, raging and banning. Writing this post out turned to be a massive chore. What should we do? Hell if I know. Though I will say that sometimes the whole thing feels like that one episode of South Park where Randy dropped the N-bomb on Wheel of Fortune where people were more concerned about being accused of being racist than actual racism.
I liked the article, I also largely agree with it. The gaming genre has some irritating problems with its common portrayals of women and it annoys me how prevalent they are.
What shocks me however is how defensive everyone gets with these sorts of things. That's why I've avoided the whole 'Sarkeesian' thing and why I generally don't comment on these things. It's just so silly how angry people get about their favourite genre of entertainment being criticized.
I don't think that would make it go away because the media could still report on it and draw attention to it thus forcing it into being the talking point.
Damn you, media, talking about important things. Why can't you go back to reporting on that British chick's baby, or whatever the gaming equivalent is, like a reputable news organization would?
I don't think that would make it go away because the media could still report on it and draw attention to it thus forcing it into being the talking point.
Damn you, media, talking about important things. Why can't you go back to reporting on that British chick's baby, or whatever the gaming equivalent is, like a reputable news organization would?
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They rightly pointed out how, most often, Peach and Zelda are essentially objects. Fair point, that.
